Chichibu sits in a mountain basin about two hours northwest of Ikebukuro on the Seibu Red Arrow. Chichibu Shrine anchors the old town — the city's earlier name, Ōmiya, came from it. The Nagatoro River Gorge on the upper Arakawa is known for rapids and traditional flat-bottomed boat rides from spring through autumn, and Iwadatami's striated rock terraces appear at low water. Hitsujiyama Park's shibazakura (moss phlox) carpet typically peaks mid-April through early May; Hodosan Shrine's autumn leaves peak in mid-November. Reachable as a long day trip but better as one overnight — most ryokan are along the Arakawa with riverside open-air baths.
What Chichibu is known for
Top-rated in Chichibu
Mitsumine Shrine
4.6shrine
Wolf-deity mountain shrine at 1,100m with unique triple torii gate and frequent morning fog.
Ogawa Washi Paper Village
4.6craft
UNESCO-recognized 1,300-year-old handmade paper tradition, with hands-on workshops in a mill town.
Chichibu Shrine
4.3shrine
2,000-year-old shrine anchoring a pilgrimage circuit with one of Japan's top three float festivals.
Hodosan Jinja Shrine
4.3shrine
Hodosan Jinja sits on Mt. Hodo in the Chichibu district, one of three major shrines in the area.
Nagatoro River Gorge
4.2nature
River gorge with rock terraces resembling tatami mats and traditional wooden boat rapids tours.
Kinchakuda Manjushage Park
4.3park
Five million red spider lilies blanketing a river bend every September, unmatched in Japan.
Terasaka Rice Terraces
4.2nature
The Terasaka rice terraces embody the age-old agricultural tradition of terrace farming.
Hitsujiyama Park
4.1park
400,000 moss-phlox plants in ten colors carpeting a hillside each April, with Chichibu local food.