What to do in Chichibu - Chigaya Spa -a secret spa-

Onegai Kaeru introduces fascinating destinations. 

We have introduced the Cat island, the Rabbit island,  the Shark island and many interesting travel possibilities in Japan. 

We have our own way of trip. Onegai Kaeru team is a adventurer. Beside the major tourist destinations, we always try to get where almost nobody knows. This makes useful information for many tourists in Japan who usually do not drive. 

Usually we do not drive but this time we drove a car to visit one hidden hot spring.

You can go to most of the places we introduced here. If you want to try the hidden spa, we recommend you to rent a car because the place (as we explain later, we are not sure if this place will be open for a long time) may be closed and you will be disappointed if it is closed after hours of walk.

You can take a Seibu line from JR Ikebukuro, or Seibu Shinjuku station changnig at Tokorozawa. You can take a limited express called Red Arrow. It is around 3 hours from Tokyo area.

Chichibu shrine and the old buildings in Chichibu area all rights reserved by onegai kaeru

What most of the visitors to Chichibu do?

They will visit

1) Chichibu shrine

2) Mitsumine shrine

3) Phlox subulata ( Shibazakura ) at Hitsujiyama park for April - May

4) Chichibu night festival (秩父夜祭) 1-6th of Dec (the biggest day is 3rd of Dec. Many people on trains. Prepare yourself to be sardined!! )

You can also take a real steam train around Nagatoro area.

Well we did these a lot. These are great places. And if you did not visit, we definitely recommend you to visit these first.

So what WE expecially do? You find as below.

Yasudaya Hinodamachi branch (安田屋 日野田店)

We usually go there for a meal. Not far from the Chichibu station. This place has basically one menu called Waraji Katsu. It is a pork cutlet hammered well to be soft and soaked in a special sauce before put on a bowl of steamed rice. You can park a car behind the restaurant. You better check which lot is for the restaurant because some are for private use!

Dangozaka Chitatsu (だんござか珍達)

If you are into a ramen noodle, you can also try here. Quite some leaks (spring onion / Negi).

The parking lot is limited. Only 2-3 cars depending on how small your car and other cars are. 

The soup is a fish broth base. If you like Tonkotsu (pork base) and do not like fish, it is not for you.

For the coffee, we like this cafe called Chako (珈琲 千茶古 ).

The cafe is quite spacey and warm.

A shortcoming is that like many other "classic" cafes in Japan, people smoke inside... Not good for kids and us!

When we go there, we try when the cafe is kind empty.

We like its big parking lot.

Ever heard of Ichiro's molt ? It is a famous whiskey from Chichibu area.

The distiller is called Venture Whiskey.

You need to be a professional person with a business potential to visit the site with a prior reservation. If you are just a tourist or someone who wants to buy some bottles, you can not enter the distiller. 

Contact: +81 494-62-4601 (Please do not call if you are not a serious business person in whiskey industry!)

Men's bath room. Quite clean and well maintained. 

If you are into something so unique, try Chigaya kosen ( 千鹿谷鉱泉 (旅館) ). Note that it is called "Kosen" not "onsen". This means this is not a hot spring but a cold spring water being heated. 

The thing is that there is no staff usually and you go there, pay by yourself, take bath by yourself and get out by yourself. 

The spa is recognized since 1798 (Kansei year 10. Interestingly in 1791 the government in Japan banned a mixed bath in Tokyo (Edo as called then)).

You feel the age.  But the bath room was quite clean and well maintained (amazing!). Other parts of the buildings are kinda messy though.

The whole building is quite old and not so clean so that you may feel like this place is not open any more. There is a parking lot for 3 cars or so across the road.

Do not enter the door on your right, that part is "really" closed (you could go in but it is like an empty wareouse)! You go straight and go through the front entrance.

It is said to be open 24 hours. You pay 700JPY (as of 2018) per person into a close like box at the entrance and leave your name on the guest list. Do not call for a staff because nobody there!!

And very important. This bath tab is like only for 3 people max. You can not go there with a group of 10 people. Keep it clean and pay the right amount. This way, this old traditional spa can last.

It is also an inn (ryokan) so you can stay technically. At this place, we met one other guest. He told us that this place was closed for a while these days and was happy to find out it is open today. It is not predictable if or when this place is open. You can not call to find out because there is nobody usually..

Around this spa, you may see bears. You need to be careful with that. << What to do if you see bears in Japan, check this out. >>

Looking for a clean and big hot spring?

If you are looking for a clean and big hot spring. You can try the newly open hot spring next to the Chichibu station. The place has problems right after it is open. Then there was a second case soon after. We are sure now the place is fine but because of the previous issues we are not yet there.

If you are looking for a clean, new and big hot spring. There is one called "Seibu Chichibu Ekimae Onsen Matsuri no Yu". It is just open in April, 2017.

For your convenience, you could try this newly open hot spring next to the Chichibu station.

One problem is that this Matsuri no Yu place had a problem with the excessive level of legionella bacteria, which can be quite fatal, right after it is open (only 1 week after its opening!).

We (hope!) are sure now the place is fine but because of the issue we are not there yet.

It is in front of Seibu Chichibu station and 5 min walk from Ohanabatake station of Chicihbu line.

It is a great hiking destination. There are hiking routes in and around Chichibu such as Ashigakubo, Nagatoro etc.

Source: the hotels official website

Petit Hotel C'est La Vie

You find many antique items in the hotel. The room is quite nice and the outside baths are there. The hotel offers you organic coffee! 

There is a big bath you can rent for some 1000JPY for 40 mins. There is also a family bath you can rent for free for 40 mins.

You can choose your own chopstick type from 5 types!

Address: Nagatoro

Checkin: 15:00

Checkout: 11:00

Book from here!

Source: the hotels official website

Pica Chichibu 

Inside Chichibu Muse park. Cottage with BBQ and the big bath. Being in the middle of the mountains, there may be insects in your room. Swimming pool opens in the summer.

Address: Chichibu

Checkin: 15:00

Checkout: 10:00

Book from here!

Source: the hotels official website

Hotel Route Inn Chichibu 

A big hotel chain. Only 3 min walk from Chichibu station. Quite old building. No AC you can control in your room. The AC is centrally controlled. There is a restaurant close and some convenience store in 5-10 mins walk.

Like other Route Inn hotel, you can have a free coffee at the lobby.

Address: Chichibu

Checkin: 15:00

Checkout: 10:00

Book from here!

Source: the hotels official website

Hotel Miyama

Real hot spring. Some rooms are with the private bath. The building is old. There is no non-smoking room.

Address: Chichibu

Checkin: 15:00

Checkout: 10:00

Book from here!

We have not seen them but there are warning signs here and there in the mountains of Chichibu about bears. The bears usually are "Asian Black bear or Tsukinowa-guma " which are usually as big as almost 2m. 

Not as big as brown bear in Hokkaido which can be bigger than 3m and over 300kg, you should pay a good precaution for where to go.

What should you do when you meet a beer on your way. Old story: we were told to pretend dead. But this does not seem so right. Or we put a bear repellent bell (kumayoke no suzu). This may not work but we heard some cases the woman in Akita with the repellent bells( bells!) was attacked and killed by a bear in 2017. Some expert says the bells may not work any longer as the bears are used to it. Or the bear repellent spray?

What we heard from some local people who saw bears in mountains in Japan. Here are the rules when you see them ( NO guarantee though!! ).

1) do not make noise (do not try to scare the bear as it may attack when it is in panic)

2) do not turn your back to the bear 

3) do not turn your eyes away from the bear

4) while looking into the bear eyes, you go backward slowly ( you do not run)

5) Be in a group of people (a bear attacks when you are alone)

6) [before you meet the bear] while you walking you turn a radio or talk loud to inform the bear so that it does not come even near

This is just what we heard. We went through many deep mountains with the bear warning signs and also the areas where bears are often witnessed such in Nagano and Gifu etc. Luckily we have not met any bear in wild yet.

If you do not want to risk, you do not go into the mountains with these signs. And also you always talk to some locals (staff in your hotel, a cafe or restaurant or so) about the dangers in the mountains. This is what we do always.

<< What to do if you see bears in Japan, check this out. >>

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Source: Wikipedia

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