From Shinjuku
Seibu Shinjuku Station
From Ikebukuro
From Shibuya
Chichibu is in the westernmost part of Saitama. Unlike other parts of the prefecture, it is largely mountainous and the population is concentrated in river terraces along the Arakawa River. It is Saitama’s largest municipality in terms of surface area and shares borders with Tokyo, Yamanashi, Nagano and Gunma prefectures. Most parts of the city belong to Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park.
Because the region is not suitable for growing rice, many people have depended on sericulture farming. Limestone from Mount Buko, which rises south of the city center, is another major source of income for the region. The city is shifting its focus toward sightseeing, taking advantages of its rich natural environment and relative closeness to the Tokyo metropolitan area. The city is also famous for its brewing industry, and you can feel Japanese real country side.
On December 3, Chichibu holds an annual night festival. It attracts crowds from Chichibu, Saitama prefecture, neighboring Tokyo, and the Kantō region. Kawase matsuri is Chichibu shrine’s summer festival. It takes place every July 19 and July 20. Eight groups carrying special dashi floats march along to festival music around the city. Mikoshi (sacred portable shrines) are brought to special places in each neighborhood where they are enshrined. Neighborhood association heads wash the mikoshi in the Arakawa river.
Other attractions of the city include:
