Kotonoha Marché 2026

Dates & time: October 3, 2026 (Sat) 10:00–15:00
Price & booking: Free entry (food and goods are paid for at each booth) No booking needed — every programme is open on the day.
Venue & access: Nagisa Park Omatsuri Hiroba, Otsu (Shiga) About 5 minutes' walk from Shimanoseki Station (Keihan Ishiyama-Sakamoto Line) or about 10 minutes from JR Otsu Station. There is no dedicated parking and nearby paid car parks are expected to be busy, so public transport is recommended.

There are 2 car parks within a 12-minute walk of Nagisa Park Omatsuri Hiroba, Otsu (Shiga), and 1 public restrooms within 8 minutes. The map shows each with its walking time.

Facility data comes from OpenStreetMap. It does not include opening hours, fees or availability.

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Why You Should Visit

An open-air literary fair on the shore of Lake Biwa at Nagisa Park in Otsu. Last year drew 3,500 visitors, and this edition grows to around 200 booths. At its heart is a flea market of about 150 booths selling self-published fiction, zines and second-hand books straight from the people who made or collected them. On stage, Otsu-based novelist Mina Miyajima talks with her editor, and there is a competitive karuta exhibition. With more than 30 food stalls, free entry and no booking needed, it works as a relaxed family day out by the lake.

Programs

Timetable & Map

Fermentation & Spice vendors

Shop List & Map

Vendors in the "Fermentation and Spice" food area. Besides sales there are tastings, side-by-side comparisons and displays.

NOTE

Stage

Hosted by BBC Biwako Broadcasting announcer Kurokawa

Literary flea market

About 150 sellers from Otsu and beyond offer their own writing, zines and second-hand books. The line-up is in the web catalogue on the official site
A new student corner features university writing clubs from Kyoto and Shiga, including Kyoto University of the Arts, Doshisha, Kyoto Tachibana and Ryukoku

Books

Around 3,000 recycled books from Otsu City Library given away (while stocks last)
Stay Hitohako used-book market
Mobile library "Sazanami-go" lending books (library card required)
Picture-book readings and a children's book giveaway take place at Otsu Civic Hall

Food

16 vendors in the "Fermentation and Spice" food area
Food area run by the Otsu Jazz Festival: takoyaki, yakisoba, shaved ice, candy floss

Workshops

Zine-making workshop by nami. (ends at 14:00)
Karuta games and hakama rental by Otsu Akinota-kai
Hands-on word art: the "Kotonoha Dome" and "Kotonoha Canvas"
Portraits by Sayuri Fujimaki, the artist behind this year's key visual
Merchandise from the novel "Naruse wa Tenka wo Tori ni Iku" sold by the Biwako Otsu Tourism Association

Same day

18th Otsu Jazz Festival (3–4 October)

On the day

Goes ahead in rain; some programmes such as the mobile library are cancelled in wet weather
If storm-level weather is forecast, a cancellation notice will be posted on the official site at 13:00 on Thursday 1 October
No smoking anywhere on site, and there is no smoking area
Please take home any rubbish not from the food booths

※Programme and times may change without notice

Market Marche Books Culture Food Walk Family Free Cheap

出典: 湖都の葉マルシェ公式サイト（文学のまち大津）

Kobe · Gluten-free

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FAQ

Do I need a ticket or to book in advance?

Neither. Entry is free and every programme, including the talk and workshops, is open on the day. Books and food are bought at each booth.

Does it go ahead in the rain?

Yes, it goes ahead in rain, though some programmes such as the mobile library are cancelled. If storm-level weather is forecast, a cancellation notice will be posted on the official site at 1 pm on Thursday 1 October.

Can I drive there?

There is no dedicated parking, and nearby paid car parks are expected to fill up. Walking from Keihan Shimanoseki Station or JR Otsu Station is recommended.