5 Photogenic Power Spots of Saitama | Recommended Instagrammable Shrines and Temples

In Saitama Prefecture, which you can reach quickly by train from Tokyo, "photogenic power spots" known to those in the know are scattered. Mystical light, fantastical torii gates, moss-covered cobblestones. Let's set off right away in search of spectacular views to color your Instagram feed!

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1. Mitsumine Shrine (Chichibu City) | A Fantastical Space Woven by Mist and Torii Gates

At Mitsumine Shrine, enshrined at an elevation of 1,102m, when mist hangs in the early morning, a mystical landscape like another world spreads out. The contrast between the vermilion-lacquered Zuishinmon gate and the deep primeval forest is stunning, as if you have wandered into the world of Ghibli.

• Best shooting time: Right after sunrise (the 5 to 6 a.m. hours), the rainy season to autumn when mist tends to occur
• Shooting angle: Aiming at the Zuishinmon gate from the front at a low angle doubles the depth and impact
• Access: About 75 minutes by bus from Seibu-Chichibu Station

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2. Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine (Kawagoe City) | Matchmaking Wind Chimes and Colorful Ema

Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, renowned as the "god of matchmaking," is a stunning photogenic spot with the "Enmusubi Wind Chimes" held in summer. Over 2,000 wind chimes are lined up in a row in the precincts, glittering in the translucent light.

• Best shooting time: The time when the soft late-morning light streams in, summer only
• Shooting angle: Capturing the tunnel of wind chimes with a long shot makes for a fantastical shot
• Access: About a 15-minute walk from "Honkawagoe Station" on the Seibu Shinjuku Line

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3. Chichibu Shrine (Chichibu City) | Gorgeously Splendid Shrine Buildings with Carvings and Vermilion Lacquer

Chichibu Shrine, also called the "Nikko of Chichibu," has shrine buildings adorned with richly colored carvings that radiate an overwhelming presence. Especially the carvings of the "Tsunagi-no-Ryu (Tethered Dragon)" and "Kosodate-no-Tora (Child-Rearing Tiger)" complete one-of-a-kind photos just by shooting them close up.

• Best shooting time: The afternoon time when it becomes front-lit, autumn in the foliage season
• Shooting angle: Closing up on the shrine buildings' carvings somewhat macro makes the beauty of the details stand out
• Access: About a 3-minute walk from "Chichibu Station" on the Chichibu Railway

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4. Hodosan Shrine (Nagatoro Town) | A Winter Spectacular View of Wintersweet and Shrine

This shrine, enshrined at the summit of Mt. Hodo in Nagatoro, is known for the spectacular view in January and February when the whole mountain is enveloped in the yellow flowers of wintersweet (robai). If you capture the shrine through the translucent golden flowers, you can take a winter-only miracle shot!

• Best shooting time: The morning of a sunny day, late January to February is the best viewing
• Shooting angle: Putting the wintersweet flowers as foreground blur and capturing the shrine's main hall in the background is recommended
• Access: About 5 minutes by ropeway from "Nagatoro Station" on the Chichibu Railway

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5. Hijiri Shrine (Chichibu City) | An Appearance Full of the Wado Ruins and Ancient Romance

Hijiri Shrine, associated with "Wado Kaichin," Japan's oldest copper coin, produces a distinctive worldview with its moss-covered cobblestones and a giant Wado Kaichin monument. The lush, green approach along the mountain stream creates especially beautiful light and shadow in the fresh-greenery season.

• Best shooting time: The time when sunlight filters through the leaves in the late morning, May with its fresh greenery
• Shooting angle: Capturing the approach's cobblestones in an S-curve line makes for a composition with depth
• Access: About a 10-minute walk from "Wado-Kuroya Station" on the Chichibu Railway

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A delightful point of Saitama's power spots is that you can access them casually from the city center. While charging up on the gods' energy, be sure to set out to take a special shot ✨

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