You've probably seen that iconic torii gate standing in the water. It’s one of those images that defines Japanese travel brochures. It’s peaceful. It’s ancient. It’s also currently at the center of a massive headache for Ubisoft. When the first trailers and promotional materials for Shirahige Shrine in AC Shadows started circulating, history buffs and local residents in Shiga Prefecture did a double-take.
Wait. Something is wrong here.
The problem isn't just a missed texture or a glitchy NPC. It’s a matter of time and space. Assassin's Creed has always played fast and loose with history—we’ve fought Pope Alexander VI in a fistfight and jumped off Big Ben—but the inclusion of Shirahige Shrine in its current form in Assassin’s Creed Shadows has hit a nerve.
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Honestly, the controversy is a fascinating look at how we consume "historical" media.
The Lake Biwa Problem
Shirahige Shrine is real. It’s located in Takashima, Shiga Prefecture, and it’s often called the "Itsukushima of Omi" because of that famous gate in Lake Biwa. In the game, which is set during the late Sengoku period (the late 1500s), players expect to see a version of Japan that reflects the era of Oda Nobunaga and Yasuke.
But here’s the kicker. That famous "floating" torii gate? It wasn't there.
Historically, the gate in the water is a relatively modern addition. While the shrine itself is incredibly old—legend says it’s the oldest in the region—the photogenic gate that everyone recognizes today was actually constructed in the 20th century. Specifically, it was built in 1937 and later rebuilt in the 1980s. When Ubisoft included the water-bound gate in Shirahige Shrine in AC Shadows, they effectively dropped a piece of modern architecture into the 16th century.
It’s like seeing the Eiffel Tower in a movie about the French Revolution.
Local fans noticed. Then the shrine officials noticed. Eventually, it became a talking point in Japanese media, leading to questions about how much "creative liberty" is too much when dealing with living religious sites. It's not just a backdrop; for many, it’s a sacred space that exists in a specific historical context.
Why Accuracy Matters in Shiga
You might think, "It’s just a video game, who cares?"
In Japan, the concept of rekishi ninshiki or "historical perception" is a big deal. For a franchise that markets itself on "historical tourism," getting the timeline wrong on a landmark as famous as Shirahige Shrine feels lazy to some. Shiga Prefecture isn't as globally famous as Kyoto or Tokyo, so when it finally gets its moment in a AAA blockbuster, the residents want it done right.
The shrine's history is actually way more interesting than just a gate in the water. It’s dedicated to Sarutahiko Okami, the deity of guidance. In the 1500s, the shrine would have looked quite different. The main hall (Honden) that stands today was actually a gift from Toyotomi Hideyori in 1603.
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So, if the game is set in 1579 or 1582, even the buildings would be under construction or look vastly different from their current state. Ubisoft's version seems to use the modern "tourist" version of the site. It’s a shortcut. It’s basically the "Vegas" version of Sengoku Japan.
Breaking Down the Visual Anachronisms
If you look closely at the leaked or previewed assets of the shrine area, there are a few things that stand out as "off" to an expert eye:
- The Stone Lanterns: Many of the stone paths and lanterns seen in modern Shinto shrines are products of the Edo period or later. In the 1580s, these areas were often much more rugged.
- The Roadway: Today, a major highway (Route 161) runs right between the shrine and the gate. Obviously, that's not in the game, but the way the shoreline is modeled in AC Shadows seems to mimic the modern, reinforced coastline rather than the natural, marshy edges of Lake Biwa in the 1500s.
- The Torii Style: The specific "Ryobu" style of the floating gate (with the extra support pillars) is accurate to the shrine’s tradition, but again, placing it in the water 400 years early is the primary beef.
The Yasuke Connection
Why is this shrine even in the game?
It actually makes sense from a narrative standpoint. Yasuke, the African samurai, traveled extensively with Oda Nobunaga. Nobunaga had a massive presence in the Lake Biwa region—his headquarters, Azuchi Castle, was right across the water.
If you’re a developer, you want the player to see the coolest sights in the area. You think, "We need a landmark for Lake Biwa." You Google it. You see Shirahige Shrine. You put it in.
But the "cool" factor is clashing with the "authentic" factor. This has been a recurring theme with Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Between the architectural mishaps (like square tatami mats or incorrect roof tiles) and the Shirahige Shrine drama, Ubisoft has found itself in a bit of a PR minefield.
Creative Liberty vs. Cultural Heritage
Let’s be fair for a second. Ubisoft is a business. They want to sell a "fantasy" of Japan.
Most players in Ohio or Berlin or Sao Paulo don’t know that the gate was built in 1937. They just want a beautiful place to parkour over. There is a genuine tension between making a fun game and making a museum-grade simulation.
However, when you use the name of a real, existing religious institution, you’re entering a different territory. The staff at Shirahige Shrine have actually spoken out, noting that they weren't consulted. In Japanese culture, "consultation" is everything. It’s about respect.
If you’re going to feature Shirahige Shrine in AC Shadows, the least you can do is make sure it doesn't look like a 2026 postcard.
What This Means for the Player Experience
Does this ruin the game? Probably not for most.
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But it does break the immersion for those who love the "Discovery Tour" aspects of the series. If I can't trust the game to get the date of a massive landmark right, can I trust it to tell me the truth about the Iga Revolt? Probably not. It turns the game from a "historical thriller" into a "historical-themed theme park."
How to Handle This When You Play
When the game finally drops, I recommend visiting the shrine in-game and then pulling up a historical map of Shiga from the 16th century. It's a fun exercise. You’ll see how much the developers squished the geography to make it "fun."
The shrine in the game is likely a hub for naval missions or stealth encounters involving the Lake Biwa "pirates" (the Kuki clan or similar aquatic warriors of the era). Just keep in mind that the "floating" aspect is a total fiction for the 1580s.
Actionable Steps for Fans and Researchers
If you actually care about the real history behind the digital recreation, here is how you can verify the facts for yourself:
- Check the Shiga Prefectural Archives: They have digitized records of land use around Lake Biwa. You won't find a water-gate in any 16th-century sketches.
- Visit the Shrine Virtually: Look at the shrine's official website or Japanese cultural heritage databases. They explicitly list the construction dates of the various structures.
- Cross-reference with Azuchi Castle: Since Azuchi is a major hub in the game, look at the distance between the castle and the shrine. The game "scales" the world down, so the travel time across the lake is much shorter than it would be in real life.
- Support Local Preservation: If you enjoy the aesthetics of the shrine in the game, consider looking into the actual preservation efforts for Lake Biwa's ecosystem. The real "Shirahige" faces issues with erosion and traffic that a video game doesn't show.
The controversy surrounding Shirahige Shrine in AC Shadows isn't going to go away just because the game is released. It’s a permanent part of the game’s legacy now. It serves as a reminder that as games become more photorealistic, our responsibility to the truth—or at least to the culture we’re "borrowing"—becomes a lot more heavy.
If you're going to use a culture's most sacred icons to sell millions of copies, you should probably know when they were built. Just a thought.
Explore the map. Enjoy the combat. But don't take the architecture as gospel. The real Shiga has a much deeper, more complex story to tell than what you’ll find in a digital Lake Biwa. It’s worth looking up the real Sarutahiko Okami and the actual history of the Omi province to see what Ubisoft missed while they were busy building a 1930s gate in a 1580s world.