Akiba Shrine

Author: Richard Perkins

Photos/Videos Taken: 2021/05/28

Address: 3-10-7 Matsugaya, Taito-ku,

Tokyo,【111-0036】

秋葉神社 (akiba jinja) is a Shintō shrine in the Taitō ward of Tokyo dedicated to 火産霊大神 (homusubi-no-ōkami—the god of fire), 水波能売神 (mizuhanome-no-kami—the god of water), and 埴山比売神 (haniyamahime-no-kami—the god of land).

Akiba shrine was originally built near where Akihabara station (in the Chiyoda ward of Tokyo) currently stands. This was an area that back in the Edo period where fires often broke out. A large fire also took place in the area at the beginning of the Meiji era. Because of this, in 1870 Emperor Meiji ordered a shrine to be set up in the area that enshrines a god that will protect the area from fires. Thus, Akiba shrine was built. Also referred to as 秋葉様 (akiba sama), the neighboring area started being called 秋葉っ原 (akiba hara) and 秋葉の原 (akiba-no-hara). This is the origin of how Akihabara got its name.

Akiba shrine still exists and moved from the Chiyoda ward of Tokyo to the Taitō ward when the railways in and around Akihabara station began construction. Anyone can go and pray there.