Chichibu/Yokoze Area

Click here for smartphone site

List of " Chichibu/Yokoze Area"

Geosite 1
Jushi-Kuroya Fault/Wado Ruins

Rocks of Sotochichibu Mountains and a large fault that runs between strata of Chichibu Basin can be observed. This location is said to be the remains of an ancient copper mine.
Copper found in Chichibu was presented to the imperial court and Japan’s first currency in circulation “Wadokaichin” was made. Hijiri Shrine located here enshrines a god of money and is a popular power spot.
Geosite 2
Conglomerate Bedding and Stone Buddha Statues of Kinsho-ji Temple (Chichibu Pilgrimage Temple No. 4)

At the inner shrine, you can see a discordance of the jamongan (serpentine) of Sotochichibu Mountains and the conglomerate bedding of Chichibu Basin. Between the two strata there is a difference in time of roughly 70 million to 50 million years.
About 1,300 or more stone buddha statues are made from stones sourced from the western corner of Chichibu Basin and these stones were carried to this location by the hands of many worshipers.
Geosite 3
Sandstone Breccia of Ryuseki-ji Temple (Chichibu Pilgrimage Temple No. 19)

The huge rock on which the Kannon-do is erected is a sandstone breccia, which flowed in from Sotochichibu Mountains (3km away to the east) that was elevated approximately 16 million years ago. On a rock in the precincts is a pothole that was made when this location used to be the riverbed of Arakawa River.
There is a folklore that, long ago, in a year when there was a severe drought, a monk from the early 9th century called Kobo Daishi (also known as Kukai) sent prayers, and as a result, the rock was split and a dragon appeared that made heavy rain fall on the village and saved the people from hunger.
Geosite 4
Miyaji Low Terraces and Myoken Seven Wells

The low terraces where the city area is spread out is a relatively new terrace that is said to have been a dry riverbed since around 70,000 years ago. In the past, there was a lot of gushing spring flowing in from the terrace.
These seven wells are said to have come from the gushing spring on the main street, which was used when moving Myoken Bosatsu (one of the gods of Chichibu Shrine) from the location where it was enshrined in around 1320 and earlier to the current location of the Chichibu Shrine.
Geosite 5
Hitsujiyama Park (Middle Terrace)

Hitsujiyama Park is on top of a middle terrace created by Arakawa River, and from the top of the Miharashi-no-Oka you can overlook the entire Chichibu City.
This area started to be called Hitsujiyama (literally means “sheep mountain” in Japanese) because it was where sheep were bred prior to the war. In recent years, it has served as a place of recreation and relaxation of citizens that has become famous for the Shibazakura-no-Oka (hill of moss phlox).
Geosite 6
Chichibu Muse Park Observatory (High Terrace)

Odamaki Hill, where Chichibu Muse Park is located, is the oldest of the river terraces created by Arakawa River, and it is a high terrace that was formed approximately 500,000 years in the past. Both Odamaki Hill and Hitsujiyama Hill are flat on the top. This is because they used to be riverbeds of Arakawa River.
In recent years, the observatory has gained popularity as one of the photo spots of Chichibu’s sea of clouds.
Geosite 7
Limestone Body and Hashidate Shonyudo of Hashidate-do Temple (Chichibu Pilgrimage Temple No. 28)

This is a rock cliff made of limestone located on the western edge of Mount Buko. Coral reef that had grown in the volcanic zone of the South Sea approximately 200 million years in the past had attached to the side of the continental tectonic plate due to movements of the oceanic plate of the Pacific Ocean. After repeated movements, bulging, and erosion of the tectonic plate, the coral reef changed form into its current appearance.
The “Iwakage Ruins” located below the rock cliff was where ancient people lived since the beginning of the Jomon period. Hashidate-do Temple (the 28th temple of the Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage) is located against the backdrop of this rock cliff.
Hashidate Shonyudo is the only tourist cave in the prefecture and it has a rare vertical shape.
Geosite 8
Conglomerate Outcrop under Arata Bridge

You can see the stratum back from the time when Kochichibuwan (Paleo Chichibu Bay)—which existed in the area of the current Chichibu Basin from roughly 17 million to 15 million years ago—ceased to exist. The conglomerate outcrop is designated as a national natural monument.
When the Sotochichibu Mountains bulged out, and the part that is now the Chichibu Basin settled, the cliffs surrounding the sea had collapsed and accumulated on the eastern edge of the basin. This outcrop had been deposited right after the cliffs had been worn away, so there are still huge rock bodies with a horny shape.
Culture/History Site
Chichibu Shrine Hahasonomori

One of the Chichibu Sanja (three shrines of Chichibu). This is one of the preeminent old shrines in Saitama Prefecture, and it is a soja (shrine enshrining several gods) of the Chichibu region located in the center of the town. It is famous for the Chichibu Yomatsuri (Night Festival), which is a reitaisai (regularly held festival).
The shrine had occupied a vast space in the forest in the past, and it continues to protect a quiet space in the town today.
Culture/History Site
Remains of Chichibu Nouko Koto Gakko (Seibu-Chichibu Station)

Seibu-Chichibu Station is the entrance to Chichibu. Before the station opened in 1969, this was where a high school, Chichibu Nouko Koto Gakko (currently: Chichibu Nouko Kagaku Koto Gakko), was located.
There is a large bald cypress (deciduous needle leaved tree) that is a landmark in front of the station, and below it there is a monument of the history of the school. The mysterious stone pedestal of the monument contains a fossil of crinoids from around 300 million years ago.
Culture/History Site
Terasaka Rice Terrace and Terasaka Ruins

Terasaka Rice Terrace is the largest rice terrace in Saitama Prefecture, and it is located on an alluvial fan created by rivers flowing in from Mount Takashino. Visitors can gaze at the vast rural landscape against the backdrop of Mount Buko. In early July, there is an event where many bonfires beautifully illuminate the rice terrace, and this fantastic spectacle has made it famous.
This area has been civilized since the ancient past, and ruins from the Jomon period have been discovered.
Viewing Spot
Maruyama Observatory

This observatory is located on Mount Maruyama, which has a 960m elevation and is located in Ashigakubo, Yokoze. The observatory overlooks the Chichibu Basin and Chichibu Sanchi (mountains), and in good weather you can also see the Yatsugatake and Mount Fuji.
The area around the observatory is maintained as the Kenmin-no-Mori (forest of prefectural residents) where you can enjoy experiencing and learning about nature, and it is a popular spot with a lot of hikers.
Main Facility
Chichibu City Hall and Rekishi Bunka Densho-kan (Central Public Hall)

At the 1st floor entrance of Chichibu City Hall and the 1st floor of the adjacent Rekishi Bunka Densho-kan (Central Public Hall), there is an exhibition corner about Chichibu Geopark. Tourist information is available at…
Base Facility
Chichibu Tourist Information Center

This is a tourist information center located at the rotary in front of Seibu-Chichibu Station. People who come by train can rent a bike here. Bikes can be convenient when touring sites.
Base Facility
Yokoze Town History and Folk Museum

The facility has many exhibits on the history and culture of Yokoze centered on a sanctuary (restored) that used to be inside a shrine at the top of Mount Buko, along with a stage of the traditional puppet theater of Yo…

Chichibu/Yokoze Area

List of " Chichibu/Yokoze Area"

Geosite 1Jushi-Kuroya Fault/Wado Ruins

Geosite 2Conglomerate Bedding and Stone Buddha Statues of Kinsho-ji Temple (Chichibu Pilgrimage Temple No. 4)

Geosite 3Sandstone Breccia of Ryuseki-ji Temple (Chichibu Pilgrimage Temple No. 19)

Geosite 4Miyaji Low Terraces and Myoken Seven Wells

Geosite 5Hitsujiyama Park (Middle Terrace)

Geosite 6Chichibu Muse Park Observatory (High Terrace)

Geosite 7Limestone Body and Hashidate Shonyudo of Hashidate-do Temple (Chichibu Pilgrimage Temple No. 28)

Geosite 8Conglomerate Outcrop under Arata Bridge

Culture/History SiteChichibu Shrine Hahasonomori

Culture/History SiteRemains of Chichibu Nouko Koto Gakko (Seibu-Chichibu Station)

Culture/History SiteTerasaka Rice Terrace and Terasaka Ruins

Viewing SpotMaruyama Observatory

Main FacilityChichibu City Hall and Rekishi Bunka Densho-kan (Central Public Hall)

Base FacilityChichibu Tourist Information Center

Base FacilityYokoze Town History and Folk Museum

Geosite 1
Jushi-Kuroya Fault/Wado Ruins

Geosite 2
Conglomerate Bedding and Stone Buddha Statues of Kinsho-ji Temple (Chichibu Pilgrimage Temple No. 4)

Geosite 3
Sandstone Breccia of Ryuseki-ji Temple (Chichibu Pilgrimage Temple No. 19)

Geosite 4
Miyaji Low Terraces and Myoken Seven Wells

Geosite 5
Hitsujiyama Park (Middle Terrace)

Geosite 6
Chichibu Muse Park Observatory (High Terrace)

Geosite 7
Limestone Body and Hashidate Shonyudo of Hashidate-do Temple (Chichibu Pilgrimage Temple No. 28)

Geosite 8
Conglomerate Outcrop under Arata Bridge

Culture/History Site
Chichibu Shrine Hahasonomori

Culture/History Site
Remains of Chichibu Nouko Koto Gakko (Seibu-Chichibu Station)

Culture/History Site
Terasaka Rice Terrace and Terasaka Ruins

Viewing Spot
Maruyama Observatory

Main Facility
Chichibu City Hall and Rekishi Bunka Densho-kan (Central Public Hall)

Base Facility
Chichibu Tourist Information Center

Base Facility
Yokoze Town History and Folk Museum