Sep.10th, 2020
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Mitsumine shrine is one of the "Chichibu-sansha", three major shrines of the Chichibu area, along with Chichibu shrine and Hodosan shrine. Today Mitsumine shrine is known to be a "Power-spot", places with spiritual energy, with the strongest power in the Kanto area, and also for the white "Ki" charm distributed only on the first day of the month. However, like there were many Kōs organized to visit Mitsumine shrine in the Edo period, Mitsumine shrine had been worshipped from ancient times. Although the shrine is located in the mountain area of Mount Mitsumine, 1102m above sea level, it can be visited easily by car or bus. But before the roadway opened in 1993, and the ropeway, operated until 2007, opened in 1939, the only way to visit was on foot. The route the worshippers travelled is called "Omotesandō", and it still remains as a mountain trail.
A visit to Mitsumine shrine by the "Omotesandō", the route the ancient worshippers walked.
Arrived at the last station of Chichibu railway, Mitsumineguchi station.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
A quiet station surrounded by the mountains of Chichibu.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
The modest wooden station building has been used since the station opened in 1930.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
In front of the station. Mitsumineguchi station is the closest station to Mitsumine shrine, but is 20km away. In the Edo period, there was a post town, Niegawa-juku, that was crowded with worshippers travelling to Mitsumine shrine nearby.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
The bus stop in front of the station. Some buses go directly to the Mitsumine shrine, but getting on a different bus to Ōtaki rōjin-fukushi center, since it is enough to go to the trailhead.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
It is about 10 minutes to Ōwa bus stop, the closest bus stop to the trailhead. The bus runs along Arakawa river.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
Getting of the bus at Ōwa bus stop.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
The Ōwa bus stop.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
There was nobody else on the bus, and nobody around the bus stop too.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
There is a map of the mountain trail at the bus stop.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
There is a torī near the bus stop. It is the first torī to Mitsumine shrine, also called the Omotesandō torī.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
This torī is the entrance to the Omotesandō route.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
The shrine's name carried on the torī.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
As it is engraved "Meiji 20 (明治廿年)", it was dedicated to the shrine in 1887. It originally was at the Niegawa-juku, that was near the Mitsumineguchi station, and was moved here in 1909.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
The stone marker next to the torī, with the words "Right, Nakatsugawa, Ryōkami village, Gunma prefecture, Tochimoto and Nagano prefecture via Ōtaki village office.""Left, Shiraiwa, Kumotori, Nishitama via Mitsumine shrine". It was placed here in 1937.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
Many signboards saying that the distribution of the white "Ki" charm has been suspended.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
Going through the torī. There are some shops and guest houses but are closed. Ōwa flourished as a shrine town but declined due to the opening of the roadway to the shrine, and the closing of the ropeway.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
A quiet atmosphere.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
At Mitsumine shrine, wolves are divine messengers and many statues can be seen in the shrine. There is a pair of wolves here too.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
The other statue of a wolf.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
Looking back at the torī.
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Chichibu,Saitama
Going down the slope, a bridge comes in sight. It is the Tōryū bridge.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
There is one souvenir shop open, going by to the Tōryū bridge.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
The Arakawa river seen from the Tōryū bridge. It is about 143.5km to the river mouth in Tokyo.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
A muddy stream, since a typhoon went through a few days before.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
The upper stream seen from the bridge. The Omotesandō route goes up along the river.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
The trail goes right.
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Chichibu,Saitama
The Omotesandō route going up from the Tōryū bridge.
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Chichibu,Saitama
The Tōryū bridge is the third bridge to be in it's place. It is a steel arch bridge built in 1955. It is unclear when the first bridge was built, but the second bridge was built in 1914.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
Going up the slope. There is a stone marker saying "From here to the shrine, 52chōs (丁)". Along the Omotesandō route, there are 52 chō-me-ishis and those who travelled to the shrine counted these markers while climbing.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
The wet stone pavement and fallen leaves makes the walk unsteady. On the way, there is a signboard indicating the way to the Rhododendron garden, Ryūmon falls and Kaniwa cavern.
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Chichibu,Saitama
These are by the trail branching off to the right.
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Chichibu,Saitama
In a while, the stone pavement ends at an opening. It is where the station of the Mitsumine ropeway was, until 2007. Mitsumine ropeway was rebuilt in 1964, the first ropeway was on top of the stone steps, and the second on the right.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
Going up the stone steps. Stone lanterns standing on both sides.
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Chichibu,Saitama
It leads to the Omotesandō mountain trail.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
Where the first ropeway station was. The ropeway operated from 1939, until a new ropeway went in service in 1964. Nothing remains but a leveled ground.
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Chichibu,Saitama
Arakawa flows below.
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Chichibu,Saitama
Where the Mitsumine ropeway used to go.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
The trail starts beside the remains of the ropeway station.
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Chichibu,Saitama
From here it is a mountain trail.
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It is about 3.2km to the Mitsumine shrine.
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Chichibu,Saitama
It is not a steep mountain path but some equipment is needed just in case.
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Chichibu,Saitama
The trail goes along the mountainside.
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Chichibu,Saitama
Looking down at the remains of the ropeway station.
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What was the foundation of the ropeway can be seen below.
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Rocks covering the trail. Going through carefully.
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Chichibu,Saitama
A bridge in sight.
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The first bridge.
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Water springing from the mountainside.
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Continuing on.
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A fallen tree covered with moss.
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Chichibu,Saitama
Fine trees surrounding the trail.
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Chichibu,Saitama
Nuts on the ground. The season changing.
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Chichibu,Saitama
There are benches in some places for resting.
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Going through the woods.
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Chichibu,Saitama
Water flowing on the trail.
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Chichibu,Saitama
The second bridge is a temporary bridge.
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Chichibu,Saitama
2.4km to the shrine.
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The third bridge.
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A narrow trail continuing along the mountainside.
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Chichibu,Saitama
Ōtozawa, seen below, is a mountain stream that flows into Arakawa river.
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Chichibu,Saitama
The fourth bridge.
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A signboard warning mountain fire by Ōtaki village. Ōtaki village was merged into Chichibu city in 2005.
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Chichibu,Saitama
Almost at the halfway point. The fifth bridge and a water fall comes into sight.
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Chichibu,Saitama
The Seijō falls.
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Chichibu,Saitama
There are some small shrines in front of the waterfall. This is the Seijōgū.
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Chichibu,Saitama
Small shrines
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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.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
Seijō falls is a waterfall located on Ōtozawa the about 10m high.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
Next to the Seijō falls is an arbor for resting.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
After a short break, leaving the Seijō falls.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
After going through the opens for a while, the trail goes up the mountain again.
Oct.3rd,2018
Chichibu,Saitama
The stone marker at the trailhead said "From here to the shrine, 52chōs (丁)". This one is the 25th (廿五) chō-me-ishi.
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Chichibu,Saitama
The trail getting steeper, going higher. Seijō falls seen far below.
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Chichibu,Saitama
Sprouts growing from a stump covered with moss.
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Logs placed on the trail forming steps.
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The trail goes through the stumps.
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Chichibu,Saitama
A arbor in sight. It is the remains of the Yakushidō.
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Chichibu,Saitama
Continuing walking to Mitsumine shrine.
