Limestone Body and Hashidate Shonyudo of Hashidate-do Temple (Chichibu Pilgrimage Temple No. 28)Geosite 7
Basic points
This is a rock cliff made of limestone located on the western edge of Mount Buko. Coral reef that had grown in the volcanic zone of the South Sea approximately 200 million years in the past had attached to the side of the continental tectonic plate due to movements of the oceanic plate of the Pacific Ocean. After repeated movements, bulging, and erosion of the tectonic plate, the coral reef changed form into its current appearance.
The “Iwakage Ruins” located below the rock cliff was where ancient people lived since the beginning of the Jomon period. Hashidate-do Temple (the 28th temple of the Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage) is located against the backdrop of this rock cliff.
Hashidate Shonyudo is the only tourist cave in the prefecture and it has a rare vertical shape.
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Urayama Dam
This is a dam located in Urayama River, which is a tributary of Arakawa River. The museum has an exhibit on Chichibu Geopark.
This is a popular hiking trail that starts from Chichibu Pilgrimage Temple No. 28, passes through the inner shrines of Chichibu Pilgrimage Temple No. 27 and No. 26, and connects to Hitsujiyama Park.
Train: 15-minute walk from Chichibu Railway Urayamaguchi Station.
Bus: Take the Seibu Kanko Bus bound for Urayamatokiwabashi from Seibu Railway Seibu-Chichibu Station. Get off at Urayamaguchi and walk for 15 minutes.