2-5-14 Yakyucho, Higashimatsuyama, Saitama Prefecture
Rating
Cost per person
¥500
Yakyu Inari Shrine, located just a 3-minute walk from Higashi-Matsuyama Station on the Tobu Tojo Line, is renowned for its beautiful peony garden featuring approximately 1,300 blooms that are best viewed during the Peony Festival from mid-April to early May. Originally founded in 712 AD, the shrine gained prominence when Minamoto no Yorinobu prayed for victory here and was divinely inspired to win a crucial battle. The shrine's name, which sounds like "baseball" in Japanese, has made it a popular spot for baseball teams seeking good luck, and you'll find unique baseball-themed ema (votive tablets). Don't miss the intricate carvings on the main hall and the world's largest goshuin (seal).