Okunitama Shrine

In the 7th century Fuchu was the capital of Musashi Province, a territory that took in today's Tokyo, Saitama and part of Kanagawa, and this shrine was where the governor did his religious duties. To save himself the trip, he enshrined the province's six main gods here too, which is why it is also called Rokushogu, the shrine of six places. Shrine tradition dates its founding to the year 111. The approach starts at the Baba Daimon zelkova avenue, about 700 m of old trees running north from the Zuijin gate that was made a national natural monument in 1924; the oldest tree is about 400 years old. The vermilion main hall, rebuilt in 1667 by order of the shogun Tokugawa Ietsuna, has three sanctuaries side by side. The shrine is quiet most days. Its big week is the Kurayami Matsuri, the "darkness festival", from April 30 to May 6: horse riders run the old Koshu Kaido on the night of May 3, giant drums play on May 4, and on May 5 from 18:00 eight mikoshi are carried to the otabisho behind six huge drums. The crowds are dense, and the procession returns at 4 a.m. on May 6.