anime
Chihayafuru
Omi Jingu, where the actual national karuta championships are held every January.
Unusually, the shrine in Chihayafuru is not a model — **Omi Jingu** in Otsu, on the west shore of Lake Biwa, genuinely is the home of competitive karuta. The **Meijin and Queen title matches** are held in the Omi Kangakukan hall in its grounds every January, and the national high school championship is held there every July. The shrine is dedicated to Emperor Tenji, whose poem opens the Hyakunin Isshu anthology the game is played with, which is why the sport settled here. It is nine minutes on foot from Omi-Jingu-mae station and about 15 minutes from Kyoto.
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Common questions
Is Omi Jingu really the home of karuta?
Yes. This is not a model — the Meijin and Queen title matches are held in the grounds every January and the national high school championship every July.
Can I watch a tournament?
Tournament days are not open sightseeing. Check the karuta association's schedule and the shrine's notices in advance rather than turning up.
How do I get there?
Omi-Jingu-mae station, nine minutes on foot. It is about 15 minutes from Kyoto, so it fits into a Kyoto day.