Tsesarevich Nikolay Alexandrovich (the future Czar Nicholas II) of Russia survives an assassination attempt, while visiting Japan, on May 11, 1891, in what is known as the Ōtsu incident.

Tsesarevich Nicholas is traveling to Vladivostok in Far Eastern Russia for ceremonies marking the start of construction of the Trans-Siberian Railroad.

On his way (by sea) he makes an official visit to Japan.

The Russian Pacific Fleet with the Tsesarevich stops in Kagoshima, then Nagasaki, and then Kobe.

From Kobe, the Tsesarevich journeys overland to Kyoto, where he is met by a delegation headed by Prince Arisugawa Taruhito.

This is the first visit by such an important foreign prince to Japan since Prince Heinrich of Prussia in 1880 and two British princes in 1881, and the military influence of the Russian Empire is growing rapidly in the Far East, so the Japanese government places heavy emphasis on using this visit to foster better Russo-Japanese relations.

Nicholas shows interest in the Japanese traditional crafts, gets a dragon tattoo on his right arm, and buys an ornamental hairpin for a Japanese girl who happens to be near him.

The assassination attempt occurs on May 11 [O.S. 29 April] 1891, while Nicholas is returning to Kyoto after a day trip to Lake Biwa in Ōtsu, Shiga Prefecture.

He is attacked by Tsuda Sanzō (1855–1891), one of his escorting policemen, who swung at the Tsesarevich's face with a sabre.

The quick action of Nicholas's cousin, Prince George of Greece and Denmark, who parries the second blow with his cane, saves his life.

Tsuda attempts to flee, but two rickshaw drivers in Nicholas's entourage chase him down and pull him to the ground.

Nicholas is left with a nine-centimeter long scar on the right side of his forehead, but his wound is not life-threatening.