Temples/shrines - Tourist Information

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Temples and Shrines

Chichibu area

Chichibu Shrine: This is a tutelary shrine for the entire Chichibu area, and the main shrine, which was rebuilt by Tokugawa Ieyasu in Gongen style, is a prefectural cultural property of Saitama. "Tsunagi no Ryu" and "Kosodate no Tora", brilliant-colored sculptures created by Hidari Jingoro, are also well known.

A 15-minutes walk from Seibu-Chichibu Station on the Seibu Chichibu Line.

Mitsumine Shrine: This shrine is known as a holy place of mountain worship in the Kanto area. Inside the shrine precincts are the images of mountain ascetics, the brilliantly decorated inner shrine, Zuishinmon (gate), Yohaiden (remote worship hall), and the image of Yamato Takeru no Mikoto (Japanese mythological figure).

Get off at Seibu-Chichibu Station on the Seibu Chichibu Line and transfer to an express bus bound for Mitsumine Jinja (approximately a 75-minutes bus ride).

Hodosan Shrine: The shrine buildings in Gongen style were built in the late Edo period and exude a solemn atmosphere. The Hodosan Ropeway runs from Sanroku Station near the shrine to the mountaintop, showcasing the beautiful scenery of the mountain range of Chichibu and the Chichibu Basin.

Transfer at Seibu-Chichibu Station from the Seibu Chichibu Line to the Chichibu Railway (Ohanabatake Station) and get off at Nagatoro Station. A 12-minutes walk from the station.

Pilgrimage to Sacred Temples in Chichibu

Pilgrimage to 34 Sacred Temples in Chichibu: The pilgrimage road connecting the 34 sacred temples in Chichibu extends over a distance of about 100 km from No. 1 Shimabuji Temple to No. 34 Suisenji Temple. They are scattered in the mountains around Chichibu City, and a leisurely rural landscape with seasonal wild flowers and simple stone images of Buddha unfolds along the pilgrimage road connecting the temples.

Get off at Seibu-Chichibu Station on the Seibu Chichibu Line.

Kinshoji Temple(Sacred temple #4): Go through the Niomon Gate with big straw sandals hanging from it, and you will find a place filled with no less than 1,319 stone Buddha images. The famous image of Kosodate Kannon (child-rearing goddess) is located on the right side of the main hall corridor. The figure of Kannon holding and breast-feeding a baby in her lap is truly lovely.

Get off at Seibu-Chichibu Station on the Seibu Chichibu Line and transfer to the Seibu sightseeing bus bound for Sadamine/Minano Station. Get off at Kinshoji bus stop (18-minutes). A 5-minutes walk from the bus stop.

Bokuunji Temple(Sacred temple #6): The teeth of an old mountain hag and Ogi-no-do Engi Emaki (picture scroll) have been passed down to the temple as temple treasures. Inaridaimyojin, the god of good harvests, is enshrined in the hall on the left side of the main hall.

A 30-minutes walk from Yokoze Station on the Seibu Chichibu Line.

Saizenji Temple (Sacred temple #8): In the center of the main hall is housed an eleven-faced kannon that is said to have been created by the famous Eshin Souzu or Genshin. The huge Kominekaede (Acer micranthum) tree in the temple precincts is said to be 500 or 600 years old and designated as a prefectural natural treasure.

A 30-minutes walk from Yokoze Station on the Seibu Chichibu Line.

Jigenji Temple(Sacred temple #13): The main hall in front is built in 3 by 4 style with a Karahafu-style canopy, and the inside is decorated with carvings and a latticed ceiling. It is a small hall, but the design is gorgeous, simple, and balanced. A hexagonal Rindo and images of 13 holy priests are enshrined in the sutra storehouse on the right-hand side of the precinct.

A 4-minutes walk from Seibu-Chichibu Station on the Seibu Chichibu Line.

Imamiya-bo(Sacred temple #14): The history of Imamiya-bo is exactly the history of pilgrimages to the sacred temples in Chichibu. The Kannon-do used to be located in the precincts of Hachidaigongen Shrine, and Imamiya-bo used to serve as the governing temple of both the Hachidaigongen Shrine and the Kannon-do. Upon the abolition of the fusion of Shintoism and Buddhism and a ban on ascetic exercises, the shrine and Kannon-do were separated.

A 14-minutes walk from Seibu-Chichibu Station on the Seibu Chichibu Line.

Shorinji Temple(Sacred temple #15): The main hall of the Shorinji Temple was built in the last year of the Meiji period and is an unusual temple building with a tiled roof in Irimoya style with a Chidorihafu-style canopy.

An 8-minutes walk from Seibu-Chichibu Station on the Seibu Chichibu Line.

Saikoji Temple(Sacred temple #16): After going through the gate, Kannon-do (place where Goddess of Kannon is enshrined) appears in front, which also serves as the main hall and was built in 1710. In the main hall, there is a plaque depicting Buddha at his death with heavenly maidens and animals surrounding him.

A 15-minutes walk from Seibu-Chichibu Station on the Seibu Chichibu Line.

Ongakuji Temple(Sacred temple #23): The temple was reconstructed in 1412. The main hall was originally located closer to the mountaintop, where there is a small temple now. The design of Kannon-do is in 3 by 4 araeosystyle with double rafters instead of a canopy, representing the architectural characteristics of the mid-Edo period.

Get off at Seibu-Chichibu Station on the Seibu Chichibu Line and transfer to the Muse Park circuit bus, counterclockwise Gururin. Get off at the Ongakuji bus stop (15-minutes). It is near the bus stop.

Daienji Temple(Sacred temple #27): Behind the temple is a field of Japanese dog's tooth violets, whose little flowers delight the eye of visitors in spring (In bloom: late March to mid-April). In the precincts, sacred water called Kannnonsan Enmei-sui, which is believed to make one's life longer, springs out.

Transfer at Seibu-Chichibu Station from the Seibu Chichibu Line to the Chichibu Railway (Ohanabatake Station) and get off at Kagemori Station. A 10-minutes walk from the station.

Hashidate-do(Sacred temple #28): The main hall is a vermilion-lacquered structure standing by a 65m steep cliff. In the hall, the image of 28cm-tall Bato Kannon is enshrined, which is believed to have been created during the Kamakura period.

Transfer from the Seibu Chichibu Line at Seibu-Chichibu Station to the Chichibu Railway (Ohanabatake Station) and get off at Urayamaguchi Station. A 15-minutes walk from the station.

Suisenji Temple(Sacred temple #34): There is a sandbox containing sand collected from Japan's 100 sacred Kannon temples in front of the main hall. The image of the god enshrined here is believed to have been carved from one tree during the Muromachi period. The image of Amitabha in the western pure land representing the western part of Japan and the image of Yakushinyorai in the eastern light world representing the eastern part of Japan are placed on each side of the main image.

Transfer at Seibu-Chichibu Station from the Seibu Chichibu Line to the Chichibu Railway (Ohanabatake Station) and get off at Minano Station. Take a Minano town bus for the Hinozawa Line and get off at Fudasho-mae bus stop (20-minutes). A 3-minutes walk from the bus stop.

Kawagoe area

Kawagoe Kitain Temple: This is the headquarters of the Tendai sect temples in the Kanto area. The temple possesses many national important treasures, including the main hall and Tahoto Tower. Moreover, there are valuable paintings and artifacts that were transferred from Edo, including the room where Iemitsu was born and the powder room of Kasuganotsubone.

A 15-minutes walk from Hon-Kawagoe Station on the Shinjuku Line.

Five Hundred Rakan: More than 500 stones images line up in the precincts of Kawagoe Kitain Temple. It is said that it took about 50 years to create these images, which constitute one of the three greatest groups of Rakan images in Japan. Their humorous and various facial expressions enjoy high popularity.

A 15-minutes walk from Hon-Kawagoe Station on the Shinjuku Line.

Nakain Temple: It is said that this Tendai sect temple separated itself from Muryojuji Temple in the late Kamakura period. It has a quiet, secluded atmosphere and there is a tea room, which is associated with Toson Shimazaki and designated as a cultural property by Kawagoe City.

An 8-minutes walk from Hon-Kawagoe Station on the Shinjuku Line.

Koed Kawagoe Tour of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune: The Seven Gods of Good Fortune consist of the following 7 deities on a boat full of treasures who arrive on New Year's Day: Ebisuten, Daikokuten, Benzaiten, Bishamonten, Jurojin, Fukurokujushin, and Hoteison. The Kawagoe Seven Gods of Good Fortune tour visits the seven gods enshrined in 7 temples in Kawagoe, a castle town also known as Koedo: Myoshoji Temple (Benzaiten), Kenryuji Temple (Hoteison), Renkeiji Temple (Fukurokujushin), Naritayama Temple (Ebisuten), Kawagoe Kitain Temple (Daikokuten), Tennenji Temple (Jurojin), and Myozenji Temple (Bishamonten). This tour also serves as a simple, convenient walking course.

It's a 17-minutes walk from Hon-Kawagoe Station to Myozenji Temple (Bishamonten). You can continue on and visit Tennenji Temple, Kitain Temple, Naritasan Temple, Renkeiji Temple, Kenryuji Temple, and Myoshoji Temple ―the tour only takes about an hour and 30-minutes.

Miyoshino Shrine: The shrine was built in 1624 as a tutelary shrine of Kawagoe Castle. In the precincts with an approach lined with cherry trees are monuments of the 7 wonders of Kawagoe and the birthplace of Toryanse, a children's song.

Get off at Hon-Kawagoe Station on the Shinjuku Line.

Other areas

Sayamasan Fudoji Temple: This is a temple of the Tendai sect, and many historical structures have been transferred to it from across the country, including the national important cultural properties of the Chokugaku-mon, Onari-mon, and Choji-mon gates of the former mausoleum of Daitokuin (the second Tokugawa shogun Hidetada).

A 5-minutes walk from Seibukyūjō-mae Station on the Sayama Line.

Enshoji Temple: It is well known as an ema (votive picture tablets) temple, where about 500 emas have been dedicated by artists and sumo wrestlers.

Get off at Motokaji Station on the Ikebukuro Line.

Noninji Temple: This is a time-honored temple in Hannō, featuring hydrangea (in bloom from early June to late June) in early summer and scarlet-tinged maple leaves in autumn. There is a famous garden behind the main hall, which is said to have been created in the Momoyama period.

A 20-minutes walk from the North Exit at Hannō Station on the Ikebukuro Line.

Koma Shrine: This is a shrine built to commemorate the virtue of Komano-Kokishi Jakko. In recent years, it has become famous as a shrine enshrining a god of success, which many celebrities from various quarters, including political and legal circles, visit to offer prayers.

A 45-minutes walk from Koma Station on the Ikebukuro Line.

Shodenin Temple: This is a temple built as a family temple of Komano-Kokishi (King of Goryeo) Jakko. Its stately gate and dignified main hall suggest its long significant history.

A 45-minutes walk from Koma Station on the Ikebukuro Line.

Takayamafudoson Temple: This temple is said to be built by Chokakubo, the second son of Fujiwara no Kamatari, to bring peace to and protect the Kanto area. While it was a huge temple with over 36 residential quarters for monks and priests at the height of its power, there are only three residential quarters left at present. A huge ginkgo tree, which stands out in the precincts, is estimated to be about 800 years old and designated a prefectural natural treasure. The tree is also known as the "child-rearing ginkgo," which is believed to have the power to cure mothers with low milk supply if they pray to the tree.

A 60-minutes walk from Nishi-Agano Station on the Seibu Chichibu Line.

Neno-Gongen Temple: This is a historical temple of the Tendai sect and the enshrined god of good luck, who heals leg and hip troubles, attracts many believers from various quarters. In the precincts is the world's heaviest pair of iron sandals that weighs 2t.

An 80-minutes walk from Nishi-Agano Station on the Seibu Chichibu Line.

Hanazono Shrine: This is a tutelary shrine of Shinjuku located at the intersection of Meiji Street and Yasukuni Street. Protected by an over 300-years-old sacred ginkgo tree, the shrine attracts many visitors from across the country during the Setsubun Festival (celebration of the end of winter) in February, Annual Festival in May, and Otori Festival (a day to pray for business success) in November.

A 7-minutes walk from the East Exit at Seibu-Shinjuku Station on the Shinjuku Line.

Araiyakushiji Temple: The Healing Buddha of the temple is famous for its power in helping child-rearing and healing eye diseases and is also called the Eye-Healing Buddha. The temple receives many visitors on its regular monthly fair days (8th, 18th, and 28th of each month) and during New Year holidays.

A 5-minutes walk from Araiyakushi-mae Station on the Shinjuku Line.

Higashifushimi Inari Shrine: This is a shrine that received part of the holy spirit from Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto in 1929 as a shrine governing Fushimi Inari shrines in the eastern part of Japan. While the enshrined god is originally a god of agriculture, it is believed to possess miraculous power for art, a happy family, longevity, and business success.

A 10-minutes walk from Higashi-Fushimi Station on the Shinjuku Line.