The Lower Shrine where Akimiya stands worships Yasakatome, consort to the male deity of the Upper Shrine. Almost no historical documents from the Lower Shrine survive, unlike its Upper counterpart.

Akimiya serves as the autumn shrine while its sister Harumiya functions as the spring shrine. Both form the Lower Shrine complex on Lake Suwa's northern shore in Shimosuwa town.

Suwa Taisha é considerado um dos santuários mais antigos do Japão; o Nihon Shoki sugere que já existia no final do século VII.

Akimiya is one of four shrines in the Suwa complex, one of Japan's oldest Shinto sites dating to at least the 7th century. The complex splits into Upper and Lower shrines on opposite sides of Lake Suwa.