Fuji-ko A small shrine was built to enshrine the deities of Fujisan called, “Asama-no-Okami”. The origin of this shrine is thought that when the emperor’s son, Prince Yamato-Takeru-no-Mikoto stopped at this area during his eastern military expedition, he went up “Otsuka Hill” near the present shrine, and worshipped the sacred Fujisan in the distance. The shrine is said to have about a 1900-year history. It is traditionally said that while Fujisan had repeatedly erupted, following a major eruption in 781 AD, the shrine was relocated to its present location and a shrine building was built, having the deities of Fujisan, “Asama-no-Okami” transferred in 788 AD. Ever since then, the shrine had seen shrine buildings being restored or newly constructed by the persons in power during the respective periods including a famous warlord, Takeda Shingen. After the early modern times, Fuji-ko religious association extensively renovated the shrine in the style which has continued to this day. The group of shrine buildings are magnificent. Large Torii Gate, being the largest wooden torii gate in Japan, marks the place to worship Fujisan from afar. Then Zuijinmon Gate and a dance stage called Kaguraden can be seen. The main shrine building is flanked by 1000 –year-old sacred trees. It houses the Haiden Chamber and the Honden Chamber, which is designated as Japan’s important cultural asset. Behind the main shrine building are located two old Honden Chambers: Nishinomiya Honden (the West Main Chamber) and Higashinomiya Honden (the East Main Chamber), which was built by Takeda Shingen and is the oldest one among the existing structures in this shrine. There is also a shrine of “Fuji Ebisu”, the gods of good fortune, facing Fujisan. The approach extends straight in the mystical forest of Japanese cedar trees and cypress trees. There is a large rock called “Tachigyo-ishi” around halfway on the approach, on which the founder of the Fuji-ko belief, Kakugyo engaged in intense religious training, worshipping Fujisan in the distance. When you go around the precincts and notice something such as stone monuments which stand near Climbing Gate, you can think of various aspects of Fujisan Worship, which flourished at the northern foot of the mountain. A stone monument atFuji-michi roadsceneries on the way, and having encounters with their fellow travelers. “Fujisan-michi” almost overlaps the present Route 139. When you follow the route, you can find old milestones and simple stone Buddhist statues by the roadside. The area called “Asumi”, along the route, was depicted by Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) as “Fuji seen from Asumi Village” in “Fugaku Hyakkei”, or one hundred landscapes of Fujisan. The place has Lake Asumiko, which used to be one of the destinations for Fuji-ko followers who made a circuit of the inner eight seas. It is now famous for beautiful lotus flowers blooming throughout the lake. “Fujisan-michi” is the road leading to Fujisan as its name shows. The road was used as a pilgrimage route by Fuji-ko followers who headed for Fujisan all the way from the Edo (present-day Tokyo) area. Starting from Nihonbashi in Edo, the road forked from Koshu-kaido Road (one of the important highways which were maintained in the Edo period, starting from Nihonbashi to other regions) at Otsuki and led to Kana-dorii in Fujiyoshida by way of the villages such as Yamura and present-day Nishikatsura Town. It is said that all of Edo’s 808 districts had its own Fuji-ko. Several to dozens of members of each Fuji-ko saved up enough money to send annual proxy pilgrims who were decided by turn or by drawing lots. If they were chosen to go on behalf of the group, they were regarded as being lucky to get an opportunity to have an envied, once- in-a-lifetime trip which is said to include quite many factors of entertainment. It used to take about three to four days for them to walk from Nihonbashi one way. They fully enjoyed their trip to Fujisan by holding a gourd containing their treasured sake (Japanese alcohol), admiring beautiful Fuji-ko - Popularization of the worship / Fujiyoshida area According to legend, in 110 AD, Prince YamatoTakeru-no-Mikoto dropped by this area during his eastern military expedition and ordered people to worship Fujisan from here. It has a long and wide base and a beautiful conical shape, especially on its northern side. This place now enshrines Prince YamatoTakeru-no-Mikoto as the birthplace of Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen-jinja Shrine. It is also recently known as “a power spot”, which is said to be a sacred place filled with an energy. The torii gate in the back of the right side of the precincts is the Climbing Gate, which serves as the starting point of “Yoshida Ascending Route.” “Yoshida Ascending Route” is the only trail that people can walk up from the foot even now among the historical trails of Fujisan. On the previous day of the official starting date of climbing Fujisan, July 1, the traditional Shinto ritual called “Omichi-biraki” is held at this gate. Fugaku-hyakkei “Fuji viewfrom Asumi Villege”People enjoyed a once in a lifetime trip along “Fuji-michi” on a pilgrimage to Fujisan.18■e magni■cent, time-honored shrine situated in the center of the north side of FujisanOtsuka HillClimbing Gate3Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen-jinja Shrine
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