The shrine is dedicated to Emperor Tenji, the 38th emperor of Japan. Emperor Tenji carried out the Taika Reforms and aimed to complete the reform in the capital city, which was located on the west bank of Lake Biwa. He moved the Japanese capital from Asuka to Ōtsu in 667. Emperor Tenji also presided over the establishment of the first rōkoku, or Japanese water clock system, which was installed in 671. The proposal for this shrine to Emperor Tenji was first considered by Japanese Diet in 1908. The construction of the shrine started in 1937 and was finished by November 7, 1940.
Layout and design
The shrine is surrounded by a large forest. Its main gate and buildings are painted red. The complex is located near the Otsu Palace. Omi shrine pavilions were constructed by a method of Omi-zukuri, and it is listed in the Registered Tangible Cultural Properties of Japan. There are a multitude of facilities within the precinct of the shrine, including Ichi-no-Torii, Ni-no-Torii, Syagō Hyō, Temizusha, Yuisho Kōsatsu, Rōmon, Ge-haiden, Nai-haiden, Honden, Kaguraden, Tokeikan Hobutsukan, Hidokei, Rokoku, Kodai Hidokei, Jidosya Kiyoharae-sho, Seishō Yōhaiden, Karuta gaku, Haraedo , Komorebi no Michi, Tokei Gakko, Omi Kangakukan, and Zen-an.
Search in the "Cultural Heritage Online" of the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan
Monuments inscribed with poems (tanka and haiku)
Poem monuments made by the carving of famous tanka and haiku on natural stone is known as kuhi and kahi, respectively. The Omi shrine has 13 poem monuments.
Kuhi inscribed with a Matsuo Bashō's haiku, "から崎の松は花より朧にて".
Kahi inscribed with an Emperor Tenji's tanka, "秋の田の刈穂の庵の苫をあらみわが衣手は露にぬれつゝ".
Kahi inscribed with a Tokitsune Yokoi 's tanka, "歳神は今帰らすか左義長の青竹はぜて高く燃え立つ".
Kahi inscribed with a Kanichi Hirata 's tanka, "比叡ヶ嶺に近く琵琶湖を目下に大神の辺に永世住まなむ".
"Susumu Kagawaa: 湖ほとに息づき比そめと波はいひは留けく可奈志と波はまたいふ".
Kahi inscribed with a Kanesaburō Yamamura's tanka, "湖に音なき音を韻かせて比良ゆ流るる夕茜雲".
Kahi inscribed with a Yojurō Yasuda's tanka, "さざなみのしがの山路の春にまよひひとり眺めし花盛りかな".
Kahi inscribed with a Makiko Kasuga's tanka, "人間の智恵のはじめよひそひそと秘色の水に刻まあたらし".
Kuhi inscribed with Kashujo Itō's haiku, "楼門に湖脈打てる望の月".
Kuhi inscribed with Shōkeishi Katsura's haiku, "漏刻の音とこしへに初日影".
Kahi inscribed with a Takechi no Kurohito's tanka, "楽浪乃国都美神乃浦佐備而荒有京見者悲毛".
Kahi inscribed with a Kakinomoto no Hitomaro's tanka, "淡海乃海夕浪千鳥汝鳴者情毛思努爾古所念".
Kahi inscribed with an Emperor Kōbun 's Chinese poetry, "皇皇明日月と光り 帝徳天地に載す 三才並に泰昌 万国臣義を表す".
Omi Jingu Tokei Museum (Clock Museum)
In the precincts of this shrine, the Omi Jingu Clock Museum displays various clocks centering on roukoku and Japanese clocks.
Festivals and annual events
A Water Clock Festival, Rokoku-sai, held in honor of the first water clock in Japan installed at the shrine, takes place around June 9–10, the day when the water clock is thought to have been installed. The preceding day features a Japanese tea ceremony performed by the Sen Sōshitsu, grand tea master of the Urasenke, one of the three san-Senke. The Japanesenational championshipcompetitive karuta tournament, Karuta Matsuri, takes place here every January, on the first Saturday and Sunday after the New Year holiday. The Grand Champions are awarded the title Meijin and Queen, and a seven-time Grand Champion is known as an Eternal Master. The national championship for high school students is held every July. The tournaments take place here as Emperor Tenji composed the first poem of the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu poetry collection forming the basis of the game. Another annual festival, Reisai, is held on 20 April, the anniversary of Otsu establishment as the capital during Emperor Tenji reign.
