Mitsumine Shrine

Mitsumine Jinja is a shrine located in Mt. Mitsumine in Chichibu City, Saitama. It is said to have originated from the time when the Imperial Prince of the 12th Emperor Keiko, Yamato Takeru no Mikoto, enshrined the two deities of Izanagi-no-Mikoto and Izanami-no-Mikoto, who are said to have created the country, to pray for peace in Amatsu-kuni (the current Kanto region) on his way to conquer it. Later, because three mountain peaks that are beautifully lined up can be seen in the east from the area, the mountain was named Mt. Mitsumine (three peaks), and the shrine was named Mitsumine-gu. After that, because of some imperial orders, the shrine became shinbutsu-shugo, where both gods and Buddha could be enshrined. However, the policy of shinbutsu-bunri (separation of Shintoism and Buddhism) was implemented in the Meiji era (1868–1912). It abolished the temple, and it has since been called Mitsumine Shrine to this day. Inside the precincts are shrines of Kunitokotachi-no-Mikoto, the god who formed the land of the country and its related gods. There is the beautiful main shrine, which is decorated in brilliant colors in many places. The museum where treasures are exhibited and the accommodation facility with a hot spring where you can relax and enjoy sightseeing can also be found. Take a Seibu bus from the terminal station Mitsumine-guchi on the Chichibu Railway, and get off at the last bus stop, Mitsumine Jinja.