Temple · Mama (Ichikawa)
Mama-san Guhoji 真間山 弘法寺
A hilltop Nichiren temple in Ichikawas Mama district reached by a long stone stairway, famous for the 400-year-old Fushihime-zakura weeping cherry and for its link to the Manyoshu legend of Tekona.
About
Guhoji claims origins in the 8th century, when the priest Gyoki is said to have founded a hall here to console the spirit of Tekona, the beautiful maiden of Mama celebrated in the Manyoshu poetry anthology. It later converted to the Nichiren school and today sits atop the Konodai plateau edge, approached by the steep Nagare-zaka stone stairs from Mama-gawa. The Niomon gate with its large guardian statues and the bell tower frame views back over the river plain. The star is the Fushihime-zakura, a weeping cherry estimated at around 400 years old that draws photographers in late March. Nearby are the Tekona Reido shrine, the little Mama-no-tsugihashi bridge (also a Manyoshu site) and the quiet Mama river promenade lined with cherries, making this the most poetic corner of Ichikawa.
Highlights
- Around 400-year-old Fushihime-zakura weeping cherry
- Steep stone stairway (Nagare-zaka) up to the Niomon gate
- Manyoshu legend of the maiden Tekona
- Autumn maples around the main hall
- Views over the Mama river plain
Tips
- Visit in late March for the weeping cherry, ideally on a weekday morning.
- Walk the Mama-gawa cherry promenade and stop at Tekona Reido at the foot of the hill.
- From Konodai Station on the Keisei line it is about 10 minutes on foot; Ichikawa Station (JR) is about 20 minutes.
- Satomi Park is a 15-minute walk north if you want more cherries and river views.
Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-09
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Open in the appNearby
- Tekona ReidoShrine · 200 m away
- Ichikawa Sekisho Site RiverbankPhoto Spot · 860 m away
- Shimousa KokubunjiTemple · 870 m away
- Don Quijote Ichikawa Eki KitaguchiUnique Store · 1.2 km away
- I-Link Town Observation DeckPhoto Spot · 1.2 km away
- Satomi Park (Konodai)Park · 1.2 km away
- Junsaiike Green ParkPark · 1.4 km away
- Katsushika HachimanguShrine · 2.7 km away