Hikawa Shrine Road - Saitama

The approach leading from Ichinotorii to Santorii has a total length of about 2 km, and is said to be the longest approach in Japan at the shrine. Many people don't know the location of the first torii gate at Hikawa Shrine, but since it is near Saitama Shintoshin Station, I definitely want you to visit the first torii gate when you visit. The approach is lined with trees such as zelkova, kusunoki, and cherry blossoms, and you can enjoy the seasonal expressions in a lush green area. It is said that this row of trees was mainly pine trees in the Edo period and cedar trees to supply supplies from around the prewar period. (It seems that there are various theories) I am grateful that the peaceful world will continue and I can enjoy various trees as it is now, and I hope that it will be connected to the future. In addition, there is no guardian dog in the precincts of Hikawa Shrine, but it seems that there is a stone lantern with a guardian dog engraved in the stone lantern on the approach. Next time, I would like to look carefully and look for it.

The 2km approach is a masterpiece. The row of oak trees that started to scatter was beautiful. I'm tired, but if you visit Hikawa Shrine, you won't lose on foot. It seems to have been a cedar row until the early Showa era.

There are approximately 18 towns from one torii to Hikawa Shrine, and thereafter milestones (not mileage) are installed for each town on the approach path. Since the thing at that time was lost, it seems that it was newly established in Heisei first year. If you go a little from the torii, you can see the always-night light of the year of treasure history. The left hand side was engraved as [Bolique history] and the right hand side as [Treasure history]. I do not understand why they wrote down. Behind the always-night lantern on the right hand side there is a keycode designated as a natural treasure. (Incidentally, there are 20 designated trees along the approach road as of 2019, 19 of which are key figures, which is the first natural monument.30 trees were designated as this in the past year Although it was said that it was deselected sequentially by fallen trees, etc. After that, I saw 20 books briefly, but as far as I saw, 10 or more rotten, dungs ​​were formed, Sarunokoshikake was There were things that were left unattended, in contact with neighboring houses, etc. There were things that the condition was not good, some thought that "It is not amusing when dangerous collapse is done". Because it is understood also, the garden shop feels more dangerous. There is a promenade called "Heisei Hiroba" in the middle of the approach. It is a remodeled approach to the approach, which has become a place for people to relax. In addition, although the entire Hikawa river road is designated as a preserved green space, only this square is not specified. There was a white lion dog in front of the second Torii gate. It was donated in December 1990 and it is very new. The donor was Musashino Bank. When you go down a torii and go for a while, there is a wonderful Camphor tree on your left. This is also a natural monument. After walking for a while, you can see the always-night tower donated to Ansei annuals on the way. It was engraved with "Musashi Kokusai Ichinomiya Tohoku General Truantic Guardian Hikawa Imamuya". "I'm saying that I am the sole guardian of Tohoku, I think that it has come quite a lot." Go further and the right hand side. There are very characteristic stumps that protrude in the roadway. It is a sight that can not be seen inside the whole country.

If you want to visit Musashi Ichinomiya Hikawa Shrine, this is a wonderful approach that you should walk. A tree-lined road about 2km north-south from the prefectural road that is the old Nakasendo. It was a row of cedar trees in the Meiji era, but now there are 680 green tunnels centered around zelkova. It is a mysterious sensation that cleanses your mind and body every time you walk.

It is also called the best in Japan, but it has a total meaning such as length and beauty maintenance, and it is by no means the longest approach in Japan. This is because, for example, the mountain trail of Mt. Fuji is the approach to the Asama Shrine Okumiya (the summit of Mt. Fuji), and the approach from the lower shrine to the upper shrine of the Akiba Shrine main shrine. There are many approaches that are longer than 2km. Therefore, it seems that there are conditions such as "in the city" and "flat and straight" to make it the most beautiful in Japan or if it is the longest in Japan. However, it is not only the best name in Japan, but it is a path that everyone should walk at first glance or once. By the way, at any shrine, the middle of the approach is the middle, and basically it is good not to walk there where God passes! Also, I think that there are many people who customarily pass on the left side, whether it is a remnant of Samurai culture or the layout of the road (although there is no particular rule at other shrines, it seems to be the case in general).

Nothing else, Saitama Prefecture is the country of Musashi and the Kanto Plain. That is why the Hikawa Shrine in Omiya is called "Musashi Ichinomiya / Musashi Ichinomiya". The approach is correctly the best "Hikawa approach" in Japan. The large torii gate of Hikawa Shrine is divided into three torii gates, one torii, two torii gates, and three torii gates. I hear that the length of the "Hikawa approach" is 2km, which is the longest in Japan. Of course, one of the five highways, the old Nakasendo, will be connected in the future. It's now Saitama Shintoshin. JR "Saitama Shintoshin Station" and here "Omiya Station" The Hikawa approach continues across almost one station section. Surrounded by large zelkova trees from the Edo period, it became a very large forest. From the train window of the Keihin Tohoku Line, which runs in parallel, you can see the approach to Hikawa, which is a magnificent tree. It is the "Hikawa approach" that is used very closely as a walking road for citizens in the morning and evening. Historically, the Meiji Restoration was about 150 years ago, and when the capital was relocated from Kyoto to Tokyo in the Meiji era, there was a "Meiji Emperor's first good luck" through this "Hikawa approach". "Omiya Hikawa approach", a spot that Omiya citizens are proud of. I can't tell you all.

From the approach to Hikawa to Hikawa Shrine, you can take a pleasant walk through the trees. It's a good place to take a leisurely walk to Hikawa Shrine and Omiya Park. The green was beautiful after the rain. From Omiya station, it takes about 10 minutes to reach the entrance to the approach.

Along the approach, there are scattered natural monuments designated by Saitama City with plates. In 1991, 29 large trees were designated as natural monuments of the city, but at the time of the subsequent survey (a total of 11 surveys conducted from November 9, 2002 to March 13, 2010). According to the report, nine trees have already been dedesignated due to death or fallen trees. After that, as far as I personally confirmed recently, 10 more trees (tree number: E-5 / E-154 / E-165 / E-168 / W-193 / W-197 / W-262 / W-276 / W-286 / W-287) has been logged (or has died, etc.). The fact that hundreds of years old trees are being cut down one after another is very sad, even though it was reported more than 10 years ago that immediate care was needed. I think there are various circumstances, but I hope that you will protect it so that no more wonderful large trees will be cut down.