Daido Akagi Shrine is located on the eastern shore of Lake Ōnuma near the summit of Mount Akagi in Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture. The shrine stands on a small peninsula called Kotorigashima, which extends into the lake.
Its official name is simply Akagi Shrine, but it is commonly called Daido Akagi Shrine to distinguish it from the many other Akagi Shrines found throughout Japan.
The vermilion shrine buildings surrounded by the lake create one of Mount Akagi’s most memorable landscapes. Their reflections on the water are especially beautiful, while early mornings and evenings with mist can create the impression that the shrine is floating above the lake.
With its combination of spectacular mountain scenery and a long history of religious traditions, Daido Akagi Shrine attracts both worshippers and visitors exploring the natural beauty of Mount Akagi.
Daido Akagi Shrine has a deep connection with the ancient tradition of Akagi mountain worship. Mount Akagi has long been regarded as a sacred mountain, while Lake Ōnuma and Lake Konuma near the summit were also revered as sacred natural sites.
The shrine enshrines several deities, including Akagi Daimyōjin, a divine presence traditionally associated with the mountain and its lakes. The shrine offers a glimpse into ancient Japanese traditions in which mountains, lakes, forests, and other elements of nature were regarded as sacred.
One of the best-known traditions associated with Daido Akagi Shrine is the Legend of Princess Akagi.
According to the legend, Princess Akagi was chosen by the deity of Mount Akagi and its lake and eventually became a goddess herself. It is said that prayers made to Princess Akagi can bring fulfillment to women’s wishes.
Because of this tradition, Daido Akagi Shrine has also become known as a place where women’s wishes may be granted. Visitors come to pray for love, marriage, and good relationships.
Kotorigashima, the small peninsula where the shrine stands, can be reached by crossing a bridge from the lakeshore.
Surrounded by the lake and mountains, the shrine offers a beautiful combination of vermilion architecture, calm water, and the forests of Mount Akagi. The reflection of the shrine on the lake changes with the seasons and weather, giving the scenery a different character each time you visit.
In spring, fresh green foliage covers the surrounding mountains and creates a refreshing landscape around the lake. Summer brings visitors seeking the cool climate of the highlands, while the clear lake and deep forests provide a welcome escape from the heat.
In autumn, the mountains are covered in brilliant fall colors, creating a striking contrast with the vermilion shrine buildings and the lake. In winter, snow can cover the grounds, creating a quiet and solemn atmosphere.
Early mornings and evenings when mist settles over the lake are particularly atmospheric. The shrine can appear to float within the mist, making this a memorable setting for photography.
Mount Akagi has a long tradition known as nōkyō, or the offering of mirrors to the gods. Numerous bronze mirrors believed to have been used in ancient rituals have been discovered around Lake Ōnuma.
More than 1,000 mirrors are also said to have been dedicated to the shrine, providing a connection to the ancient religious traditions of Mount Akagi.
In ancient Japan, mirrors were regarded as sacred objects and were sometimes treated as yorishiro—objects through which a divine presence could manifest. The tradition of mirror offerings illustrates how Mount Akagi was revered as a place of nature worship and mountain spirituality from an early period.
The exact date when Daido Akagi Shrine was founded is unknown. According to shrine tradition, its origins date back to the time when Prince Toyoki-iribiko-no-mikoto governed the region of Kamitsukeno and worshipped the spiritual powers of Mount Akagi and its lakes.
Later traditions state that shrine buildings were established during the reigns of Emperor Ingyō and Emperor Yōmei.
The shrine is traditionally said to have originally stood on the slopes of Hokurayama, corresponding to present-day Mount Jizō, before being relocated to the southern shore of Lake Ōnuma in 806.
A shrine called Konuma Shrine was also established near Lake Konuma and later became associated with Toyouke Shrine. These developments contributed to the formation of a wider religious tradition centered on the mountains and lakes of Mount Akagi.
During the Heian period (794–1185), the deity of Akagi appears in historical records as a deity who received official ranks from the imperial court. References to Akagi Shrine can be found in historical works including the Shoku Nihon Kōki and the Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku.
The Engishiki Jinmyōchō, compiled during the Heian period, lists Akagi Shrine in Seta District of Kōzuke Province as a Myōjin Taisha, a designation for shrines of particularly high religious status.
During this period, Mount Akagi also became associated with Shugendō, a Japanese mountain ascetic tradition. Practitioners entered the mountains for religious training, making the forests, peaks, and lakes important settings for spiritual practice.
During the Edo period (1603–1868), Daido Akagi Shrine received strong support from successive lords of the Maebashi Domain.
Sakai Shigetada, who became lord of Maebashi Castle in 1601, is said to have revered Akagi Shrine as a guardian of Mount Akagi, which lay in the direction considered the castle’s kimon, or traditionally inauspicious northeastern direction.
Later lords continued this tradition, supporting the maintenance of the shrine buildings and religious ceremonies. The shrine also developed connections with the Tokugawa regime, including the enshrinement of Tokugawa Ieyasu alongside the other deities.
The annual Uzuki Yokka festival marking the opening of the mountain season attracted worshippers from throughout the Kanto region. Pilgrimages known as Akagi-mōde became popular, establishing Mount Akagi as an important destination for religious travel.
Branches of Akagi Shrine subsequently spread throughout the Kanto region and beyond. Today, approximately 300 Akagi Shrines are said to exist across Japan.
During the Meiji period (1868–1912), the government’s policy of separating Buddhism and Shinto reorganized the relationship between temples and shrines. Daido Akagi Shrine consequently ended its traditional association with Juenji Temple, which had served as its affiliated temple.
The harsh mountain environment also caused deterioration of the shrine buildings, leading to discussions about rebuilding and relocating the shrine.
In 1970, the shrine was moved to its present location on Kotorigashima, where new shrine buildings were constructed. This relocation created the distinctive lakeside landscape seen today.
In 2006, major restoration work was carried out to commemorate 1,200 years since the shrine’s relocation during the Daidō era. The shrine buildings and surrounding grounds were subsequently improved and maintained.
Kotorigashima is also home to the historically significant Kotorigashima Archaeological Site.
An ancient sutra mound dating from the Northern and Southern Courts period was discovered here. Archaeologists found artifacts including a container for the Lotus Sutra and mirrors believed to have been buried in 1372.
These discoveries provide valuable evidence of the religious practices of a period when Buddhist and Shinto traditions were closely intertwined. They have also been designated as cultural properties of Gunma Prefecture.
Daido Akagi Shrine holds major festivals in summer and autumn, featuring various Shinto rituals and traditional events.
These ceremonies express gratitude toward the deities associated with the mountain and lake and continue to form an important part of the local cultural heritage.
The combination of Mount Akagi’s natural scenery and the shrine’s distinctive architecture has also made the area popular with photographers, particularly during festival periods and seasons when the surrounding landscape is at its most beautiful.
Daido Akagi Shrine is a distinctive destination where the dramatic natural landscape of Mount Akagi meets a religious tradition that stretches back many centuries.
The vermilion shrine buildings standing on Kotorigashima appear to float on Lake Ōnuma, while the surrounding scenery changes dramatically throughout the year. Fresh greenery in spring, the cool lakeside landscape of summer, colorful autumn foliage, and snow-covered winter scenery each offer a different experience.
The shrine’s appeal also extends far beyond its beautiful setting. The Legend of Princess Akagi, the ancient tradition of mirror offerings, historical records dating back to the Heian period, and the popular pilgrimages of the Edo period all reveal the long relationship between the people of the region and Mount Akagi.
When visiting Mount Akagi, take time to walk across Kotorigashima and around the lakeside. The combination of nature, history, spirituality, and traditional culture makes Daido Akagi Shrine one of the most atmospheric places to experience the character of Mount Akagi.
9:30-16:30
Approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes from JR Maebashi Station by Kanetsu Kotsu Bus via Fujimi Onsen.
(Direct bus service is available on weekends and holidays.
By car: Approximately 1 hour from the Akagi IC of the Kan-Etsu Expressway via Route 353 and Prefectural Route 4