Roadside station Washi no Sato Higashi Chichibu

About 12 million poppies are in full bloom on a vast slope 500 meters above sea level. The contrast between the red of the poppies and the clear blue sky is spectacular. During the blooming period, an event called "Poppies in the Sky" will be held, featuring gourmet food from the surrounding area, sales of local specialties, and the opening of a temporary parking lot. We hope to see you there.

The Edo-higan zakura tree located in Hachigata Castle Park is a natural monument of the town. This cherry blossom is estimated to be over 150 years old, and every year around the end of March, its branches spread out in the shape of an umbrella to display the flowers as they bloom magnificently! In the evening during peak season, you can even enjoy it illuminated!

Being rich in wood, Tokigawa Town’s local industry is prominent in the production of fixtures. Products beings sold center around fixtures, furniture, handicrafts, and agricultural products that hold warmth. You are guaranteed to encounter handicrafts made with care. Orders of fixtures and furniture, as well as consultation, can be done. How would you like an “exclusive product” only for you?

Hachigata Castle is a typical castle from the Warring States period and selected as one of the 100 famous castles of Japan. The castle is said to have been built in 1476 by one of the retainers of Yamanouchi Uesugi, the leader of the Kanto region, and later expanded to its current size in 1560 by the Odawara clan. When the feudal lord Hideyoshi Toyotomi attacked and besieged the castle in 1590, the soldiers inside held out for one month before giving up, opening the castle in exchange for their lives. After this incident, the castle was demolished and abandoned, but you can still see a large number of ruins that remain largely undisturbed, reminding us of the strong fortress of the past.

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.