Omizo Festival (Hiyoshi Shrine)

About

On May 3 (eve) and May 4 (main day), five floats roll out from Hiyoshi Shrine in Katsuno, Takashima, for the largest float festival on the west side of Lake Biwa. Each of Katsuno's five districts sends one, and they tour town to drums and gongs. The eve is the loveliest time, when the floats move through the streets with their lanterns lit. Slightly smaller than the floats of Otsu or Nagahama, they are still richly made, with coffered ceilings and fine curtains. The Tomoe district's float stands out: its four corner pillars move up and down to raise and lower the entire roof, and it is said to be the oldest of the five. The lead position, called the hanayama, rotates among the districts. Selected as an intangible folk cultural property of Shiga Prefecture in 1983, the festival is about 5 minutes on foot from Omi-Takashima Station on the JR Kosei Line.

Sources

• OfficialBiwako Visitors Bureau (Shiga Official Tourism Site) www.biwako-visitors.jp
• Reference湖西地域唯一の曳山祭り「大溝祭」（滋賀県 令和8年5月広報レポート） www.pref.shiga.lg.jp

Last checked: Oct 11, 2026. Event information is based on official announcements, but changes may not always be reflected here. Please check each official website for accurate details.

Other events this month

• Hino Matsuri at Umamioka Watamuki Shrine
• Nabekanmuri Festival (Pot-Wearing Festival)