Local trains in Saitama Prefecture (Chichibu Railway) (2)
Local trains in Saitama Prefecture (Chichibu Railway) (2) Table of Contents 1: Seibu Railway’s express train La View to Chichibu 2: Shiba-sakura hill (Hitsujiyama Park), Mitsumine Shrine 3: Chichibu Railway to Kumagaya 4: Kangiin Shotendo (Menuma Shodenzan Temple) 5: “Yakitori” in Higashi-Matsuyama 4: Kangiin Shotendo (Menuma Shodenzan Temple) Arriving at Kumagaya Station, I took a bus to Kangiin Temple. The common name of Kangiin is Menuma Shodenzan. The Kangiin Seidendo (main hall) is the only national treasure building in Saitama Prefecture. It is considered one of Japan’s three holy temples. Kangiin Temple was founded in 1179 by Saito Sanemori, who built the Shoten Shrine to enshrine his guardian deity, the Great Kangiten. Kangiin Temple was visited by Minamoto no Yoritomo, the first shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate, and Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate, rebuilt it. Saito Sanemori was a military commander based in Nagai-sho (Menuma, Kumagaya) on the Heike side, who became famous during the Genpei wars. Sanemori is also portrayed in theatre, such as Kabuki and Noh plays. The current ‘Kangiin Shodendo’ was rebuilt in 1760 after being burnt down in 1670. It is known as ‘Saitama Nikko’ due to its decorative architecture,