Sightseeing Spots

As the 10th sacred site on the Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, this temple has been worshipped since ancient times. During the Sengoku period, the temple was used as the main camp for the Takeda forces during their siege of Matsuyama Castle. After passing through the rows of houses which once hid throngs of visitors, you will arrive at Niomon Gate. Climbing up the stone steps, you can see the city’s oldest bell tower and a wooden temple dedicated to Kannon, as well as a large Ginkgo tree. ※ Seasonal Info: The leaves of the giant ginkgo tree, estimated to be over 700 years old, turn a spectacular yellow color in early December every year.

Okegawajuku, home to cultural properties such as Takemura Ryokan (former Hatago) and the residences of the Shimamura and Kobayashi families, is reminiscent of the past Nakasendo post town. Okegawa's specialty, the safflower, brought wealth and culture to Okegawajuku and decorates the stone lanterns donated by safflower merchants seen at the Okegawa Inari Shrine.

A shell midden (refuse 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 shells of the Japanese littleneck clam, common Orient clam, and blood clam. The mound is located behind the Kannon statue in the fifth temple of the Adachi Bandō pilgrimage route.

You can feel the warmth of the trees in this energetic store brimming with fresh vegetables, eggs and readymade side dishes (souzai) supplied by over 130 local farmers. Outside are stalls run by meat suppliers selling yakitori, and junmai dango (pure rice dumplings) are also available. This store is popular even with the local people. The items brought in for sale by the farmers are limited to one day only. We are committed to freshness!

The well at our brewery, "Bushūyama Jyōryūsui" (underground water) was established as one of the hundred best mineral water sources of the Heisei Era. If you bring a container, feel free to fill it up with water and take it with you!

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.

Sprawling out over the Hiki Hills, this 46-hectare site is home to popular animals such as giraffes, red pandas, and koalas, as well as an ecological park dedicated to Humboldt penguins, Penguin Hills. Also adjacent to the park are a walking trail and cross-country course. The zoo is the only place in Japan where visitors can see the small rodent, gundi, at the "Eco Houchoo" (Eco-friendly mouse house), the rabbit-like yellow-spotted rock hyrax, the world's smallest deer, pudu, and the quokka, which joined the zoo to commemorate its 40th anniversary. The Capybara Hot Springs, a winter tradition, is also very popular.

This facility is a center for social mingling and tourism established from the early Meiji period merchant's inn, "Chichibu-Kan," which was renovated preserving as much of its original appearance as possible. The first floor is a free rest space with a large irori (sunken hearth) surrounded by rental boxes where citizens can display and sell their handicrafts and ceramics. Whether to search for tourist information or to mingle with the locals, we hope you will visit Hot Spot Chichibu-Kan!

During wisteria season, you can enjoy vines of purple wisteria flowers descending from the trees in the precincts of Gokado Temple on Mt. Ogawa. Magohachi Honma, who built the temple, spent a night discussing the art of waka poetry with a traveling monk to finally master its secrets, and thus named the temple "Gokado" (words and songs temple). According to legend, the monk was said to have been the incarnation of Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy. The stone Buddha in the Koshinto pagoda on the right side of the hall is one of few existing in Chichibu. Collectible goshuin seals are available at Chokoji Temple, about 250 meters away.

If you're on the search for Chichibu souvenirs, look no further! At Jibasan Shoten they have a wide range of popular souvenirs from the Chichibu area, including vegetables from local farmers, unique area gems, and many goods including the local mascot character, Potekuma-kun. You can also find products to get a taste of daily life in Chichibu, or even find the perfect gift for your loved ones. We look forward to your patronage!

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 helping visitors better understand the role of the regional flood control facility, “Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel,” we have increased the appeal of our tours and begun the second installment of this ongoing social experiment. In addition to the wildly popular tour of the surge tank, known as the "underground shrine," secret passages, pump rooms, and sections of the gas turbine will be opened to the public through 4 different courses. We encourage you to experience the grandeur of the “Metropolitan Outer Area Underground Discharge Channel.” Please check the URL below for details regarding tours and facilities.

This facility provides a place for interaction among those in and outside of the region. 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.

In front of the main hall is a statue of “Obinzurusama” (a disciple of Buddha), which legend has it that you will be healed by touching the statue where your body has pain while touching the same place on your body. In spring the adorable rare Bukoumamezakura cherry blossoms bloom for a delightful scene. It was also the setting for the animated movie, “The Anthem of the Heart." The “Enmei Jizō" (life-prolonging Jizō statue) stands at the entrance as a landmark.

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?"

In the rural moutain village satoyama of Ishizaka no Mori, you'll be surrounded by lush nature. Visited by many as a place for finding health and purpose, one can gain a deeper understanding of ecosystems and nature conservation. Be the first to experience the new face of rural Japan, in the satoyama of Ishizaka no Mori.

Passing along a road within the mountains, you will come to a direct sales farmers market built from Japanese cypress (hinoki). The shop specializes in mountain mushrooms and wild vegetables harvested in the Ohno region. The “Chirimen Norabō-na,” only available at this shop, is popular every year for its sweetness. The building is the oldest of the town's four direct sales shops, and is said to be the model for Myōkaku Station, which has the same octagonal shape.

A a small, charming hill of approximately 4 hectares located at the end of Yokoze Town Citizen Ground parking lot has been maintained by local residents and volunteers for a gathering place to watch flowers bloom. Visitors can enjoy a carpet of greenery and mainly white flowers like out of a fairytale; over 6,000 flowers and trees that change from season to season. The town also collaborated with Musashino Art University for a joint project between government and academia to create three integrated artworks, adding even more charm to the park.

The Saitama Forest Science Museum is a place where visitors can learn about both forests and forestry and deepen their understanding of the roles of forests and forestry. The Museum was built by Saitama Prefecture to encourage and support the local forestry industry.

This is a newly developed park in Hatoyama Town, with two large fir trees designated as “Hatoyama Town Scenic Trees." There is also the Midoyama near the entrance, the adjoining 88 temples of Takanokura and the yew oak of Hachiman Shrine, designated as a natural treasure by the town, allowing visitors to enjoy the “four seasons” of Hatoyama.

Jigenji is Chichibu’s 13th sacred site on Japan’s 100 Kannon Pilgrimage. It has been famous as a temple for "eyes" for 780 years. Worshippers come from all over Japan with worries and concerns regarding the eye.

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.