Yozan Park is a small hill in the middle of town, close to Seibu Chichibu Station, but if you’re not careful, you’ll be exhausted before you even reach your destination. ‘Yozan’ is written with the kanji for “sheep mountain,” and it is said that in the past, it was a place where sheep were extensively grazed, and there is still an area where sheep are kept today.
View point to watch the downtown of Chichibu
From this park, you can see Mount Bukō, a representative mountain of Chichibu, directly in front of you. The contrast between the cherry blossoms in the park and the moss phlox spreading across the slope in the foreground is beautiful.
However, be careful not to take the wrong entrance to the park, as you’ll end up climbing an incredibly steep slope. The signs that guide you from the station appear one after another, seemingly luring you down this steep hill. While it’s true that the spectacular views of cherry blossoms and moss phlox are at the southern end of the park, I highly recommend taking the approach from the middle, climbing up from the direction of the city hall where the Chichibu Night Festival finale takes place, even though it may seem far away.
Correct access is as below.
Incorrect, challenging access is as below.
Speaking of which, Mount Bukō is a mountain made up of limestone blocks, and a considerable amount has been eroded from its summit, which has become a landmark. It is said that this limestone was used extensively in the cement used to construct buildings in Tokyo. The reason there’s limestone in this location is that, long ago, it was a coral reef island in the Pacific Ocean, which was carried on the Pacific Plate and, instead of being dragged down by the Eurasian Plate, emerged onto the surface. You can really feel the dynamics of the Earth’s crust movement.
Detour
I recommend Chaco, a retro-modern coffee shop, which is located halfway up the hill at the northern end of Yozan Park. They also serve lunch if you’ve missed your usual lunchtime meal. They brew each cup of delicious coffee to suit each customer’s taste preferences. It’s perfect to enjoy with a delicious cake. The garden is also decorated with flowers.
