Sightseeing Spots

Known as Iwadono Kannon, Shōbōji’s official name is Iwadonosan Shōbōji. At the Bando 33 spot pilgrimage’s 10th Holy Place, people have prayed from ancient times, which lead to the achievement of a constant stream of people. During the age of civil wars, when the forces of Takeda took on Matsuyama Castle, it is said that the honjin (an officially appointed hotel with accommodations for a daimyo and his procession) was established. When you pass the row of houses that hid what used to be a constant stream of people, the Niōmon gate comes into view. If you climb up the stone steps you can see the city’s oldest bell tower and a temple built by wood dedicated to Kannon as well as a large Ginkgo tree. ※ Seasonal Information: The yellowing of the leaves of the large ginkgo tree estimated to be over 700 years-old is best in early December.

Okegawa-shuku, a post town along Nakasendo that retains its old atmosphere and is home to cultural properties such as the Takemura Ryokan (former Hatago) and the residences of the Shimamura and Kobayashi families. Furthermore, Okegawa is famous for Safflower, which has brought wealth and culture to the post town. As proof of this, stone lanterns donated by safflower merchants can be seen at Okegawa Inari Shrine.

A shell mound from the first half of the Jyōmon period (about 7,000 years ago). At this time in history, the climate was warmer and the ocean was more inland compared to now. The mound mainly consists of the Japanese basket clams that inhabit the brackish waters of the region, but there are also seashells of Japanese littleneck, common orient clam, and blood clam. The mound is located behind the Kannon statue in the 5th temple of the Adachi Bandō pilgrim route.

Fresh vegetables and locally-produced eggs harvested by more than 130 local farmers along with handmade dishes (to be served with rice) can be bought in the bright shop where you can feel the warmth of the wooden interior. Outside, a shop put out by the local butcher sells Yakitori and dumplings made of pure rice. This farmers' market is very popular with the people of the town. Products brought in by farmers in the morning are sold on the day, for the whole day. The best part about it all is the freshness.

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

Seiryu brewery is famous for being the biggest producer in the Kanto region and offering both superb taste and production quality. Their concept of connecting face to face with customers in order to inspire trust led to the first establishment in the business where you can buy their products directly at the brewery.

At the vast site that spreads 46 hectares towards Hiki Hills, popular animals such as the giraffes, red pandas, koalas, as well as the ecological park of Humboldt penguins known as the “Penguin Hills” can be enjoyed. Adjacent to the park, there is a path to take strolls and a path for those interesting in cross country. This is the only zoo in Japan in which Eco Houchoo’s Gundi, Hyrax, and the world’s smallest deer, Pudu, and the Quokka, which joined to commemorate the park’s 40th anniversary, can be seen. Winter’s seasonal tradition: “Capybara Hot Spring” is very popular as well.

This facility was built in the early Meiji period around 150 years ago as a merchant's inn. Chichibu-Kan was renovated while maintaining its original construction and atmosphere as much as possible and re-opened as a base for social interaction and tourism. The first floor is a free rest area with a large fireplace, and surrounding it are rental boxes where citizens can display and sell their handicrafts and ceramics. Whether it's for tourism information or to mingle with the locals, we hope you will visit Hot Spot Chichibu-kan!

During the wisteria season, you can enjoy the beautiful purple descending wisteria in the precincts. Magohachi Honma, who built the temple, spent a night discussing the path of waka poetry with a traveling monk and finally mastered the secrets of waka poetry. According to legend, the monk is said to have been the incarnation of the Goddess of Mercy. The stone Buddha in the Koshinto pagoda on the right side of the hall is one of the few in Chichibu. Collectible seals are available at Chokoji Temple, about 250 meters away.

Chichibu's souvenirs are all here! If you are looking for souvenirs of Chichibu, why not visit here? They have a wide range of products from popular souvenirs of the Chichibu area to the local mascot character, Potekuma-kun goods.

Marking 2100 years, Gochinza, a Sōja of Chichibu, has been revered since ancient times. In a forest of oak, there is an atmosphere with style and solemn beauty. The existing main building of the shrine is a contribution of Ieyasu Tokugawa in 1592 and was designated as Saitama Prefecture’s tangible cultural property due to the fact that it holds much of the Edo period’s early architectural style.

In hopes of having the role of the “Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel”, a regional flood control facility, understood at a deeper level, we have made our study tours more appealing and have started a new study tour. In addition to the popular tour of the surge tank, known as  "underground shrine" , secret passages, pump rooms, and sections for the gas turbine will be opened to the public through 4 different courses. Please experience the grandeur of the “Metropolitan Outer Area Underground Discharge Channel”. Please check the URL below for details regarding tours and facilities.

The purpose of this facility is to provide a place for interaction within and outside the community. The facility has a spacious lawn and a variety of playground equipment that can be freely used by anyone. In addition to renting out the training room and processing room facilities, the Exchange and Experience Center also holds independent projects such as hands-on classes and exhibitions.

Chichibu Festival Museum exhibits materials related to the booths and kasaboko (combined umbrella and halberd carried on floats in some festivals) of the Chichibu night festival that takes place every year on the 2nd and 3rd of December. The booths, kasaboko, curtain, sculptures made by Shōwa’s master craftsmen are arranged in a design related to the Myōken belief. At noon, the lanterns are switched on to reproduce the night festival. Within the noise of the palatial Chichibu booth music, the luxurious booth and kasaboko can be seen right before your eyes.

There is “Obinzurusama”, which goes with the saying that it is good to rub a part of the body that is in pain. In spring, the rare Bukoumamezakura blooms cutely, making it a pleasant view for the eyes of visitors. In addition, the animated movie, “The Anthem of the Heart” was based off of this location. The entrance’s “Enmei Jizō (life-prolonging Jizō)” is the mark.

This store was originally the main building of a meisen silk wholesaler that prospered in the Taisho era. It has now been restored as a tourist center that also displays and sells local products. You can also try out the local cuisine at the soba noodle shop!

Roadside Station Showa is surrounded by a rural landscape of fertile farmland, small forest grooves, and pastoral rice fields. This blessed natural environment allows you to feel the changing of the seasons. In the product hall, you can find a variety of souvenirs from all over the country as well as products unique to the Kasukabe area. This is a very popular spot for tourists where you even can buy fresh local vegetables. Or why not sit down and enjoy a hot meal at the restaurant "Shokusai-kan?"

The Ishizaka no Mori, is a mountain village where you can easily come in contact with the vast nature. Many people build a relationship with the area to search for additional value in their lives or to delve deeper into the understanding of ecosystems and the conservation of nature. This is a place where you can become a part of creating the new version of countryside life before anyone else.

As you go through the mountain road, you will see a direct sales store built from Japanese cypress. It specializes in the treasures of the mountain, harvested in the Ōno region, such as the mountain mushrooms and wild plants. The “Chirimen Norabō-na” only available here has a deep sweet taste, making it a popular product every year. The building is the oldest out of the 4 direct sales stores within the town and is said to be the model of the “Myōkaku Station” which has the same octagonal shape.

A small hill (approx. 4 hectares) at the end of the parking lot of the Yokoze town citizen ground is being maintained by volunteers, mainly local residents, to make it into a place where people can gather and enjoy the blooming flowers. They have planted more than 6000 flowers and trees, mainly white flowers, which can be enjoyed from season to season. In addition, as a joint project between the government and academia, the town collaborated with Musashino Art University to create three integrated artworks that make the area even more attractive.

The Saitama Forest Science Museum is a place where citizens of the prefecture can learn about both forest and forestry, allowing for a deeper understanding of the roles that each plays. The Museum was built by Saitama Prefecture to encourage and support local forestry.

This is a newly improved park in Hatoyama-machi where two large Japanese fir trees, designated by the town as scenic trees, stand close together. Also, there is the Midoyama near the entrance, adjoining Takanokura Hachijyūhachikasho and Hachimanjinjya-no-Ichinogashi (a designated natural monument of the town), allowing for an enjoyable “four seasons” of Hatoyama.

Jigenji is Chichibu’s 13th holy place within Japan’s 100 Kannon Pilgrimage. It is famous for being a “eye” temple that has lasted for 780 years. Those who have any uneasiness, worries, and/or concerns regarding the eye comes to visit and worship from all over Japan.

This park provides a place for citizens to interact and relax. It utilizes the natural forest to prove a place to enjoy strolling through all four seasons, a water pool for playing, and many other types of equipment for kids to play.