Pilgrims in Chichibu are greeted by cherry blossoms everywhere they go

Introduction

Recently, pilgrimages seem to be popular among both Japanese people and visitors from overseas. The Shikoku pilgrimage requires visiting 88 temples, but the Chichibu pilgrimage only has 34, making it more manageable. Collecting unique temple stamps in a stamp book might evoke a similar feeling to collecting Kamen(Mask) Rider cards or stamps of your favorite idols, which were popular in Japan in the past. Both are excellent business plans, involving immersing oneself in collecting until all the items are complete. However, the only difference is that with Kamen Rider cards, you receive prizes such as a card holder when you collect all of them, while with pilgrimage stamp books, you don’t receive anything even if you collect all of them. What you gain is either the satisfaction of accomplishment or peace of mind. But in the end, once you’ve visited them all, you’ll feel compelled to visit them again.

weeping cherry blossoms in Chosenji temple (4)

2026 is the Year of the Horse, which comes around only once every 12 years. In Chichibu, during the Year of the Horse, the Kannon statues that are kept hidden at all 34 temples on the pilgrimage route will be made public. This is called the grand unveiling for the Year of the Horse. The reason it’s the Year of the Horse is because the horse is the attendant of Kannon (the Goddess of Mercy). If you’re going on a pilgrimage anyway, you might as well not just chant sutras, but also see the face of Kannon.

Now, you don’t have to complete the pilgrimage all at once, so you can break it down and enjoy it in different seasons. Chichibu, surprisingly, has many cherry blossoms blooming in the wild, and weeping cherry trees are abundant everywhere. While it’s nice to admire the cherry blossoms in a garden like those in Kyoto, a pilgrimage where you can see cherry blossoms blooming in the fields, mountains, and along the roadside is also wonderful. It’s truly the countryside.

weeping cherry blossoms in Hozenji temple (1)

weeping cherry blossoms in Seiunji temple (11)

Regarding the timing of cherry blossom blooming, in the past, weather forecasts showing where the “cherry blossom front” was currently passing through were a major point of interest during this season, but recently that term has become almost obsolete. Previously, it was clear that the cherry blossom front progressed northward in a specific order, such as Okinawa, Kagoshima, and Kochi. However, now, due to the effects of global warming, the blossoms appear sporadically here and there, making it difficult to plan trips to see the cherry blossoms. But, when it comes to the cherry blossoms in Chichibu, it’s best to wait until Tokyo starts making a fuss about when they’ll declare the blossoms in bloom before you begin preparing to head there.