Honjō: Nakasendō Heritage, Festivals and Craftsmanship

In the Honjō area, the history of the Nakasendō, religious sites and recurring festivals come together. The area around Honjō Station tells the story of a once-prosperous post town on the Nakasendō. Buildings in Honjō include the 旧本庄商業銀行煉瓦倉庫, the Tamura Honjin Gate and the former Honjō Police Station. The gate belonged to the northern honjin of 本庄宿, is designated as a municipal cultural property and was moved to the site of the former police station. Honjō thus brings together the history of commerce, the culture of travel in earlier times and a range of examples of its built heritage.

Nakasendō History and Historic Buildings

In Honjō, the exhibition space at the 旧本庄商業銀行煉瓦倉庫 presents history through original materials, photographs and explanatory panels. The exhibition covers 本庄宿 as a prosperous post town on the Nakasendō, as well as the development of 本庄町 into a modern center of the silkworm cocoon trade. In this way, it complements the architectural history of Honjō with the commercial history of 本庄宿 and 本庄町. Check the latest opening information before your visit.

Another striking building in Honjō is the former post office, 旧本庄仲町郵便局. Built in 1934, it is a two-story wooden structure with a tiled exterior and decorations in the Art Deco style, which was popular around the world at the time. The building is a nationally registered tangible cultural property. For those interested in architecture, it offers a different historical perspective from the story of the old post station and the silkworm cocoon trade.

Temples, Shrines and Pilgrimage Route

安養院 (An'yō-in), also known as 若泉山安養院無量寺, is a temple in Honjō, founded in 1475 by 本庄信明 of the Kodama clan. Its two gates, Sōmon and Sanmon, and its main hall are designated as municipal cultural properties. The temple is part of the Honjō Shichifukujin pilgrimage route and enshrines Bishamonten. History, architecture and religious significance come together at this site.

In Honjō, the 本庄の七福神めぐり route covers about four kilometers and visits ten temples and shrines in Honjō-juku on the Nakasendō. It includes an ongoing stamp rally. In Honjō, stamp cards are available at Honjō City Hall and the Honjō Information Center at the south exit of Honjō Station. Planning the route lets you combine the walk with visits to individual temples and shrines, rather than viewing the historic sites only as separate buildings.

金鑚神社 (Kanasana Shrine) in Honjō also offers architectural and artistic details: its brightly lacquered shrine building is in the Gongen style and is designated as a cultural property of the prefecture. The honden features ceiling paintings by local artists from 本庄宿. Prayers for the safety and prosperity of the community are offered at 城山稲荷神社 in Honjō. The two shrines thus represent different aspects of Honjō’s religious traditions.

Autumn Festival Floats, April Craft Fair

At the annual Honjō Matsuri in autumn, festival floats parade through the area around Honjō Station. There are ten floats in total, eight of which are designated as municipal cultural properties. They were all built between 1872 and 1924. The combination of a lively festival and historic floats makes the Matsuri a distinct attraction alongside the buildings and religious sites that shape the area throughout the year.

Every April, the Wakaizumi Park Cherry Blossom Festival and Honjō Craft Art Fair are held at 若泉公園. Stalls offer handmade items in wood, ceramics, dyeing and weaving, glass, metal, fabric and paper. Many local food businesses serve dishes during the events. The April program thus combines crafts and local food, while the floats offer a different reason to visit in autumn.

When choosing a holiday rental, you can start by deciding what you want to focus on: architectural and commercial history, the pilgrimage route, the autumn festival or the April program each lead to different travel plans. If a festival is the deciding factor, plan your stay around the dates for the relevant year.

Discover more destinations: Sayama, Ageo, Koshigaya, Chichibu, Saitama, Kumagaya, Kawaguchi, Sōka

For the regional travel overview: Saitama Prefecture.