Chichibu Onsen Town

秩父温泉郷

Est. 90Tokyo, Kanto

JTA Approved

Overview

Since the Edo period (1603–1867), visitors have come to bathe in to the “Seven Waters of Chichibu” (Chichibu no Nanatō), said to fully rejuvenate weary travelers on the Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage.

Chichibu's hot spring district traces its origins back more than 1,200 years, when copper miners discovered a spring they called the Waters of the Medicine Buddha. The area's springs were technically mineral springs until Japan's 1948 Hot Spring Law reclassified them as onsen. Several of the original Seven Waters of Chichibu still operate today, including a bathhouse run by the same family for nine generations. The springs are reputedly good for skin conditions, joint stiffness, and improving circulation. Many facilities offer day bathing without requiring an overnight stay.

Local tips

Wash thoroughly at the shower stations before entering the bath. This is non-negotiable etiquette. Bring a small towel but keep it out of the water.

Practical info

Japanese name: 秩父温泉郷
Nearest station: Chichibu Station (2 min walk)
Reservations: not required

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