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Visiting Mitsumine shrine by 'Omotesandō' route~Part 3

Article writtenSep.10th, 2020
Oct.3rd,2018
Mitsumine shrine is located on the top of Mount Mitsumine, 1102m above sea level. Before the opening of the roadway and ropeway, those who visit the shrine had to climb the mountain on foot. A visit to Mitsumine shrine by the 'Omotesandō', the route the ancient worshippers walked.
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Reached the end of the "Omotesandō" route, and looking around Mitsumine shrine.

Mitsumine shrine is a shrine located in Chichibu city, Saitama prefecture. It is counted as one of the "Chichibu-sansha", three major shrines of the Chichibu area, along with Chichibu shrine and Hodosan shrine. It is said that the shrine was established by Yamato Takeru, Emperor Keikō's son, when he was sent to the eastern land to conquer it. He saw the beautiful mountains and rivers of this land, and decided to found the shrine to remember the two deities who created it, Izanagi-no-mikoto and Izanami-no-mikoto. The shrine is also known for is known for the unique cult of wolves.

01

【Memo】Going down the steps from the Yōhaiden.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

02

【Memo】The gate that comes into sight is the Zuishinmon.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

03

【Memo】There is another pair of statues of wolves in front of the Zuishinmon, in the place of komainus.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

04

【Memo】The other statue of a wolf.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

05

【Memo】The Zuishinmon that exists now was built in 1792. The original Zuishinmon was built in 1691 and it was in front of the haiden.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

06

【Memo】The stone monument in front of the Zuishinmon, with the shrine's name.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

07

【Memo】The letters written on the hengaku are by Mashiyama Masakata, the fifth head of Ise Nagashima domain. The Zuishinmon was repaired in 2004, celebrating 1900 years from establishment.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

08

【Memo】Zuishinmon is a gate with a pair of statues of zuishins. Zuishins are a kind of guardian. This one on the left.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

09

【Memo】The other Zuishin, in the right.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

10

【Memo】The Zuishinmon from behind.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

11

【Memo】Continuing on the approach to the main shrine.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

12

【Memo】Beside the approach is the trailhead to the Okumiya, located on Mount Myōhō. This path goes by the Mitsu-torī and the Mitsumine parking and leads to the mountain trail.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

13

【Memo】Continuing on to the left.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

14

【Memo】The main shrine is at the top of the stone steps.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

15

【Memo】From the front. Statues of wolves on both sides.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

16

【Memo】This one on the left.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

17

【Memo】On top of the steps is the Seidō-torī. A bronze myōjin style torī built in 1845, dedicate by a group of worshippers in Edo. It was carried on a raft on the Arakawa river.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

18

【Memo】The shingaku carried on the Seidō-torī.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

19

【Memo】Next to the Seidō-torī is a Chōzuya. It was built in 1853, and is covered with beautiful carvings of dragons.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

20

【Memo】Usually, water is used like in other shrines, but in winter season the water is stopped to prevent the piping from being damaged by freezing. Instead, "haraegushi", a wooden wand used in Shinto rituals, is used.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

21

【Memo】On the right of the Seidō-torī is a light tower called Yatsumune-tōrō. It is a 6m high wooden light tower built in 1857.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

22

【Memo】Going through the Seidō-torī, there is another set of stone steps, and at the top is the Haiden and the Honden.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

23

【Memo】Looking around from in front of the Haiden.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

24

【Memo】The Haiden, in "Irimoya-zukuri" built in 1800, is covered by colorful carvings.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

25

【Memo】The Haiden and the Honden in behind from the right. The Haiden and the Honden were also repaired in 2004, celebrating 1900 years from establishment.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

26

【Memo】The Honden is "Kasuga-zukuri", a style of gable roof typified by the honden of Kasuga Taisha in Nara.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

27

【Memo】On the left side of the Haiden, there is a part of the stone paving which has a pattern looking like a dragon. The dragon will appear when the stone paving is wet. It suddenly appeared on the year of 2012 which was a year of the dragon in the Oriental Zodiac.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

28

【Memo】The Haiden from the left.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

29

【Memo】Going to the juyosho on the left of the Haiden.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

30

【Memo】Received the goshuin.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

31

【Memo】Looking around the shrine. Big goshimbokus, sacred trees, soars upwards.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

32

【Memo】The goshimbokus can be touched. This one on the left of the Haiden.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

33

【Memo】A fine cedar tree.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

34

【Memo】The goshimboku on the right of the Haiden.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

35

【Memo】This one is big too.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

36

【Memo】Next to the goshimboku, there is a haraedo. A haraedo is a place to do a harae, a ritual of purification.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

37

【Memo】A resthouse with a roof.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

38

【Memo】This is a Kakuraden where where ceremonial music or dances are performed. It was built in 1908.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

39

【Memo】Looking around the shrine from the opposite side.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

40

【Memo】On the right of the Haiden are branch shrines.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

41

【Memo】The closest to the Haiden is the Sōrei-sha, dedicated to the ancestral spirits of patrons since the shrine was established.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

42

【Memo】The Kunitokotachi shrine is dedicated to Kuninotokotachi-no-mikoto.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

43

【Memo】This one is Yamato Takeru shrine dedicated to Yamato Takeru, the founder of the shrine.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

44

【Memo】The Ise shrine, dedicated to Amaterasu-ōmikami and Toyouke-ōmikami, looks quite different from the other branch shrines.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

45

【Memo】Many branch shrines.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

46

【Memo】Some branch shrines, like the Tōshōgū, dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, are a little bigger.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

47

【Memo】Passing by the branch shrines, continuing on the path going by the Zuishinmon.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

48

【Memo】The beautiful Zuishinmon seen between the trees.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

49

【Memo】Near the Zuishinmon, is a path that leads to the statue of Yamato Takeru.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

50

【Memo】Going up the steps.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

51

【Memo】Beside the steps are some memorials. One is dedicated to the founder of Kyokushin Karate, Ōyama Masutatsu. Ōyama Masutatsu did training in the mountain of Mitsumine many times.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

52

【Memo】At the top of the steps is the statue of Yamato Takeru.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

53

【Memo】Yamato Takeru is said to be the founder of Mitsumine shrine. This bronze statue is 5.2m high itself, and 15m high with the pedestal.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

54

【Memo】Going back down.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

55

【Memo】Returned to the main shrine.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

56

【Memo】The building on the left of the Haiden.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

57

【Memo】Going through.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

58

【Memo】This is the Kōunkaku. It is a shukubō, a lodging facility for worshippers. There is also an onsen that can be used without lodging.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

59

【Memo】Next to the Kōunkaku is the Shōkyōin. Shōkyōin built in 1739 and originally it was the main temple building of Misuminesan with a statue of Kannon Bosatsu placed inside. Today it is a tearoom known for the coffee jelly only served for 20 per day.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

60

【Memo】Passing by the Kōunkaku and the Shōkyōin.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

61

【Memo】Going through a path in the woods.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

62

【Memo】Beside the path is a nassho and in behind is a pair of goshimbokus called "Enmusubi-no-ki".
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

63

【Memo】It is a cypress and a fir tree standing close to each other, said that it will bring you good luck on fulfillment of love and happy marriage.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

64

【Memo】After passing the "Enmusubi-no-ki" there is a small shrine called "Okariya".
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

65

【Memo】The path continues on. The path leads to where the station of Mitsumine ropeway was, until 2007, and also to another mountain trail called Urasandō. Urasandō was a route used to carry supplies by horse to Mitsumine.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

66

【Memo】There are steps going down but it is closed.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

67

【Memo】Going up to the Okariya.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

68

【Memo】The Okariya is on top of steep stone steps. The torīs where built in 2015 and is made of Hard vinyl chloride.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

69

【Memo】When Yamato Takeru came to Mitsumine, wolves appeared to guide him. For the wolves's faithfulness and bravery, he decided wolves should be a Kenzoku, divine messengers. An ordinary Kenzoku is just a divine messenger, but at Mitsumine shrine, the wolves are worshipped as a deity. The wolves are believed to be hiding deep in the mountains, so a temporary shrine, Okariya, is built here to worship it.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

70

【Memo】Some statues of wolves in front of the Okariya. These on the left.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

71

【Memo】The right side of the Okariya.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

72

【Memo】There is another set of stone steps going down from the Okariya, returning to the path from the main shrine.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

73

【Memo】Going back.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

74

【Memo】Looking around the shrine again.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

75

【Memo】Going back through the Seidō-torī, and going down the steps.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

76

【Memo】Looking back at the Seidō-torī, and the shrine building.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

77

【Memo】The Zuishinmon in sight.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

78

【Memo】Going through the Zuishinmon and turning right. Beside the path is a small building that used to be a police box.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

79

【Memo】This path is the Seisandō, the main approach to the shrine most visitors use to visit the shrine today. Many stone monuments dedicated by Kos line the path.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

80

【Memo】The Mitsu-torī at the entrance of the Seisandō comes into sight.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

81

【Memo】Near the Seisandō is Mitsuminesan museum. Items related to the cult of Mitsuminesan and treasures owned by the shrine are displayed here.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

82

【Memo】A Mitsu-torī is a style of torī which looks like 3 torīs combined.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

83

【Memo】The shingaku with the shrine's name carried on the Mitsu-torī.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

84

【Memo】The name post of the shrine.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

85

【Memo】There is also a pair of statues of wolves in front of the Mitsu-torī. This one on the right.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

86

【Memo】This one on the left.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

87

【Memo】The history of the shrine written next to the Mitsu-torī. A wolf on top.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

88

【Memo】There is a resthouse in front of the Mitsu-torī serving meals.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

89

【Memo】Their is another one nearby.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

90

【Memo】Having Waraji-katsu-don, a local specialty of Chichibu, at the first resthouse.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

91

【Memo】This Waraji-katsu-don appeared in the TV commercial of Seibu railway. Besides Waraji-katsu-don, other specialties such as Miso-oden and Kurumijiru-zaru-soba are served too.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

92

【Memo】A view of the mountains of Chichibu seen from the resthouse.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

93

【Memo】Going down the slope from the Mitsu-torī.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

94

【Memo】Going down to the Mitsumine parking. The bus stop is in the parking.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

95

【Memo】The bus to Seibu Chichibu station is arriving. There is a restroom next to the bus stop that can be used before the 1 hour trip to Seibu Chichibu station.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

96

【Memo】Getting on the bus, leaving Mitsumine shrine.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

97

【Memo】The bus goes down a steep mountain road with many curves.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

98

【Memo】The road goes over Futase dam.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

99

【Memo】In about 30 minutes, the bus passes by the Omotesandō torī. The bus continues on to Seibu Chichibu station.
【Date】Oct.3rd,2018 【Location】Chichibu,Saitama

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