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Home , Miko, Mon (architecture), Shizuoka Sengen Shrine, Torii, Uenohara

Fujisan-michi Road ANCIENT ROAD Koshu-dochu road was one of the highways starting from Onuma (Milestone / Wade-miya) Koasumi (Lake Asumiko) Shimoyoshida / Omuro Sengen-jinja Oshi-machi (the base town for Nihonbashi in Edo (present-day ). People living in the Kanto It was around the present-day Onuma area in Lake Asumiko is a small lake, but it is one of eight lakes called Shrine worship-ascent) plains walked along Koshu-dochu road to the west, heading for TO FUJISAN Town that people coming along Fujisan-michi could get a chance “Uchihakkai”, which were regarded as the pilgrimage destinations. Silk fabrics have been one of the major industries in Fujisan. e road forked at Otsuki post-town and they walked up for the rst time to see the whole mountain of Fujisan trailing It was drawn as “Fuji seen from Asumi Village” in “Fugaku Shimoyoshida since the . People have reared silkworms Yamura-ji road along the Katsura River to come to Yoshida. e — Pilgrimage Routes of Fujisan — gently in a conic shape. e old road at Onuma was called Hyakkei”, or one hundred landscapes of Fujisan, by Katsushika to reel silk o cocoons and made silk fabrics. e industry has been Fujisan worshipers named the whole road from Edo “Shuku-dori”, which ourished as a post-town for Hokusai. Lake Asumiko was part of Koasumi Village in the Edo supported by the abundant subsoil water from Fujisan. It has “Fujisan-michi”. worship-ascenders to the summer mountain during the period period, and the people aiming for Fujisan would perform water grown in auence, making the best use of the natural condition, from the Edo era through the present days. here. ey puried themselves with abundant water sprung for example, the water from dierent sources was used for dyeing as Walk on Fujisan-michi Road ! It is said that Onuma Sengen-jinja Shrine was founded in 721. out at the foot of the surrounding mountains, and then set out to necessary. e wholesale stores of silk fabrics used to stand in a row e deities enshrined are Konohana-Sakuya Hime, the goddess of ascend Fujisan. Mitsutoge Station on the east side of the main street, which were called Fujisan, and her husband, Amatsuhikohikohononinigi no Mikoto. “Kinuya-machi”, or the town of silk fabrics stores. 1.9km At Omuro Sengen-jinja Shrine in Shimoyoshida, a called “Tsutsu-gayu” is conducted from the midnight of January Onuma Sengen-jinja Shrine 14th through the dawn of the following 15th. It is a divine fortune-telling, in which how much porridge and how many grains 4.8km of rice come in the 24 pipes of reed tell us how the crop will be in Lake Asumiko the year. is Shinto ritual also tells us whether the number of climbers to Fujisan is large or small. It was a matter of concern for 2.8km Oshi because their lives were inuenced by it. “Oshi-machi” map

Omuro Sengen-jinja Shrine In the Edo period, there were so many Fuji-ko (Fuji pilgrimage 2.0km associations) that it was said there were 808 Fuji-ko groups in Edo. Arakura Sengen-jinja Shrine Lake Asumiko ey came to Yoshida walking through the Fujisan-michi from 0.9km “Chureito” pagoda various places. When the Fuji-ko were at the height of popularity Arakura Sengen-jinja Shrine among the commoners, nearly 100 Oshi-lodgings and related Kana-dorii Sengen-jinja Shrine on the hill houses lined the road. Yoshida developed into the base town for of Arakura is located at the point worship-ascent to Fujisan. 0.4km where it overlooks the Fuji-ko which were popular in Edo and the surrounding areas Onuma Sengen-jinja Shrine “Oshi” Lodging House -marubi lava. It can be made worship-ascent in a group. Oshi accommodated the Fuji-ko (Former House of the Togawa Family) inferred that a ritual would be in their private houses, while they preached the Fujisan belief. Kamikurechi (Ken-marubi Lava) held, praying to quell the lava ow During the mountain climbing seaseon, Oshi took care of Fuji-ko 1.3km e volcanic alluvial fan spreads out on the northern side of and to protect people from “Yabusame” ritual at Omuro Sengen-jinja Shrine groups who stayed in their lodging houses, serving the meals, Kitaguchi Hongu Fujisan, on which there are many streams of lava ow. is area disaster. Today it is getting praying for purication, and guiding the climbing. Fuji Sengen-jinja Shrine had big volcanic activities repeatedly. e new lava of the Shin-Fuji popular as a viewpoint of Fujisan Kana-dorii Kazan (Young Fuji Volcano) are called “___ marubi”. which is known for “Chureito”, “Chureito” pagoda usually signify the Ken-marubi lava that owed out near the summit about 1000 ve-storied pagoda. boundaries between the common years ago went down around the Komitake Kazan (Komitake e tablet which reads world and the sacred area. Volcano) along the present Fuji Subaru Line Toll Road, which “Sangoku-Daiichi-zan” is put up Kana-dorii standing at the formed Yoshida and Funatsu lava tree molds, and nally reached on the torii at Arakura gateway of Yoshida Town is around Shiraito in Kamikurechi. It is said that it was named Sengen-jinja Shrine. Sangoku, regarded as the rst torii, and the “Ken-marubi” because the shape of the lava ow resembled a meaning three countries, indicates town was formed with the sword, which is called “ken” in Japanese. , , and , which religious design as if the inner side signied the whole world in the of the torii would be the sacred Medieval period. at is to say area as well. At the important “Sangoku-Daiichi-zan” meant the points along the route to the No. 1 mountain in the world. summit, there are torii gates, and Gazing at Mt. Fuji from Inume Pass in Uenohara City “Sangoku-Daiichi-zan” tablet Kana-dorii is the rst one. “Kana-dorii” Oshi Lodging House (former House of the Togawa Family)

Mt. Fuji from Fuji Hokuroku Area -kaido Road ere is a road called “Kai-ji”, which branches o from the Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen-jinja Shrine Kawaguchi Asama-jinja Shrine “-iwa” Lava Rock at Funatsu-hama “Gyoi ”, or a pilgrim’s garb Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen-jinja Shrine was the starting historical main road in Japan, Tokai-do Road and leads to the It is believed that the shrine was originally built in order to shore of Lake Kawaguchiko capital of “” (present-day ). It The summit of Fujisan was compared to point of worship-ascent for Fuji-ko. It originated in the place for appease the deity and implore protection against eruptions aer It is thought that “Tatami-iwa” lava rock found at Funatsu-hama a Buddhist paradise or the afterworld by was also called “Misaka-ji” because it crosses “Misaka-toge” Pass. worship from afar (“Yohai”) where Asama no Okami was Fujisan erupted in 864. Since the Medieval period, it has shore of Lake Kawaguchiko was the volcanic feature created by the people who climbed the mountain for a In the (1185-1333), it came to be called enshrined. In 1480, the torii gate was built. e most of the shrine supported Fujisan worship as the shrine which is sited in the center lava ow aer Fujisan’s eruptions in the middle of the Jomon religious purpose. Ascending Fujisan Kamakura-kaido Road since samurai warriors used almost the buildings were completed by the middle of the 17th century of the settlement of “Oshi” period, around 4500 years ago. It is presumed that this spot was meant a religious practice and having same route to pay a courtesy visit to the Kamakura Shogunate. experience of symbolic death. Descending including the main shrine which was built in 1615. is shrine has religious guides’ lodgings, regarded as one of the places for the “Uchihakkai-meguri,” the From the (1333-1568) onward, a lot of the mountain signified a spiritual rebirth. been deeply connected with Fuji-ko, and the buildings were where believers coming to practice of making a circuit of eight lakes at the base of Fujisan, believers of the general population visited Fujisan and the people Therefore, pilgrims wore white “Gyoi” restored with the donation by the leader of Fuji-ko, Murakami Fujisan via Kamakura-kaido which was conducted by Fuji-ko in the Edo period. from the westward and northward areas from Kofu Basin used clothes which were the same religious Kosei, in the 1730’s. us the present landscape was formed. Road stayed. Religious events white clothes used to dress the deceased. Kamakura-kaido Road as a pilgrimage route to Fujisan. At that closely related to Fujisan are Mt. Fuji from Mt. Takazasu Mt. Fuji from Mt. Ishiwari time, “Oshi” lodging houses to accommodate those believers were still conducted today. One of built in the Kawaguchi area which was located along the road and them is Chigomai dance, they had ourished up to the Edo period (1603-1868). which is designated as an important intangible cultural Walk on Kamakura-kaido Road ! property. The approach to Kawaguchi Asama-jinja Shrine “Goshuin”, or a seal stamp given to visitors to Shinto shrines Kawaguchi Asama-jinja Shrine “Goshuin” is testimony of “Omairi,” which means visiting shrines, making a connection with deities and deepening the relationship with Chigomai dance 10min. them. In short, “Goshuin” is testimony of building the connection with Chigomai dance is one of the Shinto ritual performing arts which have deities. Historical Stone Objects Yoko-machi been passed down in Kawaguchi Asama-jinja Shrine. It has been dedicated to the deities of the shrine at the annual festivals, “Magomi 40min. (visiting a grandchild)” Festival held on April 25th and “Daidai Okagura The main building of Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen-jinja Shrine (Shinto music and dance)” Festival held on July 28th. Chigomai dance is Mt. Fuji from Nijumagari Pass Mt. Fuji from Mt. Mitsutoge “Tatami-iwa” Lava Rock thought to have been influenced “Tatami-iwa” lava rock e tablet on the top of the large torii gate in the precinct reads by “-no-mai” dance which “Sangoku- Daiichi-zan,” meaning that Fujisan is the No.1 20min. was dedicated by “Oshi” religious guides in the Kawaguchi area in Mt.Tenjo- and Kanetsuki-do or the mountain among the three countries like India, China and Japan. Kanetsuki-do Hall the Edo period. It is local girls in bellhouse People considered Fujisan itself as the object of worship. Fuji the Kawaguchi area that play the Kamakura-kaido Road was an important military road for pilgrims passed through the gate and started to make a 30min. role of dancers. worship-ascent. It is one of the largest wooden torii gates in Japan. Kai-no-kuni (Yamanashi Prefecture) in the Warring States period Fuji pilgrims conducted rituals to make a worship-ascent in a Akasaka-no-dohyo (milestone) (1467-1600). Along the road, there are ruins of dierent castles formalized manner inside the precinct and started their journey to constructed to prepare for the enemy invasion. It is said that there 5min. the summit of Fujisan at “Tozan-” (the climbing gate) located “Oshi” religious guides in the Kawaguchi was a re beacon platform site in Mt.Tenjo-yama. Also, at the foot of the mountain, there used to be Kanetsuki-do or the bellhouse in The first non-Japanese to climb Fujisan at the rear of the shrine buildings. Numerous worshippers visited Fujisan-michi Road area this place and climbed Fujisan during the summer season. case of emergency. The first non-Japanese to climb Fujisan was Rutherford Alcock, who A large following of “Oshi” religious guides in the Kawaguchi was the first British diplomatic minister in Japan in the late Edo period, Mt. Fuji from Shindo Pass Mt. Fuji from Mt. Odake area was based in Kofu Basin and the northward and westward when the governed Japan. Shortly after opening the areas from Kofu Basin. It supported Fujisan Worship in the country to the world, in 1860, as the movement to oust foreigners was Nagano and the Northern gathering momentum, Alcock’s climbing party with nine members was pompously accompanied by over 100 bodyguards. Kanto Regions. Twelve Fujisan World Heritage Association for Preservation & In those days, women were still prohibited from entering Fujisan. “Oshi”s called Kawaguchi However, a British diplomatic minister in Japan, Harry Parkes's wife, Fanny Utilization, Yamanashi Juni-Bou lived in the early Edo Parkes became known as the first non-Japanese woman to climb Fujisan. Secretarial Oce: Fujisan World Heritage Division, Yamanashi period, increasing their branch That was in 1867, seven years after the first ascent of Fujisan by Alcock as Prefectural Government families. An old document a foreigner. At that time, the Tokugawa Shogunate came to the end and Tel: +81-55-223-1316 Fax: +81-55-223-1781 says that there were more than Japan was entering a new era with the Restoration. Date of Issue: 1 January, 2018 120 “Oshi”s at peak. Translated by: Mt. Fuji Yamanashi Guide-Interpreters Association (FYGIA) “Tozan-mon” (the climbing gate) View from the vicinity of Tenkachaya Teahouse Oshi Lodging House (House of the Umitani-Honjo Family) “Kanetuki-do” bellhouse