Chichibu: A Trip Back to Old Japan

At the Chichibu-Meisen (silk fabric) museum, you can learn about the history of Chichibu-Meisen, view the many exhibits, and try your hand at stencil dyeing and weaving. All the equipment displayed in the museum is still in use, and if you are lucky, you may even see it in action. This historical building was built in 1930 and registered as a Tangible Cultural Property in 2001.

Banba Street is the cobblestone road leading to Chichibu Shrine, a nostalgic and popular spot for Chichibu residents. Many structures date from the early 1900s, with shops still operating in buildings which have been designated Registered Tangible Cultural Properties by the national government. The atmosphere of this road allows visitors to travel back in time to an earlier Japan.

Marking 2100 years since its establishment as a Sōja (shrine enshrining several gods) of Chichibu, Chichibu Shrine has been revered since ancient times. Shrouded in a forest of oak with an atmosphere of style and solemn beauty, the currently existing main building of the shrine was contributed by Ieyasu Tokugawa in 1592, and designated a tangible cultural property of Saitama Prefecture, due to the fact that it holds much of the Edo period’s early architectural style.

Now repurposed as a tourist center that displays and sells local products, this building was originally the main building of a meisen silk fabric wholesaler that prospered in the Taisho era. You can shop for local products, and also give the local cuisine a try at the soba noodle shop!

This brewery’s underground well, Bushūyama Jyōryūsui, has been praised for having some of Japan's best water of the Heisei (1989-2019) era. If you bring a container, feel free to fill it up!