Hongyotokuhachiman Shrine 本行徳八幡神社

Ginkgos and fujizuka

I visited this Hachiman shrine in early spring, which is not the best time to go. The grounds are dry and not very interesting. However, it has towering, ancient gingko trees. Some visitors have captured the golden hues in Google Maps reviews. I hope to go back in autumn to see these beauties. Behind the shrine is a fujizuka. It's one of the many replica Mt. Fujis dating from the Edo era. These mini mountains were places where elders, women, and children who couldn't make the ascent of Mt. Fuji could pay their respects. It's a bit forlorn with some tree stumps and surrounded by a fence. I'm not a Mt. Fuji worshipper, but I was bummed because I like to climb these miniature mountains to get a sense of how people of old paid their respects to mini Fujis.