A visit to Kawagoe wasn’t in the plans, at least until a week before our trip, when my friend put it out as one of the suggestions of a day trip from Tokyo. For the longest time, I’ve always associated Saitama for the Saitama Arena, which is also a venue for concerts *coughsArashicoughs*. Good to know that I can now associate it with another charming place, which is Kawagoe.
After our visit to Kita-in Temple, we had a hearty lunch at Ichinoya, then hopped on the Koedo Bus to get to the next stop in our itinerary, the Kawagoe Hikawa Jinja, or the Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.
Here’s what the bus schedule on the bus stop looks like. It takes a bit of getting used to, but I am super impressed by how systematic it is. Sure, it could be late once in a while, but then again, in this part of the world, their “late” is just a matter of a minute. Or two. Or five.
In my part of the world, that’s still pretty much on time. (How sad is that, huh.)
Not to be confused with the Hikawa Shrine, which is also in the Omiya Ward in Saitama City, the Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine in Saitama Prefecture is a Shinto Shrine frequented by many for those with petitions regarding marriage, family, or creating a good romantic match.
When we arrived, there were already quite a number of people at the entrance.
All the Wind Chimes Your Romantic Heart Can Handle
Just days before our visit, Hikawa Shrine had its Wind Chime Festival, which is often held during the months of July to September. I think there was also a fireworks show later that night, but of course, we were no longer there when it happened.
So this explained why the entry gate had all those colorful wind chimes, and why there was traffic before it, what with the visitors wanting to get a good shot of the wind chimes.
When Jane first mentioned “wind chimes”, images of various wind chime designs came to mind, like dolphins and unicorns hanging on dainty threads, with tiny bells making the tinkling sound.
Surprise, Hikawa Shrine had a different idea, with a single design of the wind chimes, only with different colors. And there are no huge bells, but tiny ones, with thin wooden planks inscribed with wishes. I forgot how much it was, but I think for something like 1,000 to 2,000 yen you could buy a wind chime, write your wish on the wooden plaque, then hang it anywhere on the grounds of Hikawa Shrine.
Or, you could just purchase a wind chime to hang at your own home. I was tempted to, but then I thought about how we’ll be moving around for the next couple of weeks, and bringing something fragile with my luggage didn’t seem too wise.
Or you can just put your wishes down on an ema, or a wooden prayer plate, and hang it on the designated areas. There is even a tunnel of emas, but we didn’t go through it because there were just too many people.
And check out the many visitors wearing their pretty and colorful yukata, or summer kimono. This reminded me when I once walked around Yasaka Shrine wearing a yukata. It’s definitely not one of my most comfortable experiences, but it sure was memorable.
It was noticeable how there were a lot of ladies looking all pretty in their traditional garb, all done from their hair to their toes. And also couples, many of them wearing yukata for their “couple looks”. After all, didn’t I mention earlier how Hikawa Shrine is known for match-making?
Like, if you want to get love blessings, then this is where you should go.
Just for kicks, all three of us bought a charm for having a fateful romantic encounter. Haha! I kid you. Not.
I never did see the “romance” behind wind chimes. I just thought they were something practical when you need an “early warning device” or, if you live somewhere in the province or by the beach, where there is a decent breeze to let in through the window, then it’ll make sense to have one, purely for aesthetic purposes.
Looking at them here, in this multitude of colors, I was willing to change my opinion a bit. *sniggers*
These “corridors” or gates hung with wind chimes are also lit up at night, and I’m pretty sure that’s a pretty sight to see.
Even the Main Hall of the Shrine had quite a queue, proving that this place draws a lot of people. This was on a Sunday, by the way, so that’s another reason why there are so many people there when we visited.
There’s this little stream or tiny river where you can send off paper dolls and wash yourself off your sins.
Let me explain more (I just read about this afterwards). You get a hitogata or a piece of washi paper that is provided at a table nearby. These pieces of paper are in the shape of humans, ergo hito (human) and gata (shape).
The cleansing goes like this (and I did observe some do it):
Blow on the hitogata three times. Rub it on any part of your body, then release it into the water. I heard there is a corresponding chant. Once it crosses that small wooden gate-like structure, then it means your sins are cleansed.
…or something like that. I can’t be 100% sure but you get the idea.
Supposedly, that massive tree behind us? That’s a Holy Tree, one of the two large zelkova trees in the Shrine that is more than 6 centuries old. I wondered belatedly why several people were hanging around them, and I thought it was only because they wanted to cool off (because did I mention how it was sweltering hot that day?).
Well, apparently, if you walk around the tree, following the stone path weaving around it in a figure 8, then you will gain some spiritual power.
Had I known, I would’ve given it a shot. Because who wouldn’t say no to a spiritual power or something? 🙂 Just… not seeing ghosts, please.
There’s the queue to the Main Shrine. Yeah. It’s a blockbuster, I’d say.
I was so amazed that they have charms for everything, from wealth to health to traffic safety, to passing an exam. Of course, the most popular ones in this shrine are the matchmaking charms, or those about romance and relationships.
I… kinda forgot where I put mine. I did purchase several types of charms in the other shrines and temples we went to later that couple of weeks, I think I lost track of which charm is for what. *sheepish*
I also appreciate how the Hikawa Shrine is shrouded with trees and greenery, so it was not as searing hot as it was when were at Kita-in Temple. There was still a breeze going on, which is a given, considering how there are wind chimes everywhere.
This lone wind chime was hanging on the bus stop where we waited for our bus that will take us to the Old Warehouse District. Somehow, after being inundated with so many wind chimes from inside Hikawa Shrine, seeing this single blue one made me smile.
The Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine is included in the route of the Koedo Bus Loop, so make sure to check it out if you’re in the ‘hood.
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