River boating down the Arakawa River in a Japanese-style boat manned by a skilled Sento-san (boatman) is one of the best ways to truly experience Japanese nature. You get to watch the mountainous scenery while the boat hits occasional rapids – it’s almost like rafting. In the winter, slow and calm rapids offer you a relaxing experience. The boats in the winter are equipped with kotatsu, which keep you warm while you enjoy the famous Iwadatami.
Hitsujiyama Park, a popular spot in the spring is about 500 meters away from Seibu Chichibu station, a terminal station in Chichibu. Since the park is built on a hill, you can view the city of Chichibu. In the spring, 10 different shibazakura (moss phlox) come in full bloom and paint the ground in various shades of pink.
This festival, which was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016 with a history of 300 years, colored the nights of Chichibu with spectacular floats and fireworks. There are numerous legends about the origins of the festival, including that it is an annual meeting between the female deity of the shrine (Myoken Bosatsu = female deity of the Big Dipper and patron god of sericulture) and the male deity of Mount Mukou (Ryujin = male deity of water). Another legend has it that the festival is a way of returning the water that brought about a good harvest to the mountain (Mt Mukou). Fireworks and colourful floats brighten up the night in Chichibu.
Bishamon’s ice is made from the japan famous water where from Mount of Bishamon. This Bishamon’s Shaved ice is fluffy and full of minerals. Then syrups are also made from local produce, with the tomato syrup which highly recommended.This shaved ice can be eaten at the Kannon Teahouse, located at the Chichibu mountain range. Also recommended are the ‘shin udon’ and ‘shin soba’ noodles which are made from Chichibu-grown wheat and carefully prepared by the shop owner every day.
This Maple syrup is made from natural maple trees which grow wild in Chichibu. Chichibu is a rare region in Japan where most of the maple tree species grow wild Maple trees are planted in the mountains then the tree sap were collected to make Chichibu Maple Syrup which is a very popular product. The Sugar House Maple Base, which is the first maple syrup production in Japan. Maple Base is a source region for the Maple brand where could experience the blessings of Chichibu’s rich forests with all five senses. In cooperation with mountain owners and an NPO, we aim to combine the ‘logging forestry’ which cedar and cypress and the ‘non-logging forestry’ which maple sap, to create a forest that will lead to the future. The café from Maple Base were also provides homemade maple and pancakes.
A long-established brewery founded in 1753. The brewery was built over 200 years ago and is a nationally designated tangible cultural asset where is well worth to visit. The water which used rainwater that falls in the nearby mountains, soaks deep into the ground, it naturally filtered over a long period of time and gushes out into the city of Chichibu as underground water. You can bring your own bottle to take this famous water away from the shop. You also can taste several types of sake, there are many types of sake available, as well as amazake (sweet sake) and liqueurs in the shop.
Horumon, the intestines of pigs/cows have been Chichibu’s signature food. Here at Ichibankan, you can enjoy the good old Japanese-style yakiniku on a shichirin grill. They’re focused on offering carefully prepared offal meat to customers so that they can enjoy flavorful, fresh horumon with no distinctive odor. Come enjoy the acquired taste of the horumon meat that goes well with beer, sake, wine or shochu or any drink of your choice.
Ichiro’s Malt, a signature whisky of Venture Whisky Ltd, contributed to Chichibu’s rise to becoming one of Japan’s most famous places for high-quality whisky. Even though their whisky used to be hard to acquire due to high demands both domestically and internationally, it is now much easier to find and purchase one at local liquor shops around the Chichibu area. Their signature whisky has won the World Whisky Awards 7 years in a row and it has gained steady popularity through the years. Downtown Chichibu has many bars like Highlander Inn Chichibu, where you can stop by on a night out and enjoy Ichiro’s Malt at.
There are three campsites such as a Miharashi Farm where visitors can experience harvesting crops and making various handicrafts.
Time seems to pass by slowly in the idyllic countryside and magnificent nature landscape of Satoyama. Take a deep breath, and take in the scent of the soil and greenery.
