The last piece of the first campaign
Omi Shrine Side Torii Gate (近江神宮脇鳥居, Ōmi Jingū Waki Torii), the timber torii on the side approach at Omi Shrine in Jingu-cho, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, was raised in 1940 and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 1998.
It measures 5.4 metres across and stands at the head of the path leading to the Saikan reception building. It follows the same myojin form as the First and Second Torii, and is the smallest of the three.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs calls it the piece that closed the first construction campaign, and records that its completion rite was held on 30 December 1940. Few structures in this precinct can be dated to the day.
Finished before the year ran out
Its number as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property is 25-0093, the highest of the 40 at Omi Shrine. Registration took effect on 9 October 1998.
The enshrinement rite had taken place on 7 November 1940. This torii, then, held its completion rite on 30 December, after the shrine was already in use. It is the last item of a first campaign pushed to finish inside the calendar year.
The form is myojin: the top lintel and the beam below it curve, the round posts lean inward, and the tie beam is squared in section. Since the First and Second Torii use the same form, the difference in width is what tells the paths apart. Being smaller than the torii on the main approach marks Omi Shrine Side Torii Gate as the entrance to a secondary one.
Finding the entrance on the Saikan side
Omi Shrine Side Torii Gate stands at the head of a path and can be approached freely. Within opening hours you may walk under it and photograph it.
It sits off the main approach, on the way towards the Saikan, so anyone heading straight from the First Torii to the sanctuary will never pass it. Check the side path on the precinct map before setting out.
The thing to measure is the width. At 5.4 metres, Omi Shrine Side Torii Gate is noticeably narrower than the torii on the main approach. Fix the span between the posts and the length of the top lintel in your eye, and the difference will register when you reach the other two. Comparing three torii of one form on a single visit is not an opportunity many shrines offer.
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Q&A
- Where does Omi Shrine Side Torii Gate stand?
- At the head of the path towards the Saikan reception building. It lies off the main approach, so a direct walk from the First Torii to the sanctuary will not pass it.
- What form is Omi Shrine Side Torii Gate?
- A myojin torii, the same form as the First and Second Torii. At 5.4 metres across it is the smallest of the three.
- When was Omi Shrine Side Torii Gate completed?
- Its completion rite was held on 30 December 1940. The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes it as the piece that closed the first construction campaign.
- Can visitors walk under Omi Shrine Side Torii Gate?
- Yes. It stands at the entrance to a path and is freely accessible during opening hours. Photography is unrestricted.
- What is the registration number of Omi Shrine Side Torii Gate?
- 25-0093, the highest of the 40 registered properties at the shrine. It was registered on 9 October 1998.
Basic Information
| Name | Omi Shrine Side Torii Gate (近江神宮脇鳥居) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1-1 Jingucho, Otsu, Shiga Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structures), registration number 25-0093 |
| Year Designated | Registered 9 October 1998 (Heisei 10), gazetted 26 October 1998 |
| Quantity | 1 torii |
| Dimensions | Timber torii of myojin form; 5.4 metres wide |
| Owner | Omi Shrine |
| Public Access | At the head of the side approach, freely walked under and photographed. Grounds open 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., free |
References
- National Cultural Properties Database, Agency for Cultural Affairs: Omi Shrine Side Torii Gate
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00000871
- Omi Shrine official site: precinct map and guide
- https://oumijingu.org/pages/96/
Last verified: 2026.09.13
