Hinatami Yakushido

The current hall was built in 1598 to pray for the long-lasting military fortunes of the feudal lord at the time, Sanada Nobuyuki . It enshrines a statue of Yakushi Nyorai, who is revered as the "Yakushi before the bath" by people who come to the hot springs to cure their illnesses, and has been visited by many people since ancient times. The dragon painted on the ceiling has multiple small legs, and one theory is that it was imagined from a centipede. Centipedes are messengers of Bishamonten, the god of war, and were popular with military commanders as they only move forward and are unyielding. It was designated a nationally designated important cultural property following a revision of the law in 1950. It is also the oldest wooden building in the prefecture, and is one of the few precious buildings in the Kanto region. Currently, a rice scoop is dedicated to the Yakushido, which represents the wish to be "saved" and "never be short of food."