Chichibu Fudasho Pilgrimage: Sacred Site No. 7, Hochoji Temple of Mt. Seitai

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 entire cultural heritage of Yokoze Town is on exhibit at this museum. There are stage models of Yokoze’s puppet show (designated intangible folk cultural property by the prefecture), models of Bukōzanmitake Shrine Palace, specimen displays of animals and plants collected from Mt. Bukō, and historical documents that portray the transitions of Yokoze Town. In the “nature” section of the permanent exhibition room, approximately 130,000 year-old fossils of the giant Japanese elk, buffalo and wolves, which were discovered in the Negoya Limestone Cave, are on display. These fossils are very rare on a national scale.

Bokuunji Temple of Mt. Kōyō, also known as Oginodo, has a main deity, Saint Kannon, said to have once stood on the summit of Mt. Bukō. Bokuunji Temple is also dedicated to rare items such as a Seiryoji-style Sakyamuni statue, a picture scroll of good fortune, and a tooth of Yamanba (a mountain witch). A magnificent view of Mt. Bukō is visible from the front of the temple.

At Saitama Prefecture's largest rice terraces, a rural landscape unique to Japan unfolds with each changing season. Currently, 4 (about 250 fields) out of the total 5.2 hectares are in use. In summer an event is held where around 600 bonfires are lit, for a night of magical ambience one cannot experience in the city. In autumn, the bulbs of around 2 million red spider lilies bloom around the rice paddies.

A simple sulfur hot spring. Chichibu Yumoto is a day trip hot spring with the Bukō Onsen as its source, and is effective for a range of chronic diseases such as nerve pain, sore muscles, joint pain, stiff shoulders, and poor blood circulation. One can fully enjoy nature in the liberating open-air bath with the hinoki (wooden) bath, which gives the gentle feeling of trees, and the rock bath, which provides a simple natural atmosphere. Nearby there are also Bukō Auto Campsite (Phone Number: 0494-23-8229) and lodging facility Bukō Onsen Bekkan (annex) (For reservations: 0494-24-4141).