Hikawa Shrine

What to know

Musashi Ichinomiya Hikawa Shrine (武蔵一宮氷川神社, Musashi Ichinomiya Hikawa Jinja) is a popular shrine in Saitama City, a 20-30 minute walk from Omiya Station. It was the head Shinto shrine of former Musashi Province ("Musashi Ichinomiya" means "top shrine of Musashi"), which covered present-day Greater Tokyo, including large parts of Saitama Prefecture. This shrine gave Omiya (meaning "great shrine") its name.

The shrine is set in lush greenery with many auxiliary buildings. A long approach from the south leads to the precincts, where a tall vermilion torii gate and several secondary shrines stand. Heading north, visitors cross a bridge over a pond. The two-storied Romon Gate marks the entrance to the main shrine grounds, where the main hall (honden), praying hall (haiden), and dance stage (maiden) are located.

Musashi Ichinomiya is the most important of many Hikawa shrines in Japan, enshrining Susanoo, the god of the sea and storms. Additional structures were added over time, and the current main buildings date from 1940. For most of the year, the shrine is tranquil, but during special occasions like New Year holidays, it becomes one of Japan's most visited shrines.

Hikawa Shrine is a ten-minute walk from Kita Omiya Station (2 minutes, 160 yen from Omiya Station on the Tobu Noda Line). Alternatively, it is a 20-30 minute walk from Omiya Station.