Naka-Hikawa Jinja

Standing in a deep green grove in Mikajima, Tokorozawa City, Naka-Hikawa Jinja is an old shrine that carries on the Hikawa faith spread across Musashi Province. It is said that the name, meaning middle Hikawa, comes from its position between Omiya Hikawa Shrine in Saitama City and Oku-Hikawa Shrine toward the Okutama area. The enshrined deities include Susanoo no Mikoto, Inadahime no Mikoto, and Onamuchi no Mikoto.

Set in a quiet environment untouched by tourism, it is a calm, little known gem where locals visit daily to pray for protection from misfortune, safe birth, and traffic safety.

Highlights

• The grounds, wrapped in a richly green grove, are filled with a stillness and freshness that hardly seem to belong near the city
• It has the air of a venerable old shrine where you can feel the history of the Hikawa faith spread across Musashi Province
• It is loved for wide ranging blessings close to daily life, such as protection from misfortune, safe birth, lucky directions, and traffic safety
• With few tourists, its calm atmosphere lets you worship slowly at your own pace

Enjoying the Seasons

Spring gently dyes the grounds in fresh green, while summer offers the cool comfort of shade. Autumn colors the grove with foliage, and in winter you can pray quietly in the clear air. All year round it is a place to savor stillness and nature.

Access and Basic Information

• Location: 5-1691-1 Mikajima, Tokorozawa City, Saitama
• From Kotesashi Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line you can use a bus, or the Tokorozawa City community bus among others
• Around the Naka-Hikawa Jinja bus stop, or a few minutes on foot from the nearest bus stop
• Parking is available

Practical Travel Notes

• Allow about 20 to 30 minutes for a visit, enough to walk once around the quiet grounds
• Buses are not frequent, so it is reassuring to check the times in advance. A taxi or car from the station is also an option
• Because there are few tourists, you can worship calmly on weekdays or holidays alike. It suits everyday prayers or a visit when you wish to settle your mind
• As for cost, amulets and shrine seals run from a few hundred to a little over a thousand yen. A formal prayer service carries a separate offering fee
• Visiting it together with Musashi Ichinomiya Hikawa Shrine in Omiya makes for a fine journey around the Hikawa faith of Musashi Province

A Quick Tip

Rather than flashy sights, the appeal of this shrine is its quiet setting itself. It is perfect for everyday prayers or a visit when you wish to calm your heart. Checking the bus schedule in advance will put your mind at ease.

📚 Sources

This article draws on tourism guidance for the city of Tokorozawa and its surrounding area about Naka-Hikawa Jinja, the Hikawa faith spread across Musashi Province, and its positional relationship with Omiya Hikawa Shrine and Oku-Hikawa Shrine, together with notices posted on the grounds. The enshrined deities including Susanoo and the history of the Hikawa faith are also introduced in regional materials. Because fees and hours may change, please confirm the latest details through official sources before visiting.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time: About 20 to 30 minutes to make a circuit of the quiet grounds
• Access: By bus from Kotesashi Station on the Seibu-Ikebukuro Line or by Tokorozawa community bus, then a few minutes on foot from the nearest stop
• Transport note: Buses are infrequent, so checking times in advance is reassuring, and a taxi or car from the station is also an option
• Parking: Parking is available
• Avoiding crowds: There are few tourists, so you can visit calmly on both weekdays and holidays
• Budget: Amulets and seals range from a few hundred to low thousands of yen, with a separate offering for prayer services