SaitamaLeisure

Nakayama Shrine (中山神社), also known as Naka-Hikawa Shrine (中氷川神社)

About this spot

This old shrine in Nakagawa, Minuma Ward, Saitama City is counted among the three Hikawa shrines together with Hikawa Shrine (氷川神社) in Omiya and Hikawa Nyotai Shrine (氷川女體神社) in Midori Ward. The three are said to stand almost in a straight line across Minuma, which suggests how deeply this area has been bound up with water since ancient times. The grounds are quiet and surrounded by trees, and the clear morning air makes it a pleasant place to be. It is not showy, but you can sense the atmosphere of a place that local people have carefully protected. A visit just to pray takes only a short time, so it fits easily into the morning schedule.

Tips

There are gravel paths in the grounds, so a stroller is hard to push in places. A baby carrier makes moving around easier. It is a quiet place, so a word to the children beforehand about not running around is reassuring. There is plenty of shade, which also makes it a comfortable stop on a hot morning.