 It begins Saturday, October 6 and ends on Sunday, October 7 in 2018 and is connected to the Tenson Shrine in the Kyō-machi district of the city.The Ōtsu Matsuri is similar to the Gion Matsuri in Kyoto, and features thirteen tall lantern floats, which resemble those of the Gion.The floats feature "karakuri ningyō", or mechanical dolls which operate via special mechanisms.