S P O T ／ SPOT-191
Aki Jinja Shrine (Kagiroi Phenomenon and Man'yoshu Poetry)
阿紀神社あきじんじゃ
An Engishiki-listed shrine said to originate as the 'Uda no Agoki-miya' where Princess Yamato-hime enshrined Amaterasu Omikami during the reign of Emperor Suinin. The shrine stands in the Akino (Aki Fields) where the Man'yoshu poet Kakinomoto no Hitomaro composed the celebrated poem in the first scroll (no. 46): 'Higashi no no ni / kagiroi no tatsu miete / kaerimi sureba / tsuki katamukinu' ('In the eastern fields I see the shimmer of dawn's light rising; turning to look back, the moon has tilted'). The 'kagiroi' phenomenon — the shimmering of auroral light and heat-haze in the eastern sky before dawn around the winter solstice — is still observed, and an annual 'kagiroi-viewing gathering' is held in mid-December to mid-January. The precinct also contains a Noh stage built in the early Edo period (the 'Aki no Hotaru-Noh' is performed there each June).
H I G H L I G H T S
Highlights
- 01Located in the Akino (Aki Fields) where Kakinomoto no Hitomaro composed Man'yoshu Vol. 1, No. 46 — 'In the eastern fields the shimmer of dawn's light (kagiroi) rises, and turning back, the moon has tilted'
- 02The 'kagiroi' phenomenon: the shimmering auroral and heat-haze light appearing in the eastern sky before dawn in mid-winter (annual viewing gatherings held mid-December to mid-January)
- 03An Engishiki-listed shrine, formerly a prefectural shrine (elevated 1902), associated with the tradition that Princess Yamato-hime enshrined Amaterasu Omikami here during the reign of Emperor Suinin
- 04Deities enshrined: Amaterasu Okami, Akita-hime-no-Kami, Ninigi-no-Mikoto, and Yagokoroomoikane-no-Kami (main hall), among others
- 05An Edo-period Noh stage survives in the precincts; the 'Aki no Hotaru-Noh' performance is held there annually in mid-June
A C C E S S ／ M E T A
Essentials
- Location
- Nara Prefecture Uda City
- Address
- 奈良県宇陀市大宇陀迫間252
- Fee
- 無料
- Hours
- 参拝自由（能舞台使用時は除く）
- Status
- 現存（参拝自由）
D E E P D I V E
Deep Dive
Religion
Religion
Main enshrined deities: Amaterasu-Omikami, Akita-hime-no-Kami, Ninigi-no-Mikoto, and Yagokoro-Omoi-kane-no-Kami. Secondary hall: Ame-no-Mizuwake-no-Kami, Sugawara-no-Michizane, Kanayama-hiko-no-Kami, Kanayama-hime-no-Kami. The primary enshrinement of Amaterasu reflects the shrine's claimed connection to Yamato-hime-no-Mikoto's sacred tour preceding the foundation of Ise Jingu. Note: the precise theological identity of Akita-hime-no-Kami is uncertain.
Architecture
Architecture
The main hall follows the shinmei-zukuri (Ise-style) architectural form. The Edo-period Noh stage within the precinct is remarkably well-preserved and still in active use for the 'Akino Hotaru Noh' (firefly Noh performance, mid-June). The precinct is enveloped by old cedars, creating a hushed atmosphere.
Cultural Property
Cultural Property
Listed in the Engishiki (927 CE) as a government-recognized shrine of Yamato Province (Uda District). Formerly ranked as a prefectural shrine. Specific designation status of the shrine buildings and Noh stage could not be confirmed from publicly available official sources (unverified information).