Chichibu City isn’t Tokyo, but it’s only about an hour and a half from the Tokyo center, so it’s kinda like the suburbs of Tokyo, right?
I’m pretty tough when it comes to the cold, but the heat? No way. When I’m in the middle of Tokyo in summer, I feel like I’m roasting alive, and my awesome fur starts to feel like a curse. So, I need to escape to a mountain town for some cool air. While I am at it, I check out the anime, Anohana, pilgrimage my human friend couldn’t stop raving about—said it brought them to tears!
Chichibu Station Area
❶ Start Walking from Seibu-Chichibu Station
If you’re going to Chichibu from Tokyo, the easiest way is to take the Seibu Chichibu Line from Seibu-Ikebukuro Station to Seibu-Chichibu Station (marked as ❶ on the map). It’s about an hour and a half train ride. You’ll need to transfer once, but taking the Seibu Chichibu Line from Seibu-Shinjuku Station isn’t a bad option either.
Just a heads-up: there are two Chichibu Stations in Chichibu City. If you’re getting around the area, the Chichibu Station (marked as ❷ on the map) on the Chichibu Railway is your starting point. It’s about a 15-minute walk north from Seibu-Chichibu Station.
❸ Matsurino Yu; Tourist Paradise, A Complex with Hot Springs, Food Court, and Souvenir Shops
As soon as you exit the ticket gates at Seibu-Chichibu Station, you’ll find a spot on your left that’s too good to just walk past. It’s a complex, Matsurino Yu (marked as ❸ on the map), with hot springs, a food court, and souvenir shops. You’ve got to check it out at least once while you are in Chichibu!
Soak in the hot springs, enjoy some Chichibu specialties with a beer, and maybe browse the souvenir shops for local goodies or some local Sake to remember your trip by.
Honestly, just soaking in the hot springs and raising a glass is more than enough!
Once you step out of the station, let’s head to Chichibu Shrine, the city’s guardian deity. It’s about a 15-minute walk from Seibu-Chichibu Station—just the right distance for a stroll through the town.
❹ Chichibu Shrine, the guardian deity watching over the Chichibu
Chichibu Shrine (marked as ❹ on the map) has records dating back over 2,000 years, with a history that reaches all the way to Japan’s mythological era—pretty impressive, right?
The current main hall was donated in 1592 by Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Shogunate. Don’t forget to check out the carvings on all four walls of the hall. They’re a bit humorous and full of color! You’ll see a Tiger symbolizing child-rearing on the front, a Dragon chained up on the right side, Three Monkeys on the left, and an Owl guarding the back.
When you visit the shrine, be sure to try the Water Omikuji ! Buy a water fortune slip at the right side of the main hall, then head to the pond near the entrance on the right. The slip itself is blank, but when you dip it into the sacred spring water, words revealing your current fortune will appear. Miracle! Don’t you think so?
Omikuji: a Japanese fortune-telling slip you can get at shrines and temples. You draw a slip of paper, which has a written fortune ranging from good to bad. The fortunes often come with advice on various aspects of life, like health, love, business, and learning.
PR
If you’re looking for a convenient hotel in the town, Hotel Route Inn Grand Chichibu is available:
PR
If you’re looking for a Japanese style accommodation in the city with a mix of Japanese and Western styles, and a great breakfast, Ryokan Hiyoshi is available:
Nagatoro Station Area
After visiting Chichibu Shrine, let’s head to a place where you can enjoy both nature and history. Start by taking a 7-minute walk from the shrine to Chichibu Station (marked as ❷ on the map) on the Chichibu Railway. From there, it’s about a 20-minute train ride to Nagatoro Station (marked as ❺ on the map).
❺ Start Walking from Nagatoro Station
When you arrive at Nagatoro Station (marked as ❺ on the map), it’s worth taking a little time to explore the area around the charming, old-fashioned station building. There’s also a tourist information office nearby.
From there, head west to Hodo-San Shrine, which beautifully blends with its natural surroundings. If shrines aren’t your thing, you could go in the opposite direction to the east and enjoy the amazing natural rock formations at Nagatora Iwadatami.
If you’re lucky, you might spot a train wrapped in an Anohana theme, just like in the photo. If you’re an Anohana fan, why not hang out at the station to catch a glimpse or hop on board to check it out?
❻ Hodo-San Shrine, Sanctuary Protected by the Divine Dog
Surrounded by lush nature, Hodo-San Shrine (marked as ❻ on the map) feels like the perfect place for a deity to reside. As soon as you step into the grounds, you’ll likely feel a sense of peace as the pure air seems to cleanse your spirit.
The shrine’s origins date back about 1,900 years, with a legend where a Crown Prince was saved from a forest fire by a Divine Dog.
It’s about a 15-minute walk from Nagatoro Station. Once you pass through the first Torii Gate, you’ll find a bunch of shops along the approach, making it fun to stroll and check them out.
There’s also a branch of Asami-Reizou (marked as ❼ on the map), famous for its natural ice shaved, so you might want to stop by and give it a try.
❽ Nagatoro Iwadatami, Rugged Rocks and Deep Blue Water
Cross the level crossing next to Nagatoro Station and walk along the street lined with shops on both sides to reach the riverside, Nagatoro Iwadatami (marked as ❽ on the map). There are plenty of restaurants on both sides. It might be a good idea to try some Chichibu specialties around here before heading down to the riverside.
Strolling along the riverside while admiring the rock formations is great, but you can also go River Rafting from here. There’s a sign-up office for river rafting near the Nagatoro Station (marked as ❾ on the map). If you’re looking for a bit more thrill, it’s worth taking the rafting trip from upstream (marked as ❿ on the map) instead.
Detore Point ⓫ Umeda-Ya, Vegan Friendly Tofu Dishes
If you’re hungry in Nagatoro, definitely try some tofu dishes. Umeda-Ya (marked as ⓫ on the map), open for lunch, serves freshly made tofu cooked with Chichibu’s clear water. They offer a set meal like the one in the photo, and you’ll be surprised by how rich and flavorful tofu can be. Plus, all their dishes are completely free of animal products.
Tofu: A versatile food made from soybeans. It’s created by curdling soy milk and pressing the curds into soft white blocks. Tofu has a mild flavor and can be used in a variety of dishes.
Take a moment to appreciate the building, too. It’s a relocated farmhouse that’s over a hundred years old, originally used for silkworm farming. Sitting there feels like you’ve stepped back in time to a bygone era.
It’s about a 10-minute walk from Nagatoro Station. If you’re not in the mood to walk, you are better to rent an electric bicycle or scooter instead.
Detore Point ⓬ Asami-Reizou Kanasaki Main Store
When it comes to Chichibu’s top specialty, it has to be shaved ice made from natural ice. And, if you’re going for shaved ice in Chichibu, Asami Reizou is the place to be. Their fluffy shaved ice is made from mineral-rich natural spring water, frozen naturally, and topped with creative syrups and sweet bean pastes. It’s such a special treat that it draws people in not just in summer, but even in winter. Well, seeing (and tasting) is believing, so you’ve got to try it for yourself!
Asami-Reizo Kanasaki Main Store is just a 3-minute walk from Kaminagatoro Station (marked as ⓭ on the map) on the Chichibu Railway. The shop has a charming old farmhouse vibe.
If you’re looking for convenience, you might find the branch (marked as ❼ on the map) on the approach to Hodo-San Shrine (marked as ❻ on the map) easier to visit.
Chichibu offers a range of local dishes, and even the same vegetables and meats seem to have a unique flavor compared to Tokyo, don’t you think? As a seasoned traveler, why not use your intuition and curiosity to find your own special flavors?
PR
If you’re looking for a hotel with hot spring near Nagatoro, Kamenoi Hotel Nagatoro Yorii is available:
Visiting locations from Anohana, The Flower We Saw That Day
Did you know there are quite a few anime set in Chichibu? I think Anohana was probably the first to really shine a spotlight on Chichibu as an anime location. When you see the landscapes that overlap with the places where Jintan, Menma, and their friends were, it might feel a bit nostalgic or even a little geeky.
Let’s explore the places related to Anohana. Some spots are a bit spread out, so renting a bicycle or using a similar service might be a better option. Driving can be a bit inconvenient due to parking issues.
Before starting to explore the city, be sure to grab a brochure introducing the Anohana locations from one of the tourist information centers. It’s only in Japanese, but it’ll make a great souvenir, and the map inside will help you get a general idea of where everything is.
⓮ Old Chichibu Bridge
When you think of Anohana, many might remember the old Chichibu Bridge (marked as ⓮ on the map) featured in the background of the poster. The bridge you see in the poster is actually the new Chichibu Bridge, while the spot where Menma stands on the railing is the old Chichibu Bridge. This bridge is now a pedestrian-only bridge, with no cars allowed. In the movie, the stairs leading down from the side of the old bridge also play a part in the story. How about enjoying the view of the same angle as the poster?
If you visit this spot, probably cross the bridge at least once, so keep an eye on your feet. You might just spot Anohana-themed manhole covers like the ones in the photo! There are also manhole covers related to the Chichibu trilogy, including “The Anthem of the Heart” and “Her Blue Sky”. So, if you’re a fan of those, be sure to check out what’s underfoot!
⓯ Jyorin-Ji (Temple)
Next up is Jyorin-Ji Temple (marked as ⓯ on the map), the childhood playground of Menma and her friends, and the spot where Jintan and the others gathered as high schoolers. This temple has long been known as a sacred site for Kannon worshipers, but these days, it’s probably more famous nationwide as the temple featured in Anohana.
Behind the main hall, there’s an office where you can find Omamori (protective charms) and Ema. The Ema at this temple, as you can see in the photo, feature characters from Anohana on the front. Be sure to get one, write down your wishes or thoughts, and leave it at the temple. Of course, you can also take it home as a keepsake!
Ema: A small wooden plaque found at shrines in Japan. Visitors write their wishes or prayers on these plaques and then hang them up at the shrine, hoping their wishes will be granted by the Kami (Deity).
Take a look at the road in front of the temple—you can spot a manhole cover with an illustration of Jintan on it!
⓰ Ryusei Launching Tower
Just one look at the photo, and any Anohana fan will recognize it instantly. This is the launching tower (marked as ⓰ on the map) used in the scene towards the end of the anime, where they launch the fireworks to fulfill Menma’s wish. As you get closer to this spot, you’ll start to see the tower from quite a distance, and it gives you a little thrill of excitement.
The fireworks in the anime are based on a unique type of rocket firework from this region, which is launched during the autumn festival at Muku Shrine held on the second Sunday of October. These fireworks are called Ryūsei (Dragon Fireworks) because their flight resembles a dragon soaring through the sky.
This is definitely a place worth visiting, though it’s a bit out of the way. From Seibu-Chichibu Station (marked as ❶ on the map) or Chichibu Station (marked as ❷ on the map), take the Seibu Kanko Bus on the Chichibu Yoshida Line (heading to Chichibu Sogo Shisho) for about 45 minutes and get off at Muku Shrine. It’s a 4-minute walk from the bus stop to the Ryūsei Launching Tower, and you should be able to see the tower from a distance, so it’s not too hard to find. However, buses don’t run very frequently—about 4 times a day—so be sure to check the bus schedule before you go.
Walking around Chichibu is a blast. It’s got tons of nature, but it’s not just a rural area—it’s a city where culture and nature mix really well. Honestly, once I’m a bit older and can’t keep up with the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, Chichibu would be my top pick for a new home. Don’t you think?