Maruyama Kousen Inn

From season to season, Saitama Prefecture’s largest terraced paddy field expands a rural scene that can only be seen in Japan. As of now, 4 hectares of the rice field (about 250 pieces) is in use out of the total area of 5.2 hectares. In the summer, en event of about 600 bonfires lighting up takes place, creating a magical atmophere, and is an experience limited to one night that cannot be enjoyed anywhere else. During the autumn, the 2,000,000 bulbs of the red spider lily planted on footpath blooms.

A small hill (approx. 4 hectares) at the end of the parking lot of the Yokoze town citizen ground is being maintained by volunteers, mainly local residents, to make it into a place where people can gather and enjoy the blooming flowers. They have planted more than 6000 flowers and trees, mainly white flowers, which can be enjoyed from season to season. In addition, as a joint project between the government and academia, the town collaborated with Musashino Art University to create three integrated artworks that make the area even more attractive.

Also known as Ogino-do, the main deity, Saint Kannon, is said to have once stood on the top of Mount Bukō. The temple also has a buddha statue in the style of Seiryō-ji, a picture scroll of good fortune, and a tooth of Yamanba (a mountain witch). The view seen from the top of Mount Bukō is a magnificent sight.

During the wisteria season, you can enjoy the beautiful purple descending wisteria in the precincts. Magohachi Honma, who built the temple, spent a night discussing the path of waka poetry with a traveling monk and finally mastered the secrets of waka poetry. According to legend, the monk is said to have been the incarnation of the Goddess of Mercy. The stone Buddha in the Koshinto pagoda on the right side of the hall is one of the few in Chichibu. Collectible seals are available at Chokoji Temple, about 250 meters away.

Simple sulfur hot spring. Chichibu Yumoto (source of a hot spring), is a day trip hot spring that utilizes the Bukō Hot Spring as the source; it is effective for a range of chronic diseases such as neuralgia, sore muscles, arthralgia, stiff shoulders, and poor blood circulation. This is a liberating open-air bath where one can fully enjoy nature, with the cypress bath giving a tender feel of the tree and the rock bath providing a simplistic natural atmosphere. In addition, there is a “Bukō Auto Campsite (Phone Number: 0494-23-8229)” nearby and a lodging facility “Bukō-no-yu Bekkan (annex) (For reservation: 0494-24-4141)”.