Five Reasons to Visit Chichibu via the Seibu Railway

Reported by MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Department

If you want to get close to mountains and rivers, enjoy natural scenery, and absorb the essence of nature’s energy, then Chichibu—located in Saitama Prefecture not far from Tokyo—is the perfect place. It is almost entirely surrounded by the great outdoors. With four of Japan’s 33 Kannon Pilgrimage Temples located here, it’s a great choice whether you’re looking to go for a hike or to find some spiritual peace. Departing from Ikebukuro on the Seibu Railway, it only takes 78 minutes to arrive—just the right amount of travel time to build up anticipation for your trip.

Boarding the Red Arrow limited express on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line, you’ll find the carriages filled with excited travelers as the train gradually leaves the urban sprawl behind and heads into the countryside. The gradually changing light outside the windows creates a relaxing atmosphere, making it the perfect weather for a trip. We got off at Seibu Chichibu Station and headed straight for one of the area’s most iconic spots. Looking at the fresh air around us, we could instantly feel the healing power of nature. That’s the unique charm of Chichibu. The region retains a rich natural environment, allowing you to fully engage with the landscape. You can even come away feeling like you’ve had a full-body detox.

Standing in Yoshinodai Park and looking out toward the foothills of Mount Buko, you’ll see another of Chichibu’s famous landmarks. Legend has it that the mountain was named after Japan’s legendary hero Yamato Takeru enshrined his armor here. Mount Buko is rich in high-quality limestone, which led to extensive mining in the past and a reduction in its height. It has now become a popular camping site. The mountain’s unique limestone terrain also supports rare Chichibu rock cherry blossoms and high-quality spring water, making it an important spot for nature exploration and ecological research.

Right next to Seibu Chichibu Station, we took the opportunity during mealtime to head to Chichibu’s famous “Straw-Sandal Pork Cutlet”<”的名店安田屋日野田店排队，这里贩卖的草鞋猪排わらじかつ可是曾经获选日本巨无霸N<饭的金牌奖呢！好味道值得等候，当料理上桌的时候我们的下巴也一起掉下来了，完全盖不上盖子的饭碗内，足足有两块比脸还要大的炸猪排叠在米饭上面，连饭都看不见了！猪排淋有偏甜的调味酱汁中和了油炸感，虽然分量大但是肉质相当柔软，完全不会感到油腻。一开始觉得自己无法挑战成功，但这酥脆香甜的猪排让人一口接一口，不知不觉竟然吃到碗底朝天了！

Another famous aspect of Chichibu is its many shrines and temples hidden within the natural landscape, all radiating an abundance of negative ions—making them some of the most beloved energy spots in Japan. Chichibu Shrine, established in the Yayoi period, is one of them. The shrine grounds feature numerous carvings, the most famous of which is the “Child-Rearing Tiger,” depicting a mother tiger playing with her three cubs. But if you look closely, you’ll notice that the mother tiger has leopard spots? It turns out that in ancient Japan, tiger stripes were considered male, while leopard spots were female—hence the mother tiger’s unique pattern. Chichibu Shrine is also the site of the Chichibu Night Festival, one of Japan’s Three Great Mountain Festivals, alongside Kyoto’s Gion Matsuri and Gifu’s Takayama Matsuri. You can get a sense of just how grand the festival is at the exhibition hall near the shrine.