History of Metropolitan Akikawa Hills Natural Park

The area around Metropolitan Akikawa Hills Natural Park has been blessed with abundant water and nature since ancient times, as evidenced by the many ruins from the Jomon and Kofun periods that have been excavated. The scale of the ruins is large, and includes the valuable remains of ancient dwellings. There are many historical and cultural resources in Metropolitan Akikawa Hills Natural Park. For example, Kotokuji Temple, founded in 1373, has been designated as an important historical site by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. At the back of the main temple building, a species of holly (Ilex latifolia) grows, and an enormous Japanese nutmeg tree (Torreya nucifera) is to the north of the priest's quarters. Both of these are designated natural monuments by the Tokyo metropolitan government. The development of this region and the Tamagawa River has a long history. Records from the prosperous period of the Edo shogunate describe how the Tamagawa River was used as a means of transporting wood and coal to Edo, now Tokyo.

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Sho-ichi-i Iwabashiri Shrine is dedicated to the deities enshrined there: Wakahirume no mikoto, Tazikarao no mikoto, and Tanabata hime no mikoto. The mikoshi togyo (the parade of bearers carrying portable shrines) is performed during the day led by four sakibarai-hoko (floats with halberds), then twelve town mikoshi (portable shrines) continue, followed by two shishigashira (lion heads) with a traditional festival music accompaniment. Subsequently, Japanese taiko drums on carriages, the shrine mikoshi, two dashi (floats) and four music cars parade through the town while the float bearers and visitors join in the parade while shouting and cheering. The most exciting time follows in the evening. The climax of the festival is reached in the twilight as participants perform miyairi, which is the parade back into the precincts of the shrine. Also, colorful mando lanterns light up the road in the evening, while stalls and people crowd around the shrine.

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