Chichibu Icescape Parks

Each winter from early January through late February, three narrow valleys in Chichibu transform into walls of ice. Misotsuchi forms naturally along the Arakawa riverbed, but Onouchi Hyakkei and Ashigakubo use networks of pipes and hoses fed by water tanks on the ridges above. Local volunteers, known affectionately as 'icicle men,' scale the frozen cliffs in crampons to unkink hoses and maintain the formations throughout the season. Onouchi Hyakkei's 250-meter ice wall is visible from a suspension bridge over the gorge; the entry fee includes a cup of amazake. Ashigakubo, the newest site, is a short walk from the train station and is particularly easy to reach without a car.