By ando 
Basic Information
Location: 1-3 Banbamachi, Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture
Enshrined Kami: Yagokoro Omoikane no Mikoto, Chichibu Hiko no Mikoto, Ame no Minakanushi no Kami, Prince Chichibunomiya Yasuhito
Foundation: Said to have been founded in the 10th year of Emperor Sujin’s reign (87 BC), Chichibu Jinja has a history spanning over 2100 years and is one of Musashi Province’s four prominent shrines.
Architecture: The current main shrine building (shaden) was donated by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1592, built in the Gongen-zukuri style.
“Legendary Carvings” by Master Craftsman Hidari Jingoro and Mysterious Episodes
The gorgeous and elaborate carvings adorning Chichibu Jinja’s main hall each hide intriguing legends and backstories.
The Mystery of the “Tethered Dragon”
This blue dragon carving guards the northeast (the unlucky direction, or ‘kimon’) of the shrine’s main hall. Legend has it that long ago, a dragon living in the nearby “Ama-ga-ike” pond would rampage every night, destroying rice fields. Curiously, a puddle would always form beneath this carving the morning after the dragon’s rampage. It is said that once the carved dragon was tethered with a chain, the real dragon stopped appearing. If you look closely at the carving today, you can still see the chain tightly wrapped around the dragon’s body.
The “Genki San-en” (Energetic Three Monkeys) – The Opposite of Nikko?
While Nikko Toshogu Shrine’s Three Wise Monkeys are famous for ‘see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil,’ Chichibu Jinja’s three monkeys are the complete opposite. They represent a positive attitude relevant even in today’s information society: ‘look well, listen well, speak well,’ and are affectionately known as the ‘Genki San-en’ (Energetic Three Monkeys).
The Wisdom of the “Hokushin no Fukurou” (Northern Star Owl)
The owl carved on the north side of the main hall faces south with its body (towards the main hall), but its head is rotated 180 degrees to face due north. This is believed to represent the owl watching over the enshrined kami, who is a deification of the North Star (Myoken Bosatsu), day and night.
The Mystery of the “Leopard” mixed in with the “Tiger for Childbirth and Rearing”
A tiger carving adorns the front of the haiden (hall of worship). It was carved in commemoration of Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was born in the Year of the Tiger, on the Day of the Tiger, and at the Hour of the Tiger. However, if you look closely at the mother tiger’s pattern, it is actually a leopard. This is said to be due to the Kano school’s painting technique of the time, which dictated that ‘a leopard must always be depicted within a group of tigers.’
“Gods’ Secret Rendezvous” and Backstory Hidden in Chichibu Night Festival
The Chichibu Night Festival (December 3rd), registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, holds a slightly poignant love legend.
This festival is the day when the goddess of Chichibu Jinja (Myoken Bosatsu) and the male kami of Mt. Buko (a dragon god, and a symbol of Chichibu) are permitted to meet just once a year for a ‘secret rendezvous.’
However, there’s a backstory to this secret meeting. It is said that the male kami of Mt. Buko actually has a legal wife, the goddess of Suwa Jinja. When the festival floats pass near Suwa Jinja, a ritual called ‘Suwa-watari’ is performed, where the festival music (hayashi) is stopped, and the floats pass by quietly to avoid incurring the wife’s wrath.
Anime Pilgrimage Site: Key Spot of the Chichibu Trilogy
Chichibu Jinja is also very famous as a pilgrimage site for anime fans, appearing in works set in Chichibu (known as the ‘Chichibu Trilogy’).
Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
It appears in scenes such as episode 4, where the protagonist, Jintan, confronts Yukiatsu about ‘fake Menma.’
The Anthem of the Heart
The shrine’s surroundings and approach are depicted in important scenes of the story.
Her Blue Sky
It appears throughout the work as part of the scenery, and the sight of ema (votive tablets) with anime artwork, dedicated by fans, is a unique charm of Chichibu Jinja.
Chichibu Jinja is an ancient shrine where legendary carvings, tales of gods’ love, and modern anime culture converge. Step inside, and you are sure to feel a mysterious energy that transcends time.