Menuma Shodenzan Kangiin Temple (妻沼聖天山) is Saitama Prefecture’s sole National Treasure building. It is a magnificent restoration of a 250-year-old building covered with intricate woodcarvings.
Menuma Shodenzan Kangiin temple was built during 1735 to 1760, taking 25 years. The woodcarvings all but lost their original color and splendor after 2.5 centuries under the weather. However, following an enthusiastic local campaign to restore the building’s artwork, the building was painstakingly restored. And what a magnificent job they did, taking seven years from 2003. Despite having modern sensing equipment, they sometimes still could not tell what the original paint color was for certain parts. A very time-consuming work.
But they were rewarded with the building designated as a National Treasure in May 2012. The restored building was opened for public viewing on June 1, 2011. Admission is 700 yen. Guided tours are conducted, but only in Japanese. You can freely walk around and view the building.
Menuma Shodenzan is about a 20-min. bus ride from JR Kumagaya Station. Go to Bus stop No. 6 near JR Kumagaya Station’s North exit.