A wintersweet garden spreading near the summit of Mt. Hodo, adjacent to Hodosan Shrine's inner sanctuary. Approximately 3,000 wintersweet trees bloom from January to February, wrapping the summit in sweet fragrance. Yellow wintersweet flowers against winter blue skies are a Chichibu winter tradition. Combined with Hodosan Shrine inner sanctuary worship, a space where faith and nature merge. A rope…

Mt. Hodo has been revered as a sacred mountain since ancient times, with a legend of Yamato Takeru being saved from a mountain fire during his eastern campaign. The name "Hodo" is also said to derive from "Hodo" (火止, meaning "fire-stopping"). Hodosan Shrine is a prestigious ancient shrine, one of th…