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 the famous "Straw-Sandal Pork Cutlet" shop, Yadani Honten, in Chichibu. This place is known for its waraji katsu (straw-sandal pork cutlet), which was once awarded a gold prize in Japan’s Big Mac Bowl (a giant rice bowl challenge). The deliciousness was definitely worth the wait. When the dish arrived, our jaws dropped — there was no way to close the oversized lid of the bowl, which contained not one but two fried pork cutlets, each larger than a human face, stacked on top of the rice. The rice was completely hidden beneath the mountain of meat. The pork cutlets were coated in a slightly sweet sauce that balanced the richness of the deep-frying. Despite the huge portion, the meat was incredibly tender and not greasy at all. At first, we didn’t think we could finish it, but the crispy, flavorful cutlets were so addictive that we kept eating until the bowl was completely empty!

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.