Chichibu

Chichibu (秩父) is a city in Saitama Prefecture, known for its impressive shrines and beautiful nature, including mountains with hiking opportunities. The town's biggest annual event is the Chichibu Night Festival, which takes place every December and is ranked among the top three festivals featuring floats alongside Kyoto's Gion Matsuri and the Takayama Matsuri.

The forested mountains surrounding the town has for many centuries been an important center of mountain worship, with shrines existing today that continue these ancient traditions. Reached in just 90 minutes by train from central Tokyo, today Chichibu attracts many visitors who wish to escape from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis.