Chichibu, City in western Saitama Prefecture, Japan
Chichibu is a city in western Saitama Prefecture, set in a mountain valley with rivers running through it. Old shrines, forested slopes, and seasonal flower fields shape the look of the town and its surroundings.
The Chichibu area has been settled since the Stone Age, as ancient burial mounds in the area show. In 1884, the city was the site of the Chichibu Incident, an uprising by farmers and workers that left a lasting mark on local memory.
The Yomatsuri night festival in December is one of the most famous festivals in Japan. Large floats decorated with lanterns are pulled through the streets while fireworks light up the winter sky.
Chichibu is easy to reach from Tokyo by train in about an hour and a half, which makes it a popular day trip. Once there, the town center is walkable, and visitor information centers around the area hand out maps and help with directions.
In spring, pink moss phlox flowers cover the ground at Hitsujiyama Park for a few weeks, drawing visitors who walk slowly along the paths to take in the color. A vintage steam locomotive called the Paleo Express also runs through the area, offering a ride through mountain scenery on a working historic train.
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