What to know
Chichibu (秩父) is a city in Saitama Prefecture, famous for its magnificent shrines and beautiful natural scenery, including mountains perfect for hiking. The town's biggest annual event is the Chichibu Night Festival, held every December and ranked among Japan's top three float festivals alongside Kyoto's Gion Matsuri and the Takayama Matsuri.
The forested mountains surrounding the town have been an important center of mountain worship for centuries, with shrines that continue these ancient traditions today. Just 90 minutes by train from central Tokyo, Chichibu attracts many visitors looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the metropolis.
Activities and attractions
Chichibu Night FestivalPopular festival with fireworks
Mitsumine ShrineBeautiful shrine on a forested mountain
Hitsujiyama ParkPark known for its pink moss festival in spring
Chichibu ShrineHome of the Chichibu Night Festival
Nagatoro River CruiseCruises along the Arakawa River in traditional boats
Hodosan ShrinePretty shrine near the Nagatoro river cruises
Moominvalley ParkTheme park about the Moomins near Chichibu