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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Chichibu
秩父市
Spend a half‑day for the shrines and Hitsujiyama Park; add a night for the December Yomatsuri festival.
Chichibu is a small city in Saitama, about 1½ h from central Tokyo. Its main attractions – Hijiri Shrine, Chichibu Shrine, Hitsujiyama Park and the steam‑train ride – fit into a half‑day. The famous night festival in early December justifies an overnight stay.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 秩父市
- Best months
- Oct–Nov, Dec for festival
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (hot, humid)
- Stay
- 0–1 (festival night) nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥5,000–8,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥8,000–12,000 excl. bed · High ¥12,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Soba at Oomura | ¥800–1,200 |
| Steam train ticket | ¥1,500–2,000 |
| River boat ride | ¥1,200–1,800 |
| Local bus ride | ¥210–¥340 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- HND · Tokyo Haneda Airport
- About 80 km (50 mi) (≈1 h 30 min by limited‑express train) from ChichibuAbout 50 mi (80 km) (≈1 h 30 min by limited‑express train) from Chichibu
- NRT · Narita International Airport
- About 110 km (68 mi) (≈2 h by train) from ChichibuAbout 68 mi (110 km) (≈2 h by train) from Chichibu
Typical fares
- Ikebukuro → Chichibu (Seibu Limited‑Express)
- about ¥1,240 one‑way, 1½ h (check)
- Bicycle rental (half‑day)
- ≈¥800
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk or rent a bicycle for the temple circuit; local buses connect Nagatoro and the river boat. The Seibu Chichibu Line brings you to the city centre.
See and do
Known for
- Hijiri Shrine
- Chichibu Shrine
- Hitsujiyama Park
- Chichibu Night Festival
- SL Paleo Express
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Nagatoro | JR Chichibu Line to Nagatoro, then river boat | ≈1 h total |
| SL Paleo Express | Board the heritage steam train at Chichibu Station | ≈30 min ride |
Sleep
- Chichibu Station area
- Convenient for train arrivals; several budget inns and guesthouses.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsumimasen |
| Thank you | ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasu |
| How much is it? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
| Where is the toilet? | トイレはどこですか？toire wa doko desu ka |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- Limited‑express Red Arrow requires a surcharge; check schedule for seat reservation.
- Festival crowds can block streets in early December; plan early arrival.
Chichibu is generally safe; watch for crowded festival streets and keep an eye on belongings on trains.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Chichibu yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 (festival night) nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Hijiri Shrine
- Chichibu Shrine
- Hitsujiyama Park
- Chichibu Night Festival
- SL Paleo Express
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Chichibu, revision 5048521 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5048521
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/chichibu). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.