ChibaLeisure

Fuse Benten Tokaiji Temple (布施弁天東海寺)

Flow of the course

About 50 min here

About 10 min to the next stop

Next stop: Walk through a well-tended garden and flower fields with a windmill

About this spot

This is an old temple standing on high ground overlooking the Tone River (利根川), long known affectionately by the name Fuse Benten. The vermilion two-storey gate, main hall and bell tower lined up together make an imposing sight, with a presence quite unlike a temple in a residential district. Climb the stone steps and stand in the precincts, and you take in the surrounding fields and river at a glance, which gives you some sense of why this place has drawn devotion for so long. It is right next to Akebonoyama Agricultural Park, just the right distance for a stop at the start of the day. Telling children it is 「the old temple next to the park」 helps them walk in without feeling on edge.

Tips

There are stone steps, so there will be moments when a baby carrier is easier to manage than a stroller. The precincts are a place of worship, so tell children beforehand not to run about. The sun is strong in summer, so do not forget hats and drinks. Parking in the free car park at Akebonoyama Agricultural Park and walking over makes the journey easier.