Location: Chichibu
Top Things to do in Chichibu
Top 10 Things to do in Chichibu, Kanto
Discover the best top things to do in Chichibu, Japan including Mt. Mitsumine, Chichibu Fudasho Pilgrimage, Mitsumine Shrine, Hitsujiyama Park, Chichibu Shrine, Hashidate Cave, Misotsuchi Icicles (Misotsuchinotsurara), Chichibu Yomatsuri, Shibazakura Matsuri, Wado Ruins.
Restaurants in Chichibu
1. Mt. Mitsumine
2. Chichibu Fudasho Pilgrimage
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 53 reviews
Chichibu Fudasho pilgrimage is a course that passes through the serene and scenic mountains villages with 34 temples of Buddhism with around 100 km. With its roots allegedly traced back in 1234 allegedly, Kannon Reijo, which means “hallow ground of Diety of Mercy” that always evokes the ambience of past time and is spread in Chichibu City, Yokoze Machi, Ogano Machi, and Minano Machi. Since the 17th century, the faith in Kannon has become the emotional bridge to most Japanese when people used to pilgrim to Chichibu Fudasho to enjoy the journey, both physically and emotionally. We hope you to visit Chichibu Fudasho with no pressure, just like how the people of the time enjoyed it.
3. Mitsumine Shrine
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 421 reviews
Reviewed By Retron - Leysdown-on-Sea, United Kingdom
I visited Mitsumine at the end of 2016 with a friend and we both thoroughly enjoyed our time there. This year we were back in Tokyo and we both wanted to go back - not least because we missed part of the shrine (the old part of it) and the shops and museum were closed in December. In the intervening months it seems that Mitsumine has been featured on a TV programme in Japan, as a "power spot". As a result, visitor numbers have gone up - which means you have to be quick off the mark if you're taking the rickety old bus to the shrine. As with last year, we went from Ikebukuro to Chichibu on the Seibu-Chichibu line. The tourist office has closed at Ikebukuro (they helped last year with filling in the train ticket forms), but luckily said forms are now in English as well as Japanese. The bus still leaves from the Chichibu train station, but this time there was a long queue awaiting us - unlike last time where we were the only ones heading for the shrine as we got off the train. Luckily, we were able to get seats on the bus (it's a 75-minute ride), but there were several people who had to stand throughout. More people got on as the bus stopped en route to the shrine. This time upon arrival at the shrine we both went straight past everything and headed west - for beyond the hotel, there's a path leading to the original old shrine. Unlike the new shrine (which is very fancy, colourful and dedicated to the founders of Japan), the old shrine is much more modest - and is the shrine which is dedicated to the wolf said to have guided the prince through the forest nearly 2000 years ago. The old shrine has plenty of wolf statues around it (and plenty more inside), along with offerings of sake and such placed there by worshippers. It was well worth the visit! The new shrine itself was just as before - splendid in every way and clearly fondly looked after. The guardian wolf statues had new bibs and there were different votive tablets (ema) for sale at the shrine shop. This time I picked up some of the new year ceremonial arrows, as well as some ema, another ofuda and some little wooden wolf charms (with bells). Unlike last time, the museum and main wolf gift shop was open. The museum is fascinating. It contains several pelts of wolves (including a Honshu wolf from Chichibu), as well as all sorts of things from the shrine in years gone by. There's also a story board explaining how the shrine was founded. It's all in Japanese, with pretty much no English whatsoever, but it's still well worth a visit. The only downside is that photography isn't allowed, so you'll have to make do with the museum's pamphlet. The wolf shop was well worth visiting. It's the only place in Japan that stocks so much wolf merchandise, as far as I'm aware, and aside from some rather overpriced soft toy wolves the rest of it was unique. I've been to wolf centres across the States, Canada, France, Spain and the UK - and most of the items on sale at Mitsumine were unique. They had laser-etched crystal replicas of the shrine (and wolf guardians), little glass wolves and pawprints, lots of types of sake - and glasses - a Japanese-style pen set, enamel badges and lots more besides. I spent a small fortune there, something not lost on the lady who served me - she disappeared for a bit, then came back with a carrier bag full of small square bits of paper. "Origami, tanabata", she said. She gave the bag to me, as a gift, meaning I've now got enough bits of paper to make a whole mass of origami wolves! Having seen how busy the bus was on the way out, we decided to get to the bus queue 25 minutes early for the way back. There was already quite a queue and we were lucky to get seats. It seems that Mitsumine has become more popular than before, so if you plan to visit there are a few things to bear in mind: * The museum and wolf shop are closed for the winter period - December to March. * They're also closed every Tuesday. * The shrine is more popular than ever, so be prepared to get to the bus stop at least 20 minutes before the bus is due to arrive. This is much harder to do on the way out if you're coming from Tokyo! * Weekdays are quieter than weekends, but there are fewer buses running. * Avoid the 1st of the month unless you really like queueing - special talismans/charms are given away and the queues are astronomical these days! 3km or more of queues aren't unheard of, meaning it'll take you hours and hours just to get to the shrine.
4. Hitsujiyama Park
5. Chichibu Shrine
6. Hashidate Cave
7. Misotsuchi Icicles (Misotsuchinotsurara)
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 63 reviews
Reviewed By altair06 - Chiba, Japan
If you are not fond of skiing/snow boarding (or you just can't seem to learn it), have already been to the famous snow festivals (sapporo, asahikawa, niigata) and would love something new added to your winter activities, then the Mistosuchi icicles is a must! We went here on a day tour from Tokyo, and arrived just in time for the light up (starting at 5 pm). The Misotsuchi icicles are natural icicles (unlike the other 2 icicles in the Chichibu area). For the light up they were using multi colored spot lights. It was really magical to see the light change color and reflected on the river below it.There are so MANY people, so you have to strategize your position in taking pictures. The last bus leaves around 6 pm, after that you can only use a taxi afterwards (which is very expensive). I would suggest taking a day tour or driving to maximize your time and be able to see the light up and the other icicles. There is a restaurant near the icicles with a very warm food and bonfire! The river side is full of rocks, so it might be slippery after a rain or snow, but still children and oldies (just no baby crib and wheelchair) can still visit here
8. Chichibu Yomatsuri
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 37 reviews
The Chichibu Yomatsuri is a spectacular festival held in the dead of winter. Ornate floats take to the streets of the city, decorated with carved wood, embroidered tapestries, and cascades of paper lanterns. Drum and flute music accompany their procession around town, and when they reach their final destination for the evening, it ignites a two-and-a-half hour fireworks display. Revelers warm their hands against helpings of delicious fried food and sweet wine, sold by the many merchant's stalls that pop up around the festival.
Reviewed By artemismoon0421
great place to enjoy firework, the music match the designed firework, really nice art work 像是電影一般的場景，設計非常好的煙火搭配完美的音樂，一輩子都忘不了的美麗。很多好吃的攤販和非常美麗的神轎遊行，讓人非常難忘。
9. Shibazakura Matsuri
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 19 reviews
The hills covered in shibazakura (moss phlox) at the foot of Mount Buko, the symbol of Chichibu. Covering an area of about 17,600㎡ on the slope of the hill, a variety of vivid hues of moss phlox in pink, white, and purple bloom create a brilliant patchwork of flowers. The time when the whole hillside is colored with flowers is from mid-April to early May each year. "Shibazakura Festival" is held to coincide with the full blooming of the flowers. The hill of moss phlox is located in Hitsujiyama park, which also has a farm where you can interact with sheep, an adventure playground, and a museum, making it perfect for a stroll. At weekends it is crowded with many families.
10. Wado Ruins
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