Its thirteen floats have karakuri mechanisms: UNESCO heritage since 11/12/2025.
The shrine is the heart of the Ōtsu Matsuri, held on the Sunday before Sports Day in October: thirteen floats (yama) parade through the city, each with clockwork mechanisms (the karakuri) that bring to life scenes from mythology and classical literature, while lucky sweets and handkerchiefs are thrown from the floats to the spectators. Recognised as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property in 2016, the festival was added to the UNESCO ‘yama, hoko, yatai’ list on 11 December 2025, nine years after the national designation.
Shinto shrine in the centre of Ōtsu, ritual home of the Ōtsu Matsuri.
ℹ️ Free entry to the grounds. The festival centres on the weekend before the second Monday of October.
🚉 Ōtsu · 6 min walk
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