Mount Hodo

What it is

• A mountain standing 497.1 meters tall in Nagatoro Town, Saitama Prefecture.
• Home to Hodosan Shrine, one of the three major shrines in the Chichibu region.
• The site features an inner sanctuary located at the mountain summit.
• A scenic area near the national monument of Nagatoro Valley and Arakawa River.

What to see

• Hodosan Shrine buildings located at the base and the summit of the mountain.
• A plum garden and a wintersweet garden situated near the upper ropeway station.
• A small animal park located near the top of the mountain.
• The historic former residence of the Arai family.
• The nearby site of the Nishiura Copper Mine.
• Views of the Nagatoro Valley, a designated national monument since 1924.

When to go

• Visit during the blooming seasons for the plum and wintersweet gardens.
• Daytime trips allow for use of the Chichibu Railway ropeway service.

Notes written by Japan Gems from facts in Japanese Wikipedia.