One of the Three Chichibu Shrines, a prestigious shrine at the foot of Mt. Hodo. Named after the legend of Yamato Takeru being saved by divine dogs from a wildfire during his eastern campaign. The name is said to have evolved from "Hi-tome-yama" ("Fire-Stopping Mountain"), later written with characters meaning "Mountain of Climbing to Treasure" while keeping the same pronunciation, "Hodosan." The …

In 111 CE, Yamato Takeru encountered a wildfire while climbing Mt. Hodo during his eastern campaign. Divine dogs (wolves) suddenly appeared, extinguished the fire, and guided him to the summit. In gratitude, he erected a sacred enclosure on the summit to enshrine the divine spirits. The name "Hi-tom…