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Omi Jingu is located on the site of the ancient Omi Ōtsu Palace, which served as Japan's capital for five years starting in 667. It is dedicated to Emperor Tenji, the 38th emperor of Japan, who participated in the Taika Reform as Prince Naka no Ōe and moved the capital from Asuka in Nara to Ōtsu in Omi. Omi Jingu is one of the 16 Imperial Shrines in the country, and during the annual ritual held on April 20, the Imperial Palace sends envoys in the name of His Majesty the Emperor to oversee the ceremonial proceedings.
Established in 1940, Omi Jingu may not have a long history as a shrine, but it is rooted in over 1,300 years of history. Since the relocation of the capital to Ōtsu, the contributions of Emperor Tenji to the political, economic, and cultural development of Omi Province have been highly respected by the people. As early as the Meiji era, there was a movement among the citizens of Shiga Prefecture to build a shrine to worship Emperor Tenji. With the support of the people of Shiga Prefecture and believers from across the country, this shrine was finally established with imperial permission during the Showa era.
Emperor Tenji established the Omi Code, which laid the foundation for the Japanese constitution, created a school system, implemented household registration reforms and land system reforms, and actively promoted industrial development using the latest scientific technologies of the time. He is revered as the God of Business and Guidance, and is deeply respected as the God of Industry, Culture, and Knowledge. One of Emperor Tenji's most famous achievements is the creation of Japan's first water clock that used a clepsydra to tell time. Today, the shrine grounds feature the "Clock Treasure Museum," which displays various ancient timekeeping devices, including water clocks and sundials.
Omi Jingu is also a famous sacred site for the game of karuta. Every January, during the National Karuta Competition held here, the shrine is filled with karuta enthusiasts from all over the country.
