Nagatoro, located a short distance downstream from the center of Chichibu, is famous for its boat trips down the rapids and is also renowned for its dense cherry blossoms. Incidentally, while boat trips down the river are great, I also recommend rafting in the middle of summer and jumping into the Arakawa River midway through. Now, even in areas with a high concentration of cherry blossoms, the cherry blossom areas are spread out over a wide area, so you’ll get tired of walking unless you narrow down your area based on information about when the blossoms are in full bloom.
I recommend the 2.5-kilometer-long row of cherry trees along Kita-Sakura(North Cherry Blossoms) Street, which starts from Nagatoro Station to the next station, Nogami. The tunnel of cherry blossoms stretches on and on, and when you try to take a picture of it, a car or motorcycle inevitably gets in the shot because it’s so long and unobstructed.
North cherry blossoms Street in Nagatoro (1)approach to Mt.Hoto
Heading west from Kagemori Station on the Chichibu Railway, you’ll find a series of temples along the line, each boasting magnificent weeping cherry trees. It’s a bit of a distance, but it’s a leisurely stroll along the country road, admiring the cherry blossoms planted here and there along the way. Incidentally, the Arakawa River, which flows through downtown Tokyo, runs along the railway line. Here, it carves a deep gorge.
Urayamaguchi Station (2)
Urayamaguchi Station (1)
Shofukuji Temple
weeping cherry blossoms in Shofukuji temple (1)
First, I started walking from Bushu-Hino Station. Although there were no signs, I climbed up beside a farmhouse and suddenly Shofuku-ji Temple appeared. The sight of the cherry blossoms adorning the temple gate, which you can see when you look up the stairs, is truly breathtaking. This spot is on a slight hill, so you can see the Chichibu Basin beyond the curtain of weeping cherry blossoms in front of you, with cherry blossoms visible everywhere. You can also see the Chichibu Railway, and you’ll probably even see the steam locomotives moving along, spewing black smoke.
weeping cherry blossoms in Shofukuji temple (3)
weeping cherry blossoms in Shofukuji temple (7)
weeping cherry blossoms in Shofukuji temple (8)
weeping cherry blossoms in Shofukuji temple (9)
weeping cherry blossoms in Shofukuji temple (10)
weeping cherry blossoms in Shofukuji temple (4)
weeping cherry blossoms in Shofukuji temple (6)
weeping cherry blossoms in Shofukuji temple (5)
Seiunj Temple and Wakajishi Shrine
weeping cherry blossoms in Seiunji temple (11)
Next, we head towards the weeping cherry tree forest at Seiunji Temple, which is often seen on posters. Along the way, we pass a shrine with a sumo wrestling ring. The weeping cherry trees at Seiunji Temple are simply breathtaking. If you climb the stairs of the adjacent Wakajishi Shrine and look down from above, you can enjoy an even more spectacular view of the weeping cherry forest. Incidentally, the protective statue at the entrance of this shrine is a wolf, not a guardian lion. Apparently, they light up the shrine at night during the cherry blossom festival, and the fact that there are stalls selling farming tools gives it a very rural festival feel.
weeping cherry blossoms (1)field of sumo wrestling
weeping cherry blossoms (2)
weeping cherry blossoms in Seiunji temple (1)
weeping cherry blossoms in Seiunji temple (3)
weeping cherry blossoms in Seiunji temple (4)
weeping cherry blossoms in Seiunji temple (5)
weeping cherry blossoms in Seiunji temple (6)
weeping cherry blossoms in Seiunji temple (7)
weeping cherry blossoms in Seiunji temple (8)
weeping cherry blossoms in Seiunji temple (9)Wolves instead of guardian lions
weeping cherry blossoms in Seiunji temple (10)
weeping cherry blossoms in Seiunji temple (12)
source: Chichibumovies
Chosenji Temple
weeping cherry blossoms in Chosenji temple (7)
Finally, we visit Chōsenji Temple, famous for the revival of a giant weeping cherry tree that had once declined in vitality. Weeping cherry trees bloom earlier than Somei Yoshino cherry trees, so the giant white weeping cherry tree here has already shed its blossoms, but the temple grounds are beautifully maintained. Furthermore, this temple is worth visiting this year because it is unveiling its hidden Buddha statue for the Year of the Horse. However, since the unveiling is taking place in the back of the temple hall, which is quite dark, it is very difficult to see the face of the Kannon statue, making it almost as if it were not unveiled at all.
weeping cherry blossoms in Chosenji temple (9)
weeping cherry blossoms in Chosenji temple (1)
weeping cherry blossoms in Chosenji temple (2)
weeping cherry blossoms in Chosenji temple (3)
weeping cherry blossoms in Chosenji temple (4)
weeping cherry blossoms in Chosenji temple (5)
weeping cherry blossoms in Chosenji temple (6)
weeping cherry blossoms in Chosenji temple (8)
From here, I headed towards Urayamaguchi Station, surrounded by cherry blossoms, and returned to my accommodation.
Along the Chichibu Railway line, especially around the stations, weeping cherry trees are densely packed. What’s more, they’re not lined up in an orderly fashion, but rather grow naturally, which is what makes them so appealing. These photos, featuring cherry blossoms alongside a quaint old train station, are a classic example of cherry blossom photography.
Urayamaguchi Station (3)
Urayamaguchi Station (6)
Urayamaguchi Station (7)
Moreover, since the steam locomotive runs on weekends from spring to autumn, it would be a shame not to take photos of the steam locomotive and cherry blossoms together. However, securing a good spot is crucial for taking these kinds of photos. But, Chichibu isn’t overly touristy, so even photography enthusiasts are generally calm, and finding a good spot is still a peaceful affair.
Bushu Hino Station (4)SL fans
Bushu Hino Station (2)
Bushu Hino Station (5)
Bushu Hino Station (6)
A train whistle echoes in the distance, letting us know it’s getting closer. Soon, the hissing sound of steam can be heard traveling along the tracks. If you choose a location with a slope, you can capture the sight of black smoke billowing around cherry blossoms. The steam locomotive seems to approach slowly, but once it’s in front of you, it suddenly speeds past.
Bushu Hino Station (9)
Bushu Hino Station (7)
Bushu Hino Station (8)
Bushu Hino Station (3)
Bushu Hino Station (1)
My usual favorite photo spot is around Bushu-Hino Station. There’s a small level crossing without barriers, and an automated voice warns you “Dangerous!” if you try to cross it, but people who don’t know about the automated voice system are startled by the voice and almost trip, so it’s hard to tell which is more dangerous.
Soba restaurant (1)
Soba restaurant (2)
Soba restaurant (3)
If you walk about 20 minutes uphill from this railroad crossing, you’ll find a popular soba restaurant that only serves 49 bowls a day. The owner apparently checks the quality of the soba for one bowl each day, but you can’t help but think, why not just make 51 bowls? A score of 80 points was posted inside the restaurant at that day. It was indeed delicious. Soba noodles are a living thing, so eat them all first before starting on the side dishes. Also, since it’s a mountain trail, don’t forget your bear bell. You have to risk your life to eat delicious food.
Arrive into Chichibu city early, visit Chichibu Shrine (be sure to check out the carvings and the parents’ warning signboard), and select the Chichibu meisen (silk fabric with an innovative design that was popular during the Taisho era). Let’s simulate nighttime behavior. If you don’t decide on your route back to the inn and the final time in advance, you won’t really be able to return the inn.
chichibu shrine1
chichibu shrine2
chichibu shrine3
chichibu shrine4
chichibu shrine5 chained dragon
chichibu shrine6 three monkeys with opposit action against those at Nikko-Toshogu
chichibu shrine8 lever
chichibu shrine7 knowledge of parents
“Kledge of paents”
>Don’t leave your skin unattended to babies
>Don’t leave your hands unattended to young children
>Don’t leave your eyes off your child
>Don’t leave your mind from young people
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fes2
fes7 paris collection
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fes9 waitig for kabuki
fes10 kabuki
fes11 kabuki wisteria daughter
fes12 old street of wholesaler
fes13 chichibu meisen
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The operation plan for all the festival cars is open, just like a railway schedule, so you don’t have to worry about when and where they will change direction, where they will stop and stay, and when and where the children’s kabuki on the festival cars will be done. If you want to see the festival cars with fireworks in the background in the middle of the night, be sure to read the schedule.
operation plan of festival cars
chichibu festival cars road map
A festival car does not have a steering wheel like a car, so it can only move in a straight line. How do it change direction at crossroads? There will be no forceful change of direction like one at the Kyoto Gion Festival does. The method is to use a lever to raise it, attach a rotating shaft underneath it, and then change direction. The work before and after rotation is a bit tedious. On the other hand, when pulling straight, it is much rougher than the Kyoto.
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fes4 lever
fes5 lever
fes6 lever for turn
In the middle of the night, as festival cars cross the railroad crossing befor going up Dango sloop, the railroad overhead wires are cut off for about two hours. How bold!
preparation to remove overhead wire
dango sloop beyond the railway crossing
fes17 toward dango sloop
At the end, as all the festival cars line up at the Otabisho, the fireworks go off directly overhead, and you’ll be more overwhelmed by the huge sound than the gaiety of festival cars decorated with lights. However, please note that seats inside the Otabisho are reserved in advance, and the fireworks are going off behind your head.
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fes19 square of city hole and goal
There is only one free place in Chichibu Park where you can watch the festival cars panting up Dango sloop and the fireworks in the back, and you might feel scared of crowd like sad accident at Soul during Halloween week. If fireworks are important to you, give up on Otabisho, but anywhere along National Route 140 is the best place because you can see clearly and it’s right next to the launch site.
Steam locomotives run on holidays and special days
Chichibu is a place where you can see that the ocean floor strata have sunk beneath the Japanese archipelago due to the mantle, and have come to the surface. The limestone from Mt. Buko, which is still being scraped away, was a concrete material that supported Japan’s period of high economic growth, but it originally came from coral reefs in the Pacific Ocean.
nagatoro rock tatamilegs holding on crystalline schist
Nagatoro’s rock tatami is made of crystalline schist, which forms thin horizontal cracks (like puff pastry) when the pressure on the rock that was buried deep underground is released.
nagatoro3 left
nagatoro4 right
nagatoro6 left
nagatoro7 right
nagatoro9
nagatoro8
nagatoro5 rever rafting
“Tsukinoishi Momiji Park” is literally translated in English to “moon stone and maple park.” “Moon stone! ” Does this indecates the first one collected by Apollo and exhibited at the Osaka Expo 1970 ? That’s what you could think. It’s confusing because it’s said to have been named after the phrase “moon stone” that appears in a haiku written by a Meiji haiku poet. Maple trees grow in clusters on the west bank of the Arakawa River that runs through Chichibu, so when you come up from the river, you can see the red leaves of the maple trees shining in the clear setting sun.
