Speaking of Ohanabatake Station on the Chichibu Railway, you have the famous Hitsujiyama Park, known for its shibazakura (moss phlox)!
Ohanabatake Station is also the gateway to Chichibu travel, including Nagatoro, Mitsumineguchi, and various power spots!
If you walk a bit from Ohanabatake Station towards Imamiyajinja Shrine and Yaohide Department Store, you will find Jigen-ji Temple.
And, there's a place to sit and take a break along the Higashimachi Shopping Street in front of Jigen-ji Temple.
It's located on the temple wall side, across the road from the Higashimachi Shopping Street.
It has a nice atmosphere, and I personally like these small rest spots.
It's convenient for a quick break when going to Imamiyajinja Shrine, a power spot, from Ohanabatake Station!
I visited in July during the Marine Day holidays.
The benches on the left seem to be in the shade, perfect for resting and avoiding direct sunlight.
And then there's the Jigen-ji Temple, which is dedicated to eyes.
I, the site manager Pen-ta, also suffer from eye strain and dry eyes due to updating this blog and my work, so I paid a visit.
Within the temple grounds, there were Japanese dogwood trees and many ema (votive plaques) with wishes for good eyesight.
I also bought an eye amulet ♪
Why not visit if you're feeling eye strain from your smartphone or computer!?
On the back of the bench, there was a sign that said, "Where to go? - Higashimachi Edition -".
What is this?
Reading it, it seems that there are lucky statues scattered around the Ohanabatake Station area.
It's a fortune-telling information board!
At this rest area in front of Jigen-ji Temple, it seems like you can expect to have improved health luck from the "Temple bell of the sacred place."
I forgot to take a picture of the statue, but there was a "Dragon that brings good luck" near the Kenseido Hospital, so I took a picture!
It was a small but impressive object, and I was looking at it for a while.
I prayed that this site will spread even more, haha.
It was written in small letters at the bottom right of the fortune-telling information board, and it seems that there are 100 of these "Where to go?" statues in the Chichibu City Central Six Shopping Streets!
You can visit 19 spots in the Higashimachi edition around Ohanabatake Station!
How about this as a new way to enjoy Chichibu!?
So, this was an introduction to a bench that is easily accessible from the station and perfect for taking a break during a walk around Ohanabatake.
Why not use it as a resting place near Ohanabatake Station?