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Chichibu in Saitama Prefecture is a place where you can experience nature, history, and culture and spend a spiritually enriching time. In this article, we will introduce the tourist attractions and local gourmet food you should know when visiting Chichibu. Please use this as a reference to make your trip to Chichibu more enjoyable and fulfilling.
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Chichibu is a mountainous region located in western Saitama Prefecture, blessed with a natural environment designated as the Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park and the Prefectural Buko Natural Park.
It is easily accessible from Tokyo, about 80 minutes by express train, and is a recommended area for day trips.
The easiest way to get to Chichibu from Tokyo is by train.
There is also a way to get to Seibu Chichibu Station by taking the limited express train "Laview," which features comfortable sofa-style seats, but on the Seibu RailwayUnlimited ride pass available exclusively to foreignersA pass is also available, and we recommend using it if you plan to travel around Chichibu.
| Path name | Usage area | Prices |
|---|---|---|
| SEIBU 1Day Pass | All Seibu lines available (*Tamagawa Line is not included) | Adult 1,000 Yen Children 500 yen |
| SEIBU 1Day Pass + Nagatoro | All Seibu lines available + Chichibu line (*Tamagawa Line is not included) | Adult 1,500 Yen Children 750 yen |
The pass can also be purchased through travel agencies outside of Japan, and can also be purchased at Ikebukuro Station and Seibu Shinjuku Station.
If you use the pass and head to Seibu-Chichibu Station via the route below, you can travel smoothly to Chichibu.
| Travel route | Acitivity Time |
|---|---|
| Ikebukuro → Hanno → Seibu Chichibu | About 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours |
| Seibu Shinjuku → Tokorozawa → Hanno → Seibu Chichibu | Approximately 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes |
Chichibu is rich in places where you can enjoy the scenery woven by the rich nature, as well as historical and cultural sites that convey Japanese traditions. We will introduce the spots that you should especially visit when sightseeing in Chichibu.
Hitsujiyama Park is one of the must-see sightseeing spots around Seibu Chichibu Station.
During the moss phlox season from early April to early May, the entire hill in Hitsujiyama Park is dyed a vibrant pink, attracting many visitors every year.
It is also a popular spot for cherry blossom viewing, and the park also features a petting ranch where you can interact with sheep, an athletic zone, and an observation area, making it a popular place to relax and enjoy the nature of Chichibu.
Mount Buko is a representative mountain of Chichibu, standing at 1,304m above sea level. It is said to be a limestone quarry, and the exposed white rock surface looks like a pyramid, creating a distinctive Chichibu landscape.
Although it is a course with many ups and downs, Mt. Buko is a recommended mountain for mountain climbing and hiking. From the summit, you can see a beautiful view overlooking the town of Chichibu, and in spring, you can also see the moss pinks at Hitsujiyama Park.
Chichibu Shrine is about a 10-minute walk from Seibu Chichibu Station. Chichibu Shrine is one of the oldest shrines in Japan, with a history of over 2000 years.
The Chichibu Shrine's annual festival, the Chichibu Night Festival, is one of the highlights of winter. It is considered one of Japan's three major float festivals, along with those in Kyoto and Hida Takayama, and is registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The Chichibu Festival Hall is the perfect spot for those who want to experience traditional Japanese culture, where you can learn about the history and culture of the Chichibu Night Festival, which is held every year on December 12nd and 2rd.
There are displays of the festival's portable shrines and floats, and you can also virtually experience the atmosphere of the Chichibu Night Festival through projection mapping and a 3D theater.
Character goods in collaboration with the Chichibu Night Festival are also on sale, making this a great place to look for souvenirs.
Located in a prime location in front of Seibu Chichibu Station, "Seibu Chichibu Ekimae Onsen Matsuri no Yu" is also an essential spot for sightseeing in Chichibu.
This is a complex hot spring facility based on the concept of "festivals," and in addition to the hot springs, it also has a food court where you can enjoy Chichibu's specialty gourmet food, and a shopping area where you can find Chichibu's specialty products.
In addition to the four open-air baths, the hot springs also offer a variety of other facilities, including carbonated springs, jet baths, and saunas, and you can enjoy the view of Mt. Buko from the open-air baths.
Admission to the food court and sales area is free, so it's a great place to stop by for a typical Chichibu meal or to look for souvenirs.
Mitsumine Shrine is a shrine located deep in the mountains of Chichibu, and is said to be the most powerful power spot in the Kanto region. It is a shrine with three consecutive torii gates called "Mitsutorii," and enshrines wolves as messengers of the gods.
From late October to early November, the trees around the shrine turn vibrant colors, making it one of Chichibu's most famous autumn foliage spots. It is accessible by car or bus, but it is also popular as a mountain climbing and hiking trail, and is particularly popular in autumn.
※Pets are not allowed.
Other not-to-be-missed winter attractions in Okuchichibu include the Misotsuchi Icicles, the Onouchi Hyakukei Icicles, and the Ashigakubo Icicles. The natural icicles change shape every year, allowing you to enjoy the ice art created by nature at any given time.
Among them, the Misotsuchi Icicles are large-scale objects measuring 8m in height and 30m in width, attracting many tourists every year.
The best time to see the icicles is from early January to late February, so if you're visiting Chichibu in the winter, be sure to visit.
There is a lot to see in Chichibu alone, but if you head towards Nagatoro you will find even more attractive tourist spots.
We will introduce some recommended sightseeing spots around Chichibu that are perfect for a day trip.
If you go to Chichibu, you should also visit Nagatoro. The "Nagatoro Rock Bed" was formed when the layers of rock accumulated on the seabed were pushed underground, and the thin, easily peeled rocks like pie crust create the unique landscape of Nagatoro. It was designated a national natural monument in 1924.
One of the popular activities is boat rafting, which allows you to view the magnificent rock formations along the Arakawa River.
Nagatoro is a perfect area for outdoor enthusiasts, with beautiful cherry blossoms in the spring and the opportunity to enjoy river swimming, rafting, and fishing in the summer.
"Hotoyama Shrine" is a shrine located about a 15-minute walk from Nagatoro Station. Many worshippers visit the shrine to pray for protection from fire, theft, and other misfortunes. The main hall is decorated with many carvings and is colorful.
In 2011, Mt. Hokoyama was awarded one star in the Michelin Green Guide Japan.
※Pets are not allowed.
The Hodosan Ropeway provides easy access to the summit of Mt. Hodo, which is 497 meters above sea level.
You can enjoy wintersweets from late December to late February, and plum blossoms bloom beautifully from early February to late March.
In addition to the inner shrine of Hodosan Shrine, Hodosan is also home to an observation rest area and the Hodosan Small Animal Park where you can interact with animals such as Japanese macaques, making it a fun spot for families.
The fun of a trip to Chichibu isn't just the beautiful scenery and historical and cultural spots. Chichibu also has many dishes made with ingredients grown with the waters of Mt. Buko and other local ingredients.
From here, we will introduce Chichibu gourmet food along with recommended restaurants.
Speaking of Chichibu, there is "Chichibu soba." "Meibu Chichibu Soba Tachibana" is a restaurant that serves soba noodles made with local Chichibu flour and underground water from Mt. Buko.
The specialty, "Bijin Tsukesoba," is served dipped in a soup topped with mushrooms, fried tempura bits, grated daikon radish, and quail's egg.
"Yasudaya" is the restaurant where "waraji katsu" was first created. The "waraji katsudon" is a Chichibu specialty, and is characterized by a large waraji-sized cutlet that spills out of the bowl.
The pork cutlet is soaked in a generous amount of sauce, and the more you chew it, the more the flavor spreads; once you try it, you'll be hooked.
This is a Chichibu specialty that cannot be missed when sightseeing in Chichibu.
If you're looking for rice bowls, the "pork miso rice bowl" is one dish you should check out when sightseeing in Chichibu. If you want to try the specialty "pork miso rice bowl," be sure to visit the restaurant where it originated, "Pork Miso Bowl Honpo Nosaka."
In Chichibu, the preservation method of "miso-zuke" has been passed down since ancient times, and for the pork miso bowl, the pork is marinated in miso and grilled over charcoal. The savory aroma of the charcoal grill will whet your appetite.
The retro restaurant "Paris Shokudo" is located about a 7-minute walk from Seibu Chichibu Station.
The building that the shop is in was built in the early Showa period as a "signboard building" with a mortar-decorated facade, and is registered as a tangible cultural property.
The "Omurice" plate is topped with plenty of fruit, giving it a Showa retro feel.
It has the feel of an old-fashioned diner, and you can also enjoy other diner menu items such as curry and ramen.
Another Chichibu specialty is "Miso Potatoes." "Miso Potatoes" is a local dish that was originally eaten between farm work or as a snack. It is made of softened potato tempura with a sweet miso sauce.
Hanayu, a stand-up soba restaurant located a five-minute walk from Seibu Chichibu Station, is also popular for its miso fries.
The seasoning of miso potatoes varies depending on the store or household, so if you're visiting Chichibu, it's fun to try different flavors to find your favorite.
If you are traveling to the Nagatoro area on your trip to Chichibu, be sure to try the natural ice shaved ice from Asami Reizo, a shop with over 130 years of history.
Asami Reizo is one of the few natural ice breweries. They have two stores, the Kanazaki Main Store and the Takara Mountain Path Store, and sometimes offer limited menus depending on the season or store.
If you want to make your visit to Chichibu even more special, we recommend glamping.
Glamping combines the best of camping and staying in a hotel, allowing you to experience nature in a comfortable setting, making it a safe option even for outdoor novices.
A recommended glamping facility in Chichibu is Chichibu Bettei Komura.
This villa-style glamping facility has luxury suite rooms with private pools and semi-open-air baths, so you can be sure to spend a luxurious time here.
The meal plan allows you to enjoy a Chichibu culinary experience using local ingredients and regional cuisine.
Above is a summary of tourist information for Chichibu.
Chichibu is an attractive place where you can enjoy rich nature, historical sites, and Chichibu cuisine. It is easily accessible from Tokyo, so it is a recommended area for casual travel.
Enjoy the local flavors, tour the tourist spots, and experience something unique to Chichibu.
*This column was created based on information as of June 2025.Please check the official website for the latest information on each facility.
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