Chichibu Area Saitama Pref.
[No.4] Visiting power spots in the deep west of Chichibu
From Urayama Dam to Takizawa Dam on the Chichibu Road!
Chichibu Area is located in the western part of Saitama Prefecture. When you go there, you will find Urayama and Takizawa dams, water sources of metropolitan area. In addition, some of the well-known power spots of Kanto Region and natural beauties are spotted around. Also famous are the sacred places of Anime lovers in Chichibu City introduced in the anime "The Flower We Saw That Day." Many tourists visit Chichibu Area throughout the year. So, the 4th issue focuses on Chichibu Area as it is rich in nature and history.
* This article is based on the survey made in Feb 2019 and the things may have changed afterwards.
[Starting Point]Seibu Chichibu Station of Seibu Railway Co., Litd.Only 78 min. from Ikebukuro Station (Seibu-Ikebukuro Line) by Limited Express
This is a gateway to Chichibu. "Matsuri-no-yu (Festival Hot Spring)" opened in 2017 adjacent to the station. This is the combined facilities of hot spring bath house, restaurants, and souvenir shops. One place serves all.
[1]Chichibu Shrine
5 min. from the starting point by car
Founded about 2,100 years ago and rebuilt by Ieyasu Tokugawa, the founder of Tokugawa Shogunate Government, this shrine serves as the place to pray for the safety of Chichibu of Kanto Region as the water source area of Ara River. The main shrine is built of "Gongen" style with colorful and decorative sculptures of "A chained dragon" and "A cub-rearing tiger" crafted by the famous sculptor Jingoro Hidari. Chichibu Shrine is noted for "Chichibu Night Festival" held in early December and as a power spot (mysterious energy pouring spot).
Access
- Address
- 1-3 Banbamachi, Chichibu City, Saitama Pref.
- Phone
- +81-494-22-0262
- Open
- 5:00-20:00 (Winter season: From 6:00)
- Fee
- Free
- Parking lot
- Available
[2]Hashidate Limestone Cave
15 min. from [1] by car
This is a limestone cave found in the precinct of Hashidate-do Temple, the 28th pilgrimage site of Chichibu. It is a 140m deep cavern with varieties of height differences, weird formations of stalactites, stalagmites and limestone pillars. It was designated as natural monument of Saitama Pref. The one and only limestone cave you can explore for sight-seeing purpose in Saitama Pref.
Access
- Address
- 675 Kami-Kagemori, Chichibu City, Saitama Pref.
- Phone
- +81-404-24-5399
- Open
- 8:30 - 16:30
- Closed
- From early Dec through End/Feb and unfixed dates
- Fee
- 200yen per adult, 100yen per child
- Parking lot
- Available
[3]Urayama Dam
5 min. from [2] by car
Urayama Dam, a concrete gravity dam with dam height of 156m, the 2nd highest of the same type of dam in Japan, was constructed on Urayama River of Ara River System and managed by Japan Water Agency (JWA). Sakura Lake Cafeteria in the Disaster Management Center "Urarapia" serves the Urayama Dam Curry and Rice.
* Dam cards are provided between 9:00 and 17:00 on holidays and weekends.
Access
- Open
- All days
- Fee
- Free
- Parking lot
- Available
Sakura Lake Cafeteria
Access
- Phone
- +81-80-5090-7243
- Open
- 11:00-13:30 (Weekends and holidays: till 14:00)
- Closed
- Every Mon. and Tue.
[4]Road Station Otaki Hot Spring
30 min. from [3] by car
This road station has not only the restaurant named "Gouro -kan", which serves some local specialties and Takizawa Dam Curry and Rice, but also a hot spring resort for a day visit named "Yuyu-Kan", which is well known among hot spring-goers for its quite high (the 1st or 2nd highest in Kanto Region) ion concentration of hot spring water drown from a 1km-deep well. A museum of history and folklore is in the road station, too.
Access
- Address
- 4277-2 Otaki, Chichibu City, Saitama Pref.
- Phone
- +81-494-55-0126
- Parking lot
- Available
A Day Visit Hot Spring Resort "Yuyu-Kan"
Access
- Open
- 10:00-20:00 (till 19:00 between Dec and Mar)
- Closed
- Thu. (open on a holiday) and year-end to new year holidays
- Fee
- Adult (Junior high and up) 700yen, Elem. Students 400yen, younger than school age child 200yen
Restaurant "Gouro-kan"
Access
- Open
- 11:00-16:00
- Closed
- Thu. (open on a holiday) and year-end to new year holidays
[5]Mitsumine Shrine
30 min. from [4] by car
This shrine is also known as a power spot, located on top of the mountain with its elevation of 1,102m above sea level. Main shrine was made of Kasuga Style and built in 1661. The worship hall decorated with colorful carvings is located in front of the main building. Two divine tall trees are standing in front of the worship hall . Wolves (statues) are considered the messengers of the deity. You will be strongly inspired by the solemn atmosphere here after a long drive on the Chichibu road. You will surely feel you are regaining your power.
Access
- Address
- 98-1 Mitsumine, Chichibu City, Saitama Pref.
- Phone
- +81-494-55-0241
- Open
- 8:30-17:00 (prayer service 8:30-16:00)
- Closed
- No closing
- Parking lot
- Available (charged)
[6]Takizawa Dam
30 min. by car from [5]
Takizawa Dam, a concrete gravity dam, was constructed on Nakatsu River of Ara River System and is managed by JWA. To overcome the elevation gap of 125m between the foot of the dam body and the top of it the national highway 140 was constructed on the loop bridge named "Raiden-todoroki-bashi(bridge)". The beautiful scenery composed of the loop bridge and dam body attracts many visitors.
* Dam cards are provided between 9:00 and 17:00 on holidays and weekends.
Access
- Open
- All days
- Fee
- Free
- Parking lot
- Available
[More attractions!] Chichibu Festival Hall
This hall exhibits floats and related objects used for Chichibu Night Festival, one of the three largest float festivals in Japan, held on 2 and 3 of December every year. The float exhibit hall is equipped with project mapping, and you can feel vibrant atmosphere with real sound and picture combination of the festival listed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage regardless of the season.
Access
- Address
- 2-8 Banbamachi, Chichibu City, Saitama Pref.
- Phone
- +81-494-23-1110
- Open
- 9:00-1700 (Apr-Nov), 10:00-17:00 (Dec-Mar)
- Closed
- 4th and 5th Tue. (But open on holidays)
- Fee
- Adult 500yen; Elem. & Junior High School child 250yen
(Discount avail. for a group of 25 or more)
- Parking lot
- Available (charged)
[More attractions!] Chichibu Local Production Center
A tourism and transportation hub of Chichibu Area located in the Chichibu Station Building of Chichibu Railway, sells a lot of different kinds of local products like Japanese Sake, agricultural produce, and other local specialties. On the 2nd floor, there is a restaurant to entertain visitors with seasonal local specialties.
Access
- Address
- 1-7 Miyakawa-cho, Chichibu City, Saitama Pref.
- Phone
- +81-494-24-6966
- Open
- 9:30-17:30 all the year round (except year-end)
- Parking lot
- Available (charged)
[More attractions suited for a visit in winter!]
Misotsuchi-no-tsurara (Misotsuchi Icicles)
Seeping water from the rocks forms icicles on very cold winter days, i.e. creating artistic icicle formations of roughly 8m in height and 30m in depth.
Access
- Address
- 4066-1 and 4011-1 Otaki, Chichibu City, Saitama Pref.
(Wood Roof Okuchichibu Auto Camp Site & Tsuchiuchi Camp Site)
- Phone
- +81-494-55-0707
(Otaki Branch of Chichibu Tourist Association)
- Open
- mid/Jan through mid/Feb (depending on the weather and icicle conditions)
8:00-17:00 (Illumination time ends at 19:00 on weekdays, and 21:00 on weekends & holidays)
- Closed
- No closing
- Fee
- Environment maintenance cooperation fee
Adult (junior high school students and up) 200yen
- Parking lot
- Available (charged)
[For a short rest] Yahataya Honten
Right in front of Chichibu Shrine is this Japanese confectionery shop. It started marketing its sweet stuff in 1902 and has received various awards, including the one at the national confectionery Exhibition. The highly recommended confectionery is "Chichibujiman" Chichibu's favorite. This is a baked cake filled with Kurian (sweet bean and chestnut paste) which offers mild sweet and smooth taste and walnuts on the cake give accent to the taste. It is right bite-size and the favorite choice for the souvenir of Chichibu.
Access
- Address
- 8-18 Banbamachi, Chichibu City, Saitama Pref.
- Phone
- +81-494-22-0010
- Open
- 9:00-19:00
- Fee
- Free
- Parking lot
- Available
Sitemap
"
