Another wisteria spot in Saitama for you today – this time in Kazo City. This time, one that is quite famous. Not Ashikaga famous, but locally famous. Tamashiki shrine in Kazo may not be nationally famous for its wisteria, but it is for its kagura. The Kagura of Tamashiki ShrineRead More →
Iwadono Kannon is the most common name used for Shoboji temple in Higashimatsuyama. However, on Google maps its called Shōbōji and that is the name that has stuck with me. The legendary gingko tree at Shoboji is one of my personal favorite posts on this blog! But there is moreRead More →
On the Kitamoto stretch of the former Kamakura Kaido, there are several shrines and temples. Each of them has something very interesting about them. And most of them are quite photogenic. Perhaps the best known of them is the Takao Hikawa Shrine. It is famed for having Japan’s largest “omikuji”.Read More →
Initially I had information for Tokushoji tucked away as bonus content in the Enomoto Farm post. However, I have since visited the temple a couple of times and accumulated dozens of photos! Moreover, the floral fonts the temple added in 2021 have attracted more interest in the temple. Hence, itRead More →
Shrines and Temples – and a couple of other things to do – near the early blooming cherry blossoms of Sumiyoshi Sakura no Sato in North Eastern area of Sakado. Please note that the cherry blossoms do not bloom every year. You can check for their status on the SumiyoshiRead More →
Kijin shrine: one of a few shrines nationwide dedicated to demon. Hot on the heels of the New Year celebrations, is Setsubun. Setsubun is a festival marking the end of winter and coming of spring. It is celebrated annually on the 3rd of February. However, for the first time inRead More →
Hodosan shrine, one of my top ten favorite shrines of all time, is one of those rare shrines that is well worth going out of your way to visit. Apart from its intriguing 1900 year history, the beauty and detail of the shrine and the grounds will captivate you inRead More →
Kanasana Shrine is a rare type of shrine that preserves koshinto, the old form of shinto worship. At Kanasana they venerate the entire mountain, Mt Mitake, as a God in the back of the worship hall. Supposedly there are only three shrines of this kind in all of Japan. Also,Read More →
LGBTQ+ friendly and discrimination free 800 year old Saimyouji, Kawagoe. Popular attractions at the temple include the anime and seasonally themed floral water fonts and events including temple illumination. LGBTQ+ A few months ago I accidentally caught a snippet of a TV report of a temple, Saimyouji, in Kawagoe performingRead More →
Toryu bridge (also called Toryumon) is over the Ara River (Arakawa) in the Mitsumine area of the former Otaki Village in Chichibu, Saitama. Toryu Bridge Toryu Bridge is a footbridge at the start of the “omotesando”, the sacred trail, to the famous Mitsumine Shrine. The hike from the bridge toRead More →