Otsu Matsuri 2026: Karakuri Floats Beside Lake Biwa

Otsu Matsuri feels like Gion Matsuri with the volume turned down and the floats close enough to touch.

Otsu Matsuri (大津まつり) is the autumn festival of Tenson Shrine in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, held each year on the Saturday and Sunday of the second weekend of October. In 2026 those dates fall on October 10 and 11. With more than 400 years of history and 13 ornate karakuri floats, it is considered a lower-profile alternative to Kyoto^PR's Gion Matsuri, yet it sits only 15 minutes from Kyoto Station by train.

Dates and schedule

Saturday is Yomiya, the evening float display with lantern lighting and warm-up karakuri performances. Sunday is Honsai, the main parade through central Otsu, with the 13 floats winding past Tenson Shrine from late morning through mid-afternoon.

Highlights

• ●13 karakuri floats — each topped with mechanical puppets that perform short scenes drawn from Chinese and Japanese legend.
• ●Chimaki throwing — amulets wrapped in bamboo leaves are tossed from the floats to the crowd, considered good luck for the year.
• ●Historic old town — the parade route passes along merchant streets largely unchanged since the Edo period.
• ●Compact scale — the entire festival fits within a walkable area, in contrast to Gion Matsuri's long linear route.

How to get there

From Kyoto^PR Station, take the JR Biwako Line to Otsu Station; the ride is roughly 10 minutes and runs frequently. Keihan Ishiyama-Sakamoto Line and the Kyoto subway Tozai Line also serve central Otsu. The parade route and Tenson Shrine are within a 10-minute walk of either Otsu or Keihan Hamaotsu stations.

Best viewing spots

• ●Tenson Shrine approach — the ceremonial starting point; good for first karakuri performances of the day.
• ●Chuo-dori — the main parade street, with the widest spectator space.
• ●Nakamachi — narrower lanes that bring floats within arm's reach for photography.
• ●Lake Biwa waterfront — a calmer backdrop at Hamaotsu for breaks between float appearances.

FAQ

Is Otsu Matsuri crowded? It attracts far fewer visitors than Gion Matsuri; the Sunday parade can feel busy around Tenson Shrine but side streets usually stay comfortable. Can visitors catch chimaki? Yes, standing along the parade route; locals often bring plastic bags to collect the amulets. Are English programs available? Multi-language maps are generally distributed at Otsu Station on both festival days.