Hello, this is _hiroyuki.ta. This time, we toured from central Tokyo to Hijiri Shrine in Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture on his beloved Harley-Davidson FLSB Sport Glide. Seiji Shrine is said to be the birthplace of Japan’s first circulating currency, Wado Kaichin, and is famous as the god of money and money. I would like to introduce my impressions and route of visiting the Holy Shrine, which is attracting attention as a power spot.
Natural copper (Nikiakagane) produced in Chichibu was presented to the Holy Shrine in 708 by Emperor Genmei, and the Emperor was so happy that he changed the name of Keiun to Wado. Later, Japan’s first circulating currency, the Wado Kaichin, was created. At the time of the Wado offering, an imperial envoy sent by Emperor Genmei sent Kanayamahiko no Mikoto to the nearby shrine. It is said that the god of mining) was enshrined there, and then moved to its current location in the first year of the Wado era, and the Holy Shrine was built.
Sei Shrine is enshrined at the foot of Mt. Wadozan, which is a branch that extends to the southwest from Mt. Mt. Mt. Mt. Mt. Mt. Mt. Mt. Mt. Mt. Mt. Mt. Mt. Mt. It is called. The shrine building was built between 1709 and 1707 during the mid-Edo period by Ozone Yohei, an artisan from Omiya-go, and has carvings that retain the style of the Momoyama period. It is designated as a tangible cultural property by Chichibu City as the “Main Building of the Holy Shrine.”
Seiji Shrine is a shrine where the god of money is enshrined, and is said to bring good luck with money and business prosperity. If you bring your lottery ticket or wallet, the chief priest will also pray for you. It is also attracting attention as a power spot, and the grounds include a Wado Kaichin monument and the “Wado Mining Open Pit Ruins” where natural copper was mined.
It takes about two and a half hours to get from central Tokyo to Hijiri Shrine. I entered Mejiro Dori from Suitengu Dori via Yasukuni Dori and took the Kanetsu Expressway from Shuto Expressway No. 5 Ikebukuro Line. On the Kanetsu Expressway, get off at Hanazono IC and proceed along Saikai Kaido toward Chichibu. On the way, I used the Minano Yorii Bypass to save time.
The route was relatively easy and there wasn’t much traffic. However, there are many toll sections on the Shuto Expressway and Kanetsu Expressway, so the tolls can be quite high. I paid using an ETC card, but if you pay by cash, it’s a good idea to have some change on hand.
As you approach the holy shrine, the surrounding scenery changes. Chichibu is an area rich in nature surrounded by mountains, where you can enjoy the scenery of each season. When I went there, the fresh greenery was beautiful and the air was refreshing. The murmuring stream of Wadozawa flowing in front of the Seijin Shrine and the Wado Kaichin monument standing out against the greenery were also impressive.
The highlight of the holy shrine is the Zenigami and Wado Kaichin. The Zen-kami is enshrined in a small shrine on the left side of the main shrine. The golden relief of Wado Kaichin is eye-catching. When you pray to the god of coins, you throw in some coins and make a wish. I also brought a lottery ticket with me to the shrine, and I thought it would be great if I won.
Wado Kaichin can be seen as a 5 meter high monument in front of the main shrine. The front side of the monument is engraved with the Wado Kaichin pattern, and the back side reads, “The birthplace of Japan’s first circulating currency, the Wado Kaichin.” There are many small coins placed around the monument, which are also said to bring good luck.
A short walk from the Wado Kaichin Monument is the “Wado Mining Open Pit Ruins.” This is a place where natural copper was mined 1,300 years ago, and holes are drilled into the rock surface. Natural copper has a reddish color and sparkles when exposed to light. It can be said that Japan’s monetary history began with the donation of natural copper from this place.
Holy Shrine motorcycle parking lot
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The Holy Shrine has a free parking lot exclusively for worshipers, but the number of spaces is limited. It can get crowded on weekends and holidays, so it’s best to get there early or use the nearby temporary parking lot (Uchida Family Residence, a city-designated tangible cultural property). Also, please be careful of parking at the nearby convenience store (7-Eleven).
I was able to park in the parking lot reserved for visitors to the Holy Shrine, but there was no space for motorcycles. If you park your motorcycle in a space reserved for regular cars, please be careful not to disturb other cars. Also, avoid leaving valuables on your motorcycle or leaving it unlocked, as there is a risk of theft or damage. I left nothing on the bike and locked it. It’s also a good idea to carry helmets and gloves, or keep them in the trunk of your bike.
Summary
This time, I went on a Harley tour from Tokyo to Saitama Prefecture Hijiri Shrine. Seiji Shrine is said to be the birthplace of Japan’s first circulating currency, Wado Kaichin, and is famous as the god of money and money. It is also attracting attention as a power spot, and the grounds include a Wado Kaichin monument and the “Wado Mining Open Pit Ruins” where natural copper was mined. The route was relatively easy and there wasn’t much traffic, but there are many toll sections so be careful about the tolls. The Holy Shrine has a free parking lot exclusively for worshipers, but the number of spaces is limited. It can get crowded on weekends and holidays, so it’s best to get there early or use a nearby temporary parking lot.
Seiji Shrine is a recommended spot for those who are interested in history and culture, as well as those who want to improve their financial luck. I also visited Zenigami and brought a lottery ticket, but I hope I win. If I improve my financial luck at the Holy Shrine, I would like to go touring on my Harley again.
The above was sent to you by _hiroyuki.ta. Next time we look forward to!
*The English name for Hijiri Shrine is Hijiri Shrine.
