A sacred site of rebirth in myth, where the god Okuninushi is said to have died and been restored to life — revered as a deity of revival and new beginnings.
Akaiwa Shrine is located in Terauchi, Nanbu Town, Saihaku District, Tottori Prefecture. Its principal deity is Oanamuchi no Mikoto (Okuninushi no Mikoto), along with several other gods. The shrine is widely known as the setting of the 'rebirth myth' of Okuninushi recorded in the Kojiki.
According to the Kojiki, Okuninushi no Mikoto was deceived by his elder brothers and made to embrace a great rock heated blazing red, causing his death. He is then said to have been revived through the power of his mother goddess and other female deities, and this place has long been venerated as a sacred site of resurrection and renewal. Beside the main hall, the rock that Okuninushi is said to have embraced is believed to be sealed deep in the ground. The spring used in his revival — known as the 'Waters of the Cockle and Clam Shells' — is said to still well up in the Shimizu River, approximately 400 meters to the west. The main hall is built in the Taisha-zukuri style, one of the oldest forms of shrine architecture in Japan.
There is no permanent shrine office on site, so visitors who wish to obtain talismans or other items are advised to contact the shrine in advance. Nearby historical sites related to the myth, including Hakatayama (Mother's Tomb Mountain), are scattered in the surrounding area, making it possible to trace the footprints of the legend on a leisurely tour.