People in Britain were able to enjoy the music of traditional Japanese instruments performed in one of the most popular festivals in western Japan's Shiga Prefecture.

Japan House London began a two-day event introducing the Otsu Festival in the British capital on Friday. The festival is designated as a national important intangible folk cultural property.

The centuries-old celebration is organized by a shrine in the city of Otsu. It features lavishly decorated floats with mechanized puppet dolls. The floats parade the streets with music played by Japanese bells, drums and flutes.

Visitors to the London event took photos and cheered six performers producing rhythmic sounds, with chants echoing through the venue.

A man in his 20s said he was impressed by the music people would not usually hear in Britain. He said he had recently been to Japan, but had not visited that region in Shiga, so he hoped to travel to Japan again.

The festival organizer said it is the first time the Otsu Festival has been exhibited overseas.

The organizer's head, Funahashi Hiroaki, said he was very happy that the event provided people in London with the opportunity to experience the music of the festival. He expressed hope that Londoners will visit Otsu, which is located near Kyoto.