Chubu Wide-area Tourism Portal Site -- Travel to Ten Thrilling Scenic Sites This showcases sightseeing destinations in Japan's Chubu region (the prefectures of Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Nagano, Gifu, Shizuoka, Aichi, Mie, and Shiga).

Shiga Prefecture Otsu ・ Shiga Area

Omi Jingu Shrine is dedicated to Emperor Tenji (626-671), 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. The shrine building was made in a new style for the time called omi-zukuri, where the gaiin (outside the corridor) and naiin (a dojo built in the inner part of the temple) are linked by a corridor. The shrine is also known for creating a water clock system called roukoku. Therefore, Omi city is the place where the time system was born in Japan. In the precincts of this shrine, the Omi Jingu Clock Museum displays various clocks centering on roukoku and Japanese clocks.