自然と歴史の中を歩く！

　山道に入った秋葉山表参道には、昔からの町石や石の常夜燈がたくさん残っています。

Cho-stone

Cho-stones were stood on the approach to a shrine or a temple for a guidepost every 1 town (approximatel 109 meters). These were left in the front approach to Akihasan.

Joyato

"Joyato" means a streetlight working through every night. Many of them are made of stone and classified in a kind of stone lanterns. They were built in the old times, for example the Edo Era. When they were built, they lightened and guided the way to Akihasan. The old Japanese people lighted rapeseed oil or candle in them every night for the travelers to visit Akihasan. These were probably the route signs to this religious mountain.

　町石は今いる場所を教えるガイドのための目印、常夜燈は薄暗くなった参道を歩く参拝者の足元を照らす街燈の役割と、秋葉山の火の神に供える燈明を点し続ける信仰の意味でもありました。

　「秋葉の火まつり」は、毎年12月15日・16日の2日間。秋葉神社上社と秋葉寺で開催されます。

　【関連記事】第3回「秋葉山参拝ガイド付きハイキング」①―霜の結晶と白い月