Omi Jingu Shrine 近江神宮
Official explanation
Omi Jingu Shrine was established in 1940 to enshrine Emperor Tenji (626–672), a prominent figure in the history of Otsu. Tenji moved the country’s capital from Asuka (in what is now Nara Prefecture) to Otsu in 667, and the shrine is situated near where his palace used to be. The emperor is enshrined in the main sanctuary behind a large worship hall. In front of this structure is a towering, bright red gate (romon) that stands out amid the dense greenery of the surrounding forest.
Emperor Tenji is famous for having started the system of timekeeping in Japan and building the country’s first water clock (rokoku) based on techniques introduced from China. Omi Jingu’s clock museum has numerous examples of timepieces from Japan and around the world. Outside, a full-size working replica of the water clock is displayed in front of a small pond, while nearby stands a dragon-shaped “fire clock.” Every year on June 10, a festival is held to commemorate the building of the water clock.
Read the full explanation
Emperor Tenji is also closely associated with waka poetry. He composed the first poem in the famous Hyakunin Isshu compilation of 100 poems written by poets of medieval times including many prominent members of the court. The poems are the basis for a popular card game called karuta, in which players compete to find cards with the last part of a poem as the first part is read aloud.
Omi Jingu is a key venue of the highly competitive karuta scene, hosting both the annual finals of the national high-school championship and the Meijin and Queen finals, which are Japan’s national championship. Tournaments are held in a modern hall. Fans of the anime, manga, and film series Chihayafuru, which is based on competitive karuta, may recognize Omi Jingu from its appearances in the series. Traditional costumes can be rented to wear around the shrine, where sets of karuta cards and rice crackers shaped like them are also sold.
Omi Jingu Shrine was built in 1940 and enshrines Emperor Tenji (626–672), who moved Japan’s capital to Otsu in 667. Tenji is enshrined in the shrine’s main sanctuary behind a large worship hall. The central part of Omi Jingu is entered through a towering, bright red gate (romon) that stands out amid the dense greenery of the forest surrounding the shrine.
Emperor Tenji famously built the first water clock (rokoku) in Japan, and the shrine has a clock museum featuring numerous timepieces from Japan and around the world. A working replica of the water clock is on the grounds, and every year on June 10, a festival is held to commemorate the building of the original.
Emperor Tenji also composed the first waka poem in the famous Hyakunin Isshu, a compilation of 100 poems written by poets including many prominent members of the imperial court. The poems are the basis for a popular card game called karuta, in which players compete to find cards with the last part of a poem as the first part of it is read aloud. Omi Jingu is a key venue of the competitive karuta scene, regularly hosting tournaments including the Meijin and Queen finals, which are Japan’s national championship.
出典: 地域観光資源の多言語解説文データベース（観光庁） — www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db. この英語解説文は観光庁の地域観光資源の多言語解説整備支援事業で作成しました。
Source: Japan Tourism Agency, Multilingual Explanation Database. This English text was produced by the Japan Tourism Agency's multilingual explanation project and is shown unedited. Opening hours and services may have changed since it was written.
旅Kyoto tours
Live prices and reviews from GetYourGuide. Many tours can be cancelled for free — check each listing.
Ad: we may earn a commission if you book through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Getting there
Hotels in Shiga
Ad: we may earn a commission if you book through these links, at no extra cost to you.
More shrines in Shiga
Open the scanner and compare →