Over New Year in Ikaho Onsen (1)
The New Year season is a wonderful time to visit temples and shrines around Ikaho, warm up in the onsen, and welcome the year in a peaceful atmosphere.
In this two-part series, we introduce several temples and shrines around Ikaho.
1. Ikaho Shrine
It is located at the top of the Ikaho Stone Steps. Together with Nukisaki Shrine in Tomioka and Akagi Shrine on Mount Akagi, it is regarded as one of the major historic shrines of the former Kōzuke Province. The shrine is closely associated with hot springs and healing, and welcomes many worshippers each year.
- Address: 2 Ikaho, Ikaho-machi
- Phone: +81 279-72-2351
2. Gotokusan Mizusawa-ji
About a 10-minute drive from the inn, this is the 16th temple on the Bandō Thirty-three Kannon pilgrimage and is widely known as Mizusawa Kannon. Visitors can take part in the New Year’s Eve bell ringing, and many people come for hatsumode, the first shrine or temple visit of the year. A goma fire ritual is also held. See Mizusawa-ji.
- Address: 214 Mizusawa, Ikaho-machi
- Phone: +81 279-72-3619
3. Kounzan Tenso-ji
About a 10-minute drive from the inn, Tenso-ji is said to have been founded during the Muromachi period. Its principal image is a painted wooden Shaka Triad. From New Year’s Eve into the new year, the temple welcomes many worshippers.
- Address: 517 Ikaho, Ikaho-machi
- Phone: +81 279-72-2476
Tomorrow we will introduce Bukko-san Hosui-ji and Shibukawa Hachimangu. See Over New Year in Ikaho Onsen (2).