Omi Jingu

 Enjoy history and nature at Omi Jingu!


Omi Jingu is a Shinto shrine located in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, which enshrines the 38th Emperor Tenchi. Although it is a new shrine built in 1940 to commemorate the 2600th year of the Imperial era, it is enshrined in the ruins of Omi Otsumiya (Otsukyo), the ancient capital of Emperor Tenchi, and has a historical atmosphere. It is also located on the west bank of Lake Biwa and is surrounded by rich nature. Omi Shrine is an attractive tourist destination where you can enjoy both history and nature.


Charm of Omi Shrine


The attraction of Omi Jingu is its shrine buildings. It is a masterpiece of modern shrine architecture called Omi-zukuri and Showa-zukuri. Of particular note is the corridor that connects the main shrine and the worship hall. The corridor is about 100 meters long and is famous as the longest corridor in Japan. From the corridor, you can see the beautiful appearance of the main shrine and worship hall, as well as the scenery of the greenery and pond in the precincts. A walk in the corridor will calm your mind.


There is also a clock museum at Omi Shrine. At the clock museum, there are exhibits where you can learn about the history and mechanisms of clocks in Japan and around the world. Especially not to be missed is the water clock, Japan's oldest mechanical clock. The water clock is said to have been made by Emperor Tenchi based on the one brought from Baekje. A water clock is a mechanism that measures time by the flow of water, and it uses fire so that it works even at night. The water clock makes you feel the wisdom and skill of Emperor Tenchi.


Recommended spots around Omi Shrine


There are many other things to see and enjoy around Omi Jingu. for example,


Otsukyo Ruins Park: A park about a 10-minute walk from Omi Jingu, where you can see the remains of Otsukyo and restored buildings. Otsukyo is Japan's first capital and the place where Emperor Tenji developed politics and culture. In the park, you can learn about the history and culture of Otsukyo, and also enjoy nature such as flowers and trees.

Biwako Ohashi Bridge: A 15-minute drive from Omi Jingu Shrine, it is Japan's longest arch bridge across Lake Biwa. The Biwako Ohashi bridge connects Koto and Kosai, making it a convenient route for sightseeing and transportation. In addition, from the bridge, you can see beautiful scenery such as the blue water of Lake Biwa and the greenery of Mt. Hiei. From the bridge, you can enjoy driving and cycling while feeling the breeze.


Omi Shrine can be accessed by train.

The closest station is Omijingumae Station on the Keihan Ishiyama Sakamoto Line, which is about a 9-minute walk from the station. About 15 minutes on foot from JR Otsukyo Station



summary

Omi Shrine is a tourist destination where you can enjoy history and nature. It is a place related to Emperor Tenchi, and the highlights include the shrine building, which is a masterpiece of modern shrine architecture, and Japan's oldest mechanical clock, the water clock. In addition, there are spots such as Otsu Kyoato Park and Lake Biwa Bridge in the surrounding area. If you come to Shiga, please visit Omi Jingu.





Here is a website where you can obtain detailed information about Omi Jingu.

https://oumijingu.org/

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