Hello, this is _hiroyuki.ta. This time, I took a motorcycle tour from central Tokyo to Kanazakura Shrine in Yamanashi Prefecture. Kanazakura Shrine is a shrine that is said to bring good luck with money and warding off evil spirits, and is located in the depths of Shosenkyo Gorge. Kinpusan is the object of worship, and a sacred crystal treasure is enshrined here. In this article, we will introduce what kind of shrine Kanazakura Shrine is, what route to take to get there, what to see, and information on motorcycle parking.
Kanazakura Shrine is an old shrine that is said to have been built approximately 2,000 years ago during the reign of Emperor Sujin. The enshrined deity is Sukunahikona no Mikoto, who was enshrined at the summit of Mt. Kinpu to pray for the exodus of epidemics and good health for all. Later, with the opening of the Chuo Expressway, Satomiya was moved to its current location. Mt. Kinpu is a huge granite rock called Gojo Rock that is 20 meters high and looks like a dragon rising to the sky. This rock is considered a sacred object, and you can visit the main shrine by walking along a mountain trail.
The name of Kanazakura Shrine comes from the cherry blossom tree called Ukonzakura located within the shrine grounds. Utsukin-zakura is a rare cherry tree with yellow flowers, and has been revered as the money tree'' since ancient times. It is in full bloom from late April to early May, and it is said that if you visit the shrine during this time, you will be blessed with financial luck for the rest of your life. In addition, the crystalsFire Ball” and Water Ball'' excavated in this area, which is also a crystal producing area, are enshrined in the main shrine as sacred treasures. Because crystal reflects light and shines in rainbow colors, it is also called theseven-colored gem” and is believed to have the power of good luck and purification.
This time, I entered the Chuo Expressway from central Tokyo via Shuto Expressway No. 4 Shinjuku Line. The Chuo Expressway is about 130 kilometers from Tokyo to Kofu, and there are stops along the way such as the Futaba Service Area and the Kawaguchiko Interchange, so you can take a break while driving comfortably. In the Futaba service area, there are stores that sell fruits and juices from Yamanashi Prefecture, such as grapes and peaches, making them perfect for souvenirs and snacks.
I drove on the Chuo Expressway to Ryuji, Kofu City, and got off at the Futaba Smart Interchange. From here, it’s about 15 kilometers to Kanazakura Shrine via Prefectural Route 101 and the Shosenkyo Green Line. This road is a mountainous road with many curves, and although the scenery is beautiful, caution is required. In particular, the Shosenkyo Green Line has narrow and steep slopes and tunnels, so please be careful of oncoming cars and pedestrians.
When you arrive at Kanazakura Shrine, the first thing you’ll see is the large torii gate. This torii gate is a reconstruction of the old torii gate that was destroyed in a fire in 1955, and is approximately 10 meters high. As you pass through the torii gate, there is an information board on your left that introduces the origin and history of Kanazakura Shrine. Here you can learn about the background and blessings of Kanazakura Shrine.
The approach leading from the torii gate is divided into steep stairs and a slope. There are about 300 steps, but there are rest areas and drinking fountains along the way, so don’t push yourself too hard. Slopes are gentler than stairs, but the distance is longer. Both trails are surrounded by trees and are full of nature, allowing you to enjoy seasonal flowers and leaves. Particularly in spring, the Utsukin-zakura and Yaezakura trees are in full bloom, and the pink and yellow petals decorate the approach to the shrine.
Once you reach the top of the approach, you will see the main shrine. The main shrine is a magnificent building painted vermilion, and is a reconstruction of the old main shrine that was destroyed in a fire in 1955. There is a worship hall in front of the main shrine, so you can pray there. The way to pray is to bow twice, clap twice, and bow once. When you visit, be sure to take a look at the sacred crystal treasures and carvings of ascending dragons. The crystal is enshrined inside the main shrine, but you can see it through the glass. The ascending dragon is a dragon sculpture on the left and right sides of the main shrine, with a crystal entwined in its tail. These are familiar symbols of Kanazakura Shrine.
There is an awarding place a little further down from the main shrine. Here you can receive stamps and amulets from Kanazakura Shrine. You can get a goshuin stamp for 300 yen, but please note that it may take some time during busy periods. There are a wide variety of talismans, and there are ones that correspond not only to luck with money and warding off evil spirits, but also to various wishes such as love, academics, etc. Crystal amulets and straps are also popular. It is said that it is best to choose a crystal that suits you, so look carefully at the color, shape, size, etc. before making your decision. Next to the shrine is a well where you can draw the sacred water of Kanazakura Shrine. This well is a natural source of underground water from Mt. Kinpu, and the water is clean and delicious. The sacred water is said to bring good luck with money and good health, so please bring an empty plastic bottle with you to draw it. However, the amount of water in the well is limited, so please be considerate of others by only using one bottle per person.
Kanazakura Shrine has a parking lot exclusively for motorcycles. The parking lot is on the right before entering the approach from the torii gate. Parking is free, but the number of spaces is limited, so if the parking lot is full, please use a nearby paid parking lot. The paid parking lot is located a little far from Kanazakura Shrine, but within walking distance. The fee for paid parking is 100 yen per hour for motorbikes. Additionally, there are many slopes and stairs from the parking lot to the shrine, so we recommend wearing shoes and clothes that are comfortable for walking.
Summary
This time, I took a motorcycle tour from central Tokyo to Kanazakura Shrine in Yamanashi Prefecture. Kanazakura Shrine is an old shrine located in the depths of Shosenkyo Gorge that is said to bring good luck with money and warding off evil spirits. The main shrine has sacred crystal treasures and sculptures of ascending and descending dragons. There are also Utsukinzakura and sacred water within the precincts. Motorcycle parking is free, but the number of spaces is limited. In this article, we introduced what kind of shrine Kanazakura Shrine is, how to get there, what kind of highlights there are, and information about motorcycle parking. Kanazakura Shrine is a perfect spot for touring by motorcycle. Please come and visit us at least once.
