Akiba Shrine 秋葉神社

Official explanation

Throughout history, fire has been one of the greatest threats to Ogimachi. The thatched roofs of the village’s wooden houses catch fire easily, and despite the best efforts of local residents, destructive blazes have torn through the settlement on several occasions. Two of the largest fires occurred in 1718 and 1749, with the western part of Ogimachi bearing the brunt of the damage on both occasions. Hoping to put an end to the misfortune, people in western Ogimachi decided to establish a shrine to protect their community from future calamities. This sanctuary remained a modest place of worship until the Taisho era (1912–1926), when the shrine building was reconstructed and officially dedicated to Kagutsuchi, the Shinto god of fire. That was also when the site was renamed Akiba Shrine to signify its association with Akihasan Hongu in Shizuoka Prefecture, the main Shinto sanctuary enshrining Kagutsuchi. Nowadays believed to protect all of Ogimachi, Akiba Shrine remains a respected institution in the village.

出典: 地域観光資源の多言語解説文データベース（観光庁） — www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db. この英語解説文は観光庁の地域観光資源の多言語解説整備支援事業で作成しました。
Source: Japan Tourism Agency, Multilingual Explanation Database. This English text was produced by the Japan Tourism Agency's multilingual explanation project and is shown unedited. Opening hours and services may have changed since it was written.