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Otsu City

While overshadowed by nearby Kyoto, the city is secure in its place in history as once being the capital of Japan, albeit only briefly. Omi-jingu is dedicated to Emperor Tenchi who had chosen Otsu City as the country's capital during the seventh century while Gichu-ji is where the great haiku poet/backpacker, Matsuo Basho (see Ueno City), chose as his final resting place.

As the crown prince to Empress Saimei, his mother, Emperor Tenchi (626-671) moved the nation capital to Otsu City in 667 from Asuka, Nara Prefecture. Emperor Tenchi began his reign there in 668 during which he started a census system and established a centralized government. He is also known for making a water clock. When the Emperor passed away in 671, the capital was soon moved again partly in accordance to the Shinto tradition in those days whereby the imperial palace is considered to have been tarnished by the death of its ruler. However, it was not the only factor.

Prior to his death, Emperor Tenchi designated his son, Prince Otomo, as his successor. Emperor Tenchi's younger brother, Prince Oama initially respected the decision, excusing himself to Yoshino in Nara to study Taoism and become a priest. While there, Prince Oama gathered an army with which he battled Prince Otomo for the throne in 672 in what was known as the Jinshin Disturbance (or Rebellion). After a month of fierce battles in what was the country's biggest civil war of the Asuka period, Prince Oama emerged victorious while Prince Otomo committed suicide. Prince Oama ascended to the throne as Emperor Temmu, the country's 40th, after which he moved the capital to Asuka in Nara ending Otsu City's role as Japan's capital after only five years.

Otsu City was also the site of an important siege in the civil war fought over the shogun title that culminated in the decisive Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. That year, Kyogoku Takatsugu held the strategically vital Otsu Castle on the southwestern shore of Lake Biwa for Tokugawa Ieyasu. Recognizing its importance, Tokugawa's main rival, Ishida Mitsunari sent the armies of three generals with a combined force of 15,000 to capture the castle while a fourth blockaded it from the lake side.

Kyogoku's army of 3,000 held out for eight days between October 13 and 21st before what essentially was a practical joke provided the impetus the attacking armies needed to batter the defenders into submission. From the castle, in an attempt to insult his attackers, Kyogoku waved some banners of one of the opposing generals after having sent a ninja out the night before to steal them. In addition to enraging the general in question, the other generals, thinking a breakthrough had been made in the siege, pressed their own attacks. Since the fall of the castle happened on the same day as the Battle of Sekigahara, its capture proved to be irrelevant save for the fact that Kyogoku's stand prevented 15,000 troops from assisting Ishida Matsudani in the climactic battle.

Otsu Castle was soon taken down after Tokugawa Ieyasu became the shogun. It is thought that parts of Otsu Castle were used to construct Hikone Castle, built between 1603 and 1622 further north near the shores of Lake Biwa.

Omi Jingu

Gichu Ji Temple

How to get there

From Kyoto, Otsu City is a 10-minute train ride away on the JR Tokaido Line.

Tours - The Japan Discovery Tours visit Otsu City.
Click here for more information regarding when Discovery visits this destination.

Photographs and contributions

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Disclaimer and Request:

Opening hours, prices, booking procedures, schedules etc are subject to changes beyond our control. This site is just a guide, and we advise that you always check and confirm in advance. Suggestions, additions and correction of errors are always welcome. Please contact us.