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Cancellations 8 day(s) (inclusive) before the selected date are allowed. Unused orders can be canceled for free；For cancellations made 2 to 7 days prior to selected date, a cancellation fee of 30% will apply；For cancellations made 1 to 1 days prior to selected date, a cancellation fee of 40% will apply；For cancellations made 0 to 0 days prior to selected date, a cancellation fee of 50% will apply；Due to time zone differences, the confirmed cancellation date is based on the supplier’s local time. Please allow 2–5 business days to process your cancellation request, after which the cancellation fee will be charged according to the product’s cancellation policy. Once your refund request is confirmed, KKday will initiate the refund to your original payment method within 15 days. The actual refund timing depends on your card-issuing bank’s policy.

Age range: 12 to 99 years old；Clothing and items: *Please wear comfortable clothing and shoes. *The tour will proceed in rain. Please bring your own rain gear (the tour may be canceled in case of severe weather).；Duration: Approx. 3 hours；Minimum participants: 6 people

[Shiga/Otsu] Otsu Festival Yamadate (Float Assembly) Tour + Hikizome (First Pull) Experience - First time held this year! Watch the float being assembled and experience the very first pull of the year.

Japan-Shiga , Otsu

Booking confirmed 1 day(s) after ordering

Duration:4 hour(s)

Guided language: Japanese

Free cancellation 8 day(s) prior to experience date

What is Yamadate?
Participate as a puller in the Hikizome (first pull)

[5% App discount] Code: APP5OFF , HK: APP15HK

Package Options

Details

Sightseeing Tours

Tour Type	Shared tour
Transportation method	Get there on your own
Departure Time	Late Departure (After 9 am)
Minimum participant requirement	6 travelers
Tour types	Guided tour
Meal arrangement	Arrange yourself
Seasonal	Summer Festival
Sightseeing type	Temples & shrines, Historic site tour
Transport	Walking

Product Info

- First time held this year! Watch the float being assembled and experience the very first pull of the year - Otsu Festival floats are assembled in each town just before the festival. On this tour, you will get an up-close look at the 'Yamadate' (float assembly), a process not usually visible to the public, and participate as a puller in the 'Hikizome,' the first movement of the assembled float that year. Wear a happi coat, pull the rope, and become a part of the festival for a day. You can also enjoy visiting Tenson Shrine and the Otsu Festival Hikiyama Exhibition Hall. *For more details about the Otsu Festival, please visit the official website of the Otsu Festival Hikiyama Federation. ◎ Highlights of this tour Get an up-close look at the 'Yamadate' (float assembly), which is not usually visible. Watch the floats being built. Experience the first 'Hikizome' (first pull) of the year as a puller. Pull the rope and move the float. Includes visits to Tenson Shrine and the Hikiyama Exhibition Hall. This is the first time this tour is being held. ~Itinerary~ 13:00 Meet and depart from Otsu Station Tourist Information Center -> 13:10 Visit Tenson Shrine -> 13:30 Visit Otsu Festival Hikiyama Exhibition Hall (learn about the overview of the Otsu Festival) -> 14:15 Town tour & Yamadate observation (watch the floats being assembled) -> 15:30 Hikizome experience (as a puller for the first movement of the year) -> Around 16:15-16:30 End/Dismissal *The start time and duration of the Hikizome may vary depending on the progress of the day. Please treat the itinerary as a guide.
What is Yamadate?
Otsu Festival floats are assembled one by one in each town just before the festival. The parts stored in the float warehouses are gradually assembled by craftsmen and townspeople, eventually taking the form of magnificent, ornate floats. You will get an up-close look at this behind-the-scenes work of the festival, which is not usually open to the public.
Participate as a puller in the Hikizome (first pull)
'Hikizome' is the first time the assembled float is moved that year. It is the very first pull before the actual festival. On this tour, you will participate in this Hikizome as a puller. You will pull the rope and experience moving the float yourself. It is a moment where you can feel the weight of the moving float and the sense of unity among the participants. *The start time and duration of the Hikizome may vary depending on the progress of the day. Please treat the itinerary as a guide.

Purchase Notice

Regarding cancellation:

The tour may be canceled in case of severe weather.

Other notes:

*After the tour ends, Hikizome and other events may be held in each town. Please enjoy walking around the town on the day of the Yamadate.

Reminders

Age range: 12 to 99 years old
Clothing and items: *Please wear comfortable clothing and shoes. *The tour will proceed in rain. Please bring your own rain gear (the tour may be canceled in case of severe weather).
Duration: Approx. 3 hours
Minimum participants: 6 people

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations 8 day(s) (inclusive) before the selected date are allowed. Unused orders can be canceled for free
For cancellations made 2 to 7 days prior to selected date, a cancellation fee of 30% will apply
For cancellations made 1 to 1 days prior to selected date, a cancellation fee of 40% will apply
For cancellations made 0 to 0 days prior to selected date, a cancellation fee of 50% will apply

NOTE

Due to time zone differences, the confirmed cancellation date is based on the supplier’s local time. Please allow 2–5 business days to process your cancellation request, after which the cancellation fee will be charged according to the product’s cancellation policy. Once your refund request is confirmed, KKday will initiate the refund to your original payment method within 15 days. The actual refund timing depends on your card-issuing bank’s policy.

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