Mount Mitake - Mitsuminesan

A mountain located in the Otaki area of ​​Chichibu City, western Saitama Prefecture. It has an altitude of 1,100 meters. In the past, the three mountains of Myoho-ga-dake, Shiraiwa-san, and Kumotori-san were called Mitake, but now it refers to the mountains near Mitake Shrine. The shrine is said to have been founded when Emperor Yamato Takeru enshrined the two gods on this mountain during his expedition to the east. Since the Edo period, it has attracted believers who wished to ward off fires and theft, and the mountaintop has become a bustling place of lodging, forming a temple town with a large lodging, a post office, souvenir shops, and other businesses. The Mitake village is located about 200 meters lower on the slope. The Mitake Tourist Road allows you to drive to the shrine from the direction of Futase Dam.

[Masatami Nakayama]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

埼玉県西部、秩父市(ちちぶし)大滝(おおたき)地区にある山。標高1100メートル。古くは妙法ヶ岳、白岩(しらいわ)山、雲取(くもとり)山の3山を三峰とよんでいたが、現在は三峯神社付近の山をさす。同社は伊邪那岐神(いざなぎのかみ)・伊邪那美神(いざなみのかみ)を祀(まつ)り、日本武尊(やまとたけるのみこと)が東征の途中この山で両神を祀ったのに始まるという。江戸時代以来、火難・盗難除(よ)けの信仰を集め、山頂の宿坊はにぎわい、大宿坊のほか郵便局、土産(みやげ)物屋などが集まる門前町を形成し、200メートルほど低い斜面には三峰集落がある。三峰観光道路によって、二瀬(ふたせ)ダム方面から車で神社前まで達することができる。

［中山正民］

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