This is the sixteenth of my ex post facto shrine reports. I visited it in November 2015 along with some friends and was unable to spend as much time there as I would have liked. There are thus too few photos attached to do anything like full justice to this photogenic gem, but the ones there are are quite interesting.

First the name. The “Akihasan-hongū” indicates that it is the main shrine of the Akiba Shrine Grouping. According to Wikipedia there are about 400 Akiba Jinja registered with the Association of Shinto Shrines, while the Kamata table gives a number of 1,600 for the combined Akiba/Atago Grouping (both shrines worship the same kami, Hino-kagu-tsuchi-Ōkami, the god who protects against fire). Wikipedia says there are about 900 Atago jinja, while the Asahi Shinbun puts the number of Akiba at 362. My own database lists 234 Akiba and 702 Atago Jinja. 

The shrine is located on Mount Akiha at the southern end of the Akaishi Mountain Range, also known as the Southern Alps. The Lower Shrine, including the shrine office, is at the base of the mountain, while the upper shrine is close to the 866m peak. There are various explanations as to its origin but it is clear that from medieval times it was regarded as a Shintai-san, a mountain which was seen as being a residence of the kami. The shrine legend dates its origin to 709. It is said that when the mountain began to rumble and fires broke out, the then reigning Empress Genmei (元明天皇) indicated that the newly built shrine should be dedicated to the Kami of Fire Prevention, Hino Kagutsuchi no Okami. At that time it may have been known as Kie-no-honkami-no-yashiro (岐陛保神ノ社).