MENU

Field Study Course for Academic Year 2022

Touring Chichibu's power spots and nearby cultural facilities

Field Study Course for Academic Year 2022

Date：August 3, 5, September 6, 8, 2022

Location/Itinerary：Chichibu City, Chichibu County, Yokoze Town, Chichibu County, Nagatoro Town, Chichibu County, Saitama Prefecture
　　　　　Day 1：Gather at Seibu-Chichibu Station→Chichibu Meisenkan→Lunch→Chichibu City Hall→Mown walk→Chichibu Shrine→Chichibu Festival Hall→Mown walk→Seibu-Chichibu Station dismissal
　　　　　Day 2：Gather at Yokoze Station→Terasaka Terraced Fields→Yokoze Town History and Folklore Museum→Yokoze Fureai Plaza/Why Labo→Lunch→Mukosan Museum→Imamiya Shrine→Hashidate Cave
　　　　　　　　　→Dismissal at Seibu-Chichibu Station
　　　　　Day 3：Gather at Seibu-Chichibu Station → Sambine Shrine (including lunch) → Disband at Seibu-Chichibu Station
　　　　　Day 4：Gather at Nagatoro Station→Hodosan Shrine→Nagatoro-machi Local History Museum, Former Arai Family Residence→Lunch→Hodosan Shrine Okumiya→Hodosan Small Animal Park→Nagatoro Station dismissed

Cooperating organizations: Mr. Masami Yamamoto (Ogano Town Board of Education), Yokoze Town Hall, Yokoze Town History and Folklore Museum, Chichibu City Hall

Learning Objective: To deepen understanding of Chichibu's religious beliefs by visiting the three major shrines in Chichibu and observing the landscape of Mt,
　　　　　At the same time, we will learn about the history and present state of the two major industries that have supported Chichibu: the silk weaving and cement industries. In addition, through learning at related cultural facilities and walking around the town, students will understand the relationship between religious beliefs and people's daily lives.

  • The group was divided into coaster weaving and indigo dyeing groups at the Chichibu Meisenkan. The indigo dyeing process changes the color of the coaster after it is completed, and gives it a new flavor.

  • At the Chichibu Meisen Museum. The students are seriously selecting the meisen they want to try on.

  • At the Chichibu Matsuri Kaikan, the kabuki-yatai and kasaboko floats used in the night festival are on display.

  • Terasaka terraced rice fields on the day of the FS. Clouds are gathering over Mt. In the foreground is the Mitsubishi Cement Plant. The scenery changes with the seasons.

  • Chichibu's soul food, Waraji Katsu-don, Miso Potatoes (upper right), and handmade Udon noodles.

  • At the Yokoze Town History and Folklore Museum, the director gave us an explanation of the exhibits. On the right is a model of a puppet show that has been passed down in Yokose.

  • Mimine Shrine, a beautiful and mysterious shrine at the top of the mountain. People from all over the Kanto area used to come to the shrine to pray for protection against fire and theft. The shrine is also known for the Seibu Railway commercials.

  • Kaguraden (music and dancing hall) under the main shrine of Mimine Shrine. This is a monument dedicated to the Kagura of the Takinozawa area, which was dispersed due to the Takizawa Dam construction.

  • Mr. Masami Yamamoto, curator of the Ogano Town Board of Education, who guided us for four days. Everyone eagerly took notes on the easy-to-understand and profound content.

  • The former Arai family residence with a shingle roof surrounded by bamboo groves and green trees. It is one of the old houses where visitors can get a glimpse of the rich life of farmers.

  • The worship hall of Hodosan Shrine. The approach to the shrine was flourishing with stores bustling with "Naokai" after the "ko" visit to the shrine.

  • At the Hodosan Small Animal Park, the spirit of animal welfare was fostered. A friendly llama comes close to us.

From the reports of participating students (excerpts)

The view of Mt. Mukou from Chichibu City Hall was powerful, and seeing its pre-lime-mining appearance at the Mt. Mukou Museum made me even more convinced that its majestic appearance was the object of overwhelming faith for the people of the Chichibu area. The fact that the Yokoze Museum of History and Folklore exhibits the history of the name of Mt. Mukou shows that Mt. Mukou was central to the beliefs and culture of the Chichibu region, and that even though its role has changed since the modern era as a lime mining site, it has remained closely related to the lives of local people and supported their development. I was impressed by the fact that the local people are still closely involved in the lives of the local people and support their development. (3rd year male)

Mr. Yamamoto (local lecturer) said, "Famous places are created. His comment, "A landmark is something that is created, and the current prosperity is the result of our efforts," was very impressive and made me think about how regional development and regional economy should be. The movement to create tourism resources through bricolage by local people alone, utilizing their own resources and knowledge (local knowledge), rather than building new structures or attracting outside capital, is an important perspective when considering current urban development in Japan. There is a great possibility that new connections and bonds have been created through such efforts, and I believe that this has great significance from the perspective of fostering social capital and social inclusion. (3rd year male)

Surrounded by mountains and rivers, the Chichibu area has long made use of its abundant natural resources such as water and timber, and has also developed as a silk weaving town, taking advantage of the geological features not suited for rice cultivation and focusing on sericulture. From the Meiji to Showa periods, the town also grew as a center of the cement industry, thanks to the limestone mined from Mt. I felt the depth of history of the Chichibu area from the beautiful silk fabrics I tried on at the Meisenkan and the rugged rock surface of Mt. (2nd year male).

I was impressed by the Terasaka terraced rice fields in Yokoze Town. Rice cultivation is inefficient and hard work, but there was the original landscape of Japan. The view from the terraced rice paddies is breathtaking, and is a meaningful place and tourist resource that offers a panoramic view of Chichibu's history: Mt. Mukou, which the people of Chichibu have worshipped since ancient times; the rice culture dating back to the Kamakura period; and the Mitsubishi Cement Plant, a symbol of modernization, at the foot of Mt. On the other hand, Chichibu is now attracting attention as a new tourist resource for pilgrimages to sacred animation sites. The transition and diversification of tourism culture is also interesting. (2nd year male)