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This shrine was said to be founded by Yamato Takeru, the 12th Emperor of Japan, around 2,000 years ago. The current main building of the shrine is Shinto-style architecture, where the main hall and worship hall share one roof and are connected by an intermediate passageway. The main shrine, hall of offerings, and hall of worship were rebuilt during the end of the Edo period to the early Meiji period. The shrine is said to protect from fires, theft, and pain. Not only do many worshipers come from the local area, but also from throughout Kanto region, with more than one million annual visitors.

Kitain Temple thrived after the appointment of Sōjō Tenkai, entrusted by Ieyasu Tokugawa, in 1612. Most of the temple burnt down in Kawagoe's great fire in 1638, but was renovated during the Edo period by the third generation shogun Iemitsu, who transferred the "Iemitsu Birth Room" and "Kasuga Bunkachi Makeup Room" to the temple from the Edo castle. In addition, the entire area was designated as an important cultural property. One of Japan’s three major arhat, “Gohyakurakan”, can be seen here.

"Rakan," or "Arhat," is a Buddhist term signifying a spiritual practitioner, or high priest, who has attained enlightenment. The 500 Rakan of the Kitain Temple are one of Japan's three great Rakan and took 50 years to complete. The 538 stone statues are famous for expressing a wide range of human emotions and for each having a unique action. According to legend, if you visit at night and touch the heads of the statues, only one will be warm, and it is said that this statue's face resembles the sculptor's deceased parent.

In front of the main hall is a statue of “Obinzurusama” (a disciple of Buddha), which legend has it that you will be healed by touching the statue where your body has pain while touching the same place on your body. In spring the adorable rare Bukoumamezakura cherry blossoms bloom for a delightful scene. It was also the setting for the animated movie, “The Anthem of the Heart." The “Enmei Jizō" (life-prolonging Jizō statue) stands at the entrance as a landmark.

The history of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine goes as far back as the reign of Emperor Kinmei in the 6th century, and is said to have started with the separation of worship practices by the Ōmiya Hikawa Shrine, a part of Musashi Ichinomiya, when the cultural practice of building burial mounds was passed on to them. When Ōta Dōkan built a castle thereafter, it was revered as a Sōja, a shrine enshrining several gods, of this location. Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine is familiarly called “Ohikawa-sama.”

This is the oldest grand shrine in Kanto. It is said to have been founded by descendants of the Izumo family because of its old nickname, Hazenomiya; another theory is that it was established by Yamato Takeru 1900 years ago in the time of Emperor Keikō. The Washimiya Saibara Kagura music and dance is a tradition in the shrine and is designated as an important intangible folk cultural property of the country. Furthermore, the shrine appears in the animation “Lucky Star”, and in turn, Washimiya shrine uses this work to revitalize the area.

Marking 2100 years, Gochinza, a Sōja of Chichibu, has been revered since ancient times. In a forest of oak, there is an atmosphere with style and solemn beauty. The existing main building of the shrine is a contribution of Ieyasu Tokugawa in 1592 and was designated as Saitama Prefecture’s tangible cultural property due to the fact that it holds much of the Edo period’s early architectural style.

Menuma Shodenzan Kangiin Temple is known to be one of Japan’s three Shoten and is said to bring success, health to the family, fortune, and scholarly achievements, and many other benefits such as matrimony. In 2012, the main shrine of Menuma Shodenzan “Kangiin Shotendo” was designated as a national treasure thanks to its highly skilled carvings, modern decorative architecture, and because it was built from donations by the public. Throughout the year, events such as the annual grand festival and Setsubun festivals take place during the spring and autumn.

Mt. Seitai Hōchōji Temple, the seventh sacred site and temple, is called Ushibusedo, and the main deity is the eleven-faced Kannon. The eleven-faced Kannon was originally located at Ushibuse in the third ward of Negoya. Due to a disaster in 1782, it was moved to the main hall of Hōchōji Temple, where it has been enshrined ever since. Hōchōji temple is called "Fudasho No.7," also "Mt. Seitai," and it follows the Sōtō school of Buddhism. The temple was founded by Ryodo Kansei, who passed away in 1606. The founder of the Buddhist sect here was Shigekata Uchida, the second generation head of the Uchida family, and the Uchida family is said to be of the Fujita lineage, after adopting Hōjō Ujikuni as a son-in-law.

The history of the temple is said to date back about 2,000 years ago, to the reign of Emperor Keiko. During the Kamakura period (1185-1333), when faith in Mt. Mitumine spread, Hatakeyama Shigetada, Nitta Yoshioki, and others worshipped here. During the Tokugawa period (1603-1867), the Kishu shogunate and the Kishu family were revered, and gifts from the Kishu family in particular are still treasured by this shrine. When autumn arrives, the “Fifteen Nights and Moon Reading Festival” is held to herald the arrival of autumn in the mountains of Chichibu.

The temple was rebuilt by Seigon Shonin at the end of the 16th century and became one of eighteen monk training schools for the Jodo sect. As a temple associated with the Tokugawa Shogunate, the use of the "three-leaf hollyhock crest" was permitted. There are many cultural assets on the temple grounds that tell the ancient history of the temple to this day. Every year on November 14, they hold the "Ten Nights Memorial Service," one of the three major ones in Kanto, and the "Doll Memorial Service," which is unique to the town, which is known for its hina dolls.

Founded in 1549 by Renkei Daishi, the mother of Kawagoe Castle Lord Masashige Daidoji. Later during the Tokugawa period, it was officially recognized as a temple and made into a school for Buddhist monks, and many Buddhist monks were educated there. In addition, the temple enshrines Fukurokuju, one of the 7 lucky gods of Kawagoe. Events are held at the temple on a regular basis.

Jigenji is Chichibu’s 13th sacred site on Japan’s 100 Kannon Pilgrimage. It has been famous as a temple for "eyes" for 780 years. Worshippers come from all over Japan with worries and concerns regarding the eye.

This is the village shrine of Ōsawa. It is said to be the Katori Shrine from Saishiro which was transferred here. The establishment is mentioned as Ōei era (1394 to 1428) in the “Meisaichō”. Given that the vicinity belonged to Shimo-usa-no-kuni in medieval times, the Shimo-usa-no-kuni Ichi-no-miya Katori Jingū was made into the village’s shrine in hopes of the Buddha honoring his presence in the village. Despite the shrine being built in Sagishiro, with the maintenance of the Ōushū Kaidō, it was built on the current ground around the Kan’ei era (1624 to 1644). According to the date of construction, the current main shrine was rebuilt in 1866. Around one side of the main shrine, a sign of the dyer’s operation is engraved. It is the work of Takejiro Hasegawa who resides in Mount Asama San’ya-machi and is the city’s designated cultural property.

The Sakitama Shrine holds a history of a thousand and a few hundred years and is an ancient shrine with a majestic and calm atmosphere originating from Saitama Prefecture. The main building of the shrine has a height of 8.7 meters, a circumference of about 92 meters, and is built on top of a tumulus named Sengenzuka (mound) and adjoins to Saitama Kofun Group. The deity has two pillars: Sakitamahimenomikoto and Sakitamahikonomikoto and are gods that protect individuals, brings good fortune and matrimony. Recently, there are limited edition Shuin (seal stamps) with the motif of 4 cats that reside in the shrine (every month on the 22nd including a few days before and after) and is very popular.

Henjo-in was founded in 1394 during the Muromachi period (1336-1573). The main deity of the temple is the Great Sage Fudo Myoo. He is believed to take the form of pure anger to guide those whose sins are so deep that they can't be brought on the right path in any other way. He is worshipped as a Buddha who fulfills wishes, prevents disasters, and provides wealth.

In 1187, the Yoshikawa clan reestablished the indigenous deity of Suwa shrine as the guardian deity of the Yoshikawa Shrine. The precincts of the shrine also include a Yasaka Shrine, Furumine Shrine, Inari Shrine, Matsuo Shrine, Yoshikawa Tenmangu Shrine, Suijingu Eight Great Dragons, and Shikatou Daimyojin. The old Shimotsuma Highway runs behind the shrine, and the large bay and camphor trees in the front and back parts of the precincts tell us that this is a shrine with a long history. Every year in July, the Yasaka Festival, which has a history of about 400 years, is held. The highlight is the "mikoshi," portable shrines that are carried and thrown high above the heads of the bearers.

It is said that Minamoto no Yorinobu, on his way to defeat Taira no Tadatsune in the Heian period (794-1185), had a dream that a god on a white fox gave him a bow and arrow, aiding his win in the battle, thus spurning him to establish this shrine out of gratitude. Yakyū Inari Shrine is designated as a prefectural cultural property for its gongen-zukuri style, with highly sophisticated carvings inside and out. Known for the god of good harvest, prosperous business and the arts, and most notably as the god of victory, many baseball players visit the shrine to pray due to the shrine being named "Yakyū" (baseball). The peony gardens are at peak bloom alongside wisteria and azaleas during mid-April.

The largest Taiwanese Shinto shrine in Japan. This gorgeous structure is worth seeing at least once. The spiral ceiling assembled without any nails, the 5-meter Kowloon stone pillar, a 4-meter door with wood carvings of warrior gods and a coffered ceiling with dragons. You can experience authentic Taiwanese-style worship and omikuji (fortune slips) here.

A temple for safe childbirth and child-rearing, and protection from evil. The main deity of the temple, Nyoirin Kannon, or Cintamanicakra, is said to be the God of Mercy and Wisdom, who holds a wish-fulfilling jewel that removes evil and purifies the clouded mind, relieves suffering, and bestows prosperity by giving gold and silver treasures. In the precincts of the temple are three Muromachi period (1336-1573) blue stone pagodas of the three Amitabha images and a mound of letters from the first year of the Hoei era, in which women wrote down their wishes and deposited them.

The date of its foundation is unknown, but it is said to have been built in the Meiō era between 1492 and 1501, as well as in 1684. It is said that when a Buddhist priest named Genkai visited Fushimi Inari, he built a sutra mound with 10,000 Lotus Sutras buried inside. In the precincts, you can also find a shrine dedicated to Shingoro Takahashi and his wife Ise who developed the warabi (bracken) textile industry of the area. Furthermore, there is a heart-shaped stone that is known to grant visitors success in their pursuit of love.

With Susanoo, the god of storm, inshrined here, the shrine is known to protect against evil and plague. Inside is a lion mask, popular among locals and often called the "Hirakata lion". Every year in July, there is a mysterious festival called "Doroinkyo". This festival is designated as an intangible folk cultural asset by Saitama prefecture. The giant zelkova and enoki mushrooms in the precincts are designated as natural monuments by Ageo City.

Hikawakuwa Shrine has been loved locally since its foundation in the Edo period. In addition to the main shrine, the grounds include two halls dedicated to the god of learning and Zhu Xi. A shrine monument to the life of Unmuro, the Hall of Prince Shotoku, and the Sengen Shrine.

During wisteria season, you can enjoy vines of purple wisteria flowers descending from the trees in the precincts of Gokado Temple on Mt. Ogawa. Magohachi Honma, who built the temple, spent a night discussing the art of waka poetry with a traveling monk to finally master its secrets, and thus named the temple "Gokado" (words and songs temple). According to legend, the monk was said to have been the incarnation of Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy. The stone Buddha in the Koshinto pagoda on the right side of the hall is one of few existing in Chichibu. Collectible goshuin seals are available at Chokoji Temple, about 250 meters away.
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