🕓 2026/3/6
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table of contents
- Mitsumine Shrine | A power spot filled with mysterious spiritual energy
- Kawagoe Ichibangai Shopping Street | A streetscape with a feel of Little Edo
- Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine | A historic shrine that brings good luck in matchmaking
- 3 Must-Visit Tourist Spots in Saitama Prefecture
- – What is Saitama Prefecture? –
- 1. Mitsumine Shrine | A power spot filled with mysterious spiritual energy
3 Must-Visit Tourist Spots in Saitama Prefecture
– What is Saitama Prefecture? –
Saitama Prefecture is a place characterized by its balance of beautiful natural environment and vibrant urban life. Despite its location being easily accessible from central Tokyo, the area’s great appeal is the ability to enjoy beautiful natural scenery.
Kawagoe City, known as a historical setting, is known as “Little Edo” for its streets that still retain its old-fashioned charm, and you can experience its history and traditions firsthand. Regularly held festivals and events also provide opportunities to deeply understand the culture. For nature lovers, Okuchichibu and the Chichibu region are hidden treasures. You can enjoy Chichibu’s rich natural environment by making a pilgrimage to Chichibu’s 34 Kannon sacred sites or exploring hiking trails lined with beautiful flowers.
1. Mitsumine Shrine | A power spot filled with mysterious spiritual energy
● The charm of Mitsumine Shrine
Mitsumine Shrine is a shrine located in the mountains of Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture, at an altitude of approximately 1,100 meters, and is known as one of the best power spots in the Kanto region.One of its biggest features is that it enshrines wolves as messengers of the gods. This comes from a legend that when Takeru of Japan visited this area, a wolf guided him. Therefore, the guardian dogs on the shrine grounds look like wolves, and wolves are also depicted on amulets and stamps.
The precincts are home to the three torii gates, which are rare even in Japan, and the majestic Zuishinmon gate, which fascinate visitors. Also, on the stone pavement in front of the shrine, there is a stone that appears in the shape of a dragon when water is poured on it, making it popular as a mysterious power spot.
Depending on the weather, you can see a sea of clouds from Okumiya Yohaiden, and the fantastic scenery fascinates visitors. In addition, at the cafe “Shokyoin” on the grounds, you can enjoy special coffee jelly, which is limited to 20 pieces a day, and is perfect for a break after visiting the shrine.
● Mitsumine Shrinehistory
Mitsumine Shrine is a historic shrine located in the mountains of Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture, at an altitude of approximately 1,100 meters. Its origins date back approximately 1,900 years, and it is said that Yamato Takeru no Mikoto of Japan saw the beautiful mountains and rivers of this area during the pacification of the eastern part of Japan, and enshrined the deities of birth, Izanagi no Mikoto and Izanami no Mikoto.
During the Heian period, it became a sacred place for Shugendo, and during the Sengoku period it temporarily declined due to the invasion of the Ashikaga clan, but was revived in the 16th century through the efforts of Shugendo practitioners.
During the Edo period, “dog worship” spread, and the culture of worshiping wolves as messengers of the gods took root, and many believers came to visit from all over the Kanto region. Even today, it is known for its mystical atmosphere and powerful spiritual experiences, and attracts many worshipers as one of the best power spots in the Kanto region.
● Access to Mitsumine Shrine
- Official website: Mitsumine Shrine official website
- Address: 298-1 Mitsumine, Yokose-cho, Chichibu-gun, Saitama 369-1902
- Bus from Seibu Chichibu Station on the Seibu Chichibu Line: Approximately 80 minutes (950 yen for adults)
- Bus from Chichibu Railway Mitsumineguchi Station: Approximately 55 minutes (690 yen for adults)
- By car: Approximately 2 hours (from Tokyo) or 2 and a half hours (from Yamanashi) on National Route 140. There is a fee for parking at Mimine Shrine.
- Google map link: Miminegami
● The charm of Kawagoe Ichibangai shopping street
Kawagoe Ichibangai Shopping Street is located in Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture, and is a historic shopping street that retains the atmosphere of the Edo period, known as “Little Edo.” The street is approximately 450 meters long and is lined with warehouse-style buildings with distinctive black walls and tiles, giving you a feel of the good old days of Japan. In particular, there are a wide variety of shops, from long-established shops that have been around since the Edo period to modern stores, so you can enjoy shopping and eating while walking around.
In addition, the “Toki no Kane”, which can be said to be the symbol of the shopping district, is a wooden bell tower that is approximately 16 meters high and is said to have been built approximately 400 years ago. Today, the bell still rings four times a day, adding to the charm of Kawagoe’s cityscape. Additionally, there are many Japanese clothing rental shops around the shopping district, so you can enjoy walking around in Japanese clothing.
Kawagoe Ichibangai Shopping Street is a place where historical architecture and a variety of shops blend together, allowing visitors to enjoy both the elegance of the Edo period and the charm of modern times.
● History of Kawagoe Ichibangai shopping street
Kawagoe Ichibangai Shopping Street is located in Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture, and is a historic shopping street lined with warehouse-style buildings from the Edo period to the Meiji period. Its origins date back to the rows of houses that were created during the Edo period when the town was divided by Nobutsuna Matsudaira, the lord of the Kawagoe domain. In response to repeated large fires, the shogunate encouraged fire-resistant tiled roofs, which led to the construction of storehouse-style merchant houses.
In the Great Kawagoe Fire of 1893, one-third of all the houses in the town were destroyed, but highly fire-resistant warehouse-style buildings were rebuilt afterwards, and the foundations of the current townscape were laid. In 1951, Kawagoe Ichibangai Shopping Street was established as a cooperative association of 70 stores spanning approximately 430 meters.
In 1987, improvements were made to the store, including renovating the store, installing new street lights, paving the sidewalks with stone, and putting power lines underground. As a result of these efforts, in 1999 it was selected as an “Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings” and received the Good Design Award in the same year.
● Access to Kawagoe Ichibangai shopping street
- Official website: Kawagoe City Official Website
- Address: 1-chome Saiwaimachi, Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture 350-0053
- Google map link: Kawagoe cityscape
- Access: Accessible on foot or by bus from JR Kawagoe Station or Tobu Tojo Line Kawagoe-shi Station. It’s about an hour away from Tokyo, making it perfect for a day trip.
3. Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine | A historic shrine that brings good luck in marriage
● The charm of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine
Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine is located in Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture, and is a historic shrine that is said to have been founded approximately 1,500 years ago. This shrine enshrines five deities: the married couple Sujinson and Kiinada Hime no Mikoto, their parents Sumo Nyu no Mikoto and Temas Nyu no Mikoto, and their child Otomi Taka no Mikoto. Because these gods are part of the family, Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine is said to have the blessings of “family harmony,” “marital harmony,” and “marriage,” and is visited by many worshipers.
Unique charms and fortunes are available on the grounds, such as the “enmusubi ball” which is limited to 20 pieces per day, and the “sea bream fortune teller” where you can catch a sea bream shaped fortune with a fishing rod. In addition, the “Ema Tunnel”, where approximately 30,000 votive tablets are dedicated, attracts visitors as a mystical space.
Furthermore, in the summer, a wind chime festival called “Enmusubi Furin” is held, and the sounds of wind chimes that decorate the grounds create a refreshing atmosphere.
● History of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine
Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine is located in Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture, and its construction dates back to the Kofun period approximately 1500 years ago. At that time, there was something that glowed every night in the Iruma River, and it is said that this was seen as the spiritual light of Hikawa-kami, and that Hikawa-jinja Shrine was built in the area. This shrine is an old shrine that enshrines the same deity as Omiya Hikawa Shrine, the Ichinomiya of Musashi Province.
During the Muromachi period, when the father and son Michizane Ota and Dokan Ota built Kawagoe Castle, it was deeply revered as the guardian deity of the castle town and the general guardian of the domain. Since the beginning of the Edo period, the shrine buildings have been constructed under special arrangement from successive Kawagoe feudal lords. The current main hall was completed in 1849 with a donation from Masanori Matsudaira, and is decorated with elaborate Edo-bori carvings. There is also a 15-meter wooden large torii gate in the precincts, and the company name on the plaque is written by Kaishu Katsu.
In 1948 (Showa 23), a stone sword used for rituals was excavated from the precincts, and it was revealed that a village was formed in this area during the Kofun period, around the 5th century, and rituals were performed here. Due to these historical backgrounds, Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine continues to be the center of local faith and culture.
● Access to Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine
- Address: 2-11-3 Miyashita-cho, Kawagoe City
- Official website: www.kawagoehikawa.jp
- Nearest station
JR/Tobu Tojo Line “Kawagoe Station”
Seibu Shinjuku Line “Honkawagoe Station”
*It is convenient to use the bus from the nearest station.
- Google Maps:https://maps.app.goo.gl/mueCc7ZqRfQpn6Y57
Latest Information for 2026
Here is the latest 2026 information for the major tourist spots in Saitama Prefecture.
■ Mitsumine Shrine
On February 3, 2026 (Tuesday), the Setsubun Festival “Gomottomo Shinji” was held at Mitsumine Shrine. The once-popular “White Ki-mamori” charm, which was distributed on the 1st of every month, has been suspended since May 2018 and remains unavailable as of 2026. The regular Ki-mamori charms (available in pink, red, black, and green) also contain sacred wood from the shrine grounds and offer the same blessings. Note that in February 2026, there were service suspensions on the Chichibu Railway with bus replacements, so please check the official website for access information before visiting.
■ Kawagoe Ichibangai Shopping Street & Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine
Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine hosts its summer festival “Enmusubi Furin” (Matchmaking Wind Chimes) annually from late June to mid-September (held June 28 to September 15 in 2025). During the event, approximately 2,100 Edo-style wind chimes adorn the shrine grounds, along with a wind chime corridor (approximately 8 meters long), an illuminated stream, and evening light-ups until 8 PM. During the Enmusubi Furin period, wind chimes are also installed along the Kawagoe Ichibangai Shopping Street with its traditional warehouse-style buildings, allowing visitors to enjoy the sounds of summer alongside the atmosphere of “Little Edo.” Please check the official website for the 2026 schedule.
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