February 1st,2020
Seijō falls
Seijō falls is a waterfall, about 10m high, located on the Omotesandō route to Mitsumine shrine.
This place used to be a place for training of Shugendō practitioners. It is still used in purification ceremonies by shintō priesthoods, and some people visit for "Takigyō", meditation by sitting under a waterfall. There is a small shrine in front of the waterfall.
Futase dam and Lake Chichibu
Futase dam is a concrete arch gravity dam, 95m high, at the uppermost stream of Arakawa river and Lake Chichibu is a lake formed by this dam. Saitama prefectural road 278 goes over this dam and most visiters to Mitsumine shrine pass over it.
There is an observation point in front of the Futase dam control station, at the east side of the dam, along with a public restroom and a parking lot.
Icicles of Misotsuchi
Icicles of Misotsuchi is a large-scale icicle formed by spring water from the rock face on the riverside of Arakawa river. Some parts are artificial, made by pouring water, but some of the naturally made icicles grow more tha 10m high. It will be lit up at night.
Opening period is early January to late February. Opening time is 8am to 5pm, when it is lit up it will be open until 7pm on weekdays and 9pm on weekends. ￥200 is required to see nearby, and the parking fee is ￥500 for a standard size car.
Ōtaki-onsen roadside station and Yūyukan
Ōtaki-onsen roadside station is a roadside station on National road 140. Specialty goods, such as Shītake mushrooms, edible wild plants or local sake are sold here. There is a restaurant serving soba, local cuisine and "Dam-curry", curry and rice imitating Takizawa dam and Futase dam. There is also a museum of History and Folklore of the Ōtaki area.
Restaurant is open from 11am to 4pm, store is open from 9am to 4pm, Store for specialty goods is open from 9am to 5pm. Museum requires entrance fee, for general public ￥210, and opening hours are 9am to 5pm. Besides the store for specialty goods, it is closed on Thursday.
Next to Ōtaki-onsen roadside station, there is Yūyukan, a day-use hot spring.
Usage fee is ￥700 on weekdays and ￥800 on weekends, for general public. Opening hours are 10am to 8pm from April to November, and 10am to 7pm from November to March. It is closed on Thursdays.
PALEO EXPRESS
PALEO EXPRESS is a steam operated train on the Chichibu Railway. It is operated mainly on weekends, and is about a 2 hour ride at most.
A SL ticket, ￥740 for reserved seat or ￥520 for non-reserved seat, is required besides a regular ticket.
The nearest station from Mitsumine shrine is Mitsumineguchi station.
Chichibu shrine
Chichibu shrine is a shrine located in central Chichibu, which enshrines Yagokoro-omoikane-no-mikoto, Chichibuhiko-no-mikoto, Amenominakanushi-no-kami and Prince Chichibu. It is one of the "Chichibu-sansha", three major shrines of the Chichibu area.
Chichibu shrine is known for the "Chichibu-yomatsuri", the annual night festival in December, which has a hisory of more than 300 years.
Hodosan shrine
Hodosan shrine is a shrine in Nagatoro town, which enshrines Kanyamatoiwarehiko-no-mikoto, Ōyamazumi-no-kami and Homusubi-no-kami. It is one of the "Chichibu-sansha", three major shrines of the Chichibu area. It is located on the foot of Mount Hodo, and there is a "Okumiya", rear shrine, on top of it which is accessable by an aerial tramway.
Address is 1828, Nagatoro, Nagatoro town, Saitama prefecture. It is about 48km from Mitsumine shrine and 1 hour 15 minutes by car. From Mitsumine shrine, about 45 minutes to Mitsumineguchi station by bus, from Mitsumineguchi station to Nagatoro station, about 45 minutes by Chichibu railway, and about 15 minutes on foot from Nagatoro station to Hodosan shrine.
