Ohanabatake Station

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.

The large hot spring facility, “Seibuchichibu Ekimae Onsen Matsurinoyu”, makes Chichibu’s specialty, “festival”, its concept. Matsurinoyu has four types of open-air baths and a highly concentrated artificial carbonated hot spring, with six bathhouses in the inn (five bathhouses for men) to be enjoyed. In this area, which takes pride in its rich variety of hot springs, there is also a Japanese style food court and an area selling local products perfect as souvenirs, making this facility packed full of Chichibu areas charm.

The building was built in 1930 and was registered as a Tangible Cultural Property in 2001. At the Chichibu Meisen museum, you can learn about the history of Chichibu Meisen, view the 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 can even see it in action.

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!

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.