Hodosan Shrine & Ropeway — Mountain Summit Views

Mt. Hodo (宝登山, 497m) rises steeply above Nagatoro town, its summit accessible by a 5-minute ropeway ride that climbs 320 vertical meters through forests of maple and cedar. The summit hosts Hodosan Shrine — a branch of the main shrine at the mountain base, dedicated to fire prevention and established in 110 CE according to shrine records. The mountaintop shrine offers 360° views over the Chichibu Basin, Arakawa River valley, and surrounding mountain ranges.

The summit area includes plum groves (1,500 trees, blooming February–March), azalea gardens (blooming May), and hiking trails leading deeper into the Chichibu mountains. The ropeway upper station features an observation deck and small zoo (Japanese monkeys and small deer). The combination of shrine visit, panoramic views, and seasonal flowers makes Hodosan a natural complement to Nagatoro river activities.