Otsu Matsuri

Essentials

location

Tenson Shrine and around JR Otsu Station, Otsu (Shiga)

period

October 10, 2026 (Sat) - October 11, 2026 (Sun)

Time

・Sat 10 Oct: Yoimiya (eve) from dusk to about 21:00
・Sun 11 Oct: Main festival 9:00 to about 17:30

cost

Free to watch (paid seats available: morning seats ¥2,000; afternoon Ekimae Odori or Old Tokaido seats ¥5,000 each; goshuin-book set seats ¥11,000)

Links

• Official Website

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access

The nearest stations are JR Otsu (Biwako Line) and Keihan Biwako-Hamaotsu or Shimanoseki. Roads around the route are closed to traffic on the eve and main festival days.

There are 3 public restrooms within a 8-minute walk of Tenson Shrine and around JR Otsu Station, Otsu (Shiga). The map shows each with its walking time.

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

TICKETS / REGISTRATION

Paid seats are sold online via the Biwako Otsu Tours booking page. Seats cannot be chosen, and bookings cannot be cancelled or changed. Exchange your booking for a seat ticket at the seating entrance on the day. Sold-out seats are sometimes released again later.

NOTE

Schedule

• Float assembly (Yamatate): Sun 4 October, 8:30–15:00
• Eve (Yoimiya): floats are decorated in the morning and pulled in the afternoon; karakuri puppets are displayed in the townhouses, with lanterns and festival music from dusk
• Main day: all 13 floats gather in front of Tenson Shrine and set off. Processions run about 9:30–10:45 and 13:30–15:45

Paid seats

• Morning seats: Old Tokaido (north car park of NHK Otsu). Entry from 9:00, viewing about 9:30–10:45. No karakuri performance (shomon) and no souvenir
• Ekimae Odori seats: in front of Otsu Betsuin on the station avenue. Entry from 12:30, viewing about 13:30–14:45. Shomon included
• Old Tokaido seats: north car park of NHK Otsu. Entry from 13:30, viewing about 14:30–15:45. Shomon included
• Afternoon seats come with a good-luck chimaki and the official programme
• Goshuin-book set seats add the eve's goshuin book with all seals already stamped

※Shomon is the karakuri performance each float gives at set points along the route

Related tours

• Biwako Otsu Tours runs tours including float assembly with a first pull, townhouse (kaisho) visits on the eve, and viewing from a townhouse on the main day

Rain

• Held rain or shine. Umbrellas and parasols are not allowed as they block the view; bring a full-length raincoat or similar
• Seats are not refunded unless the procession is cancelled for severe weather

※Enquiries: Otsu Matsuri Hikiyama Federation, 077-525-0505

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出典: びわ湖大津観光協会