【秩父・長瀞】特急ラビューで三峰神社と秩父長瀞の紅葉を見に行く旅
Hello everyone! This is the Wandering Train Travel Channel! I’m currently standing in front of the ticket gate at Seibu Ikebukuro Station. It feels like it’s been a few years since I’ve been here. Today, I’m heading to Chichibu. The 9:30 AM express train I booked a few days ago is surprisingly full. Here comes the train I’m about to board. It has a very distinctive exterior. It ‘s silver and unpainted, and the front looks quite distinctive as well. The side windows are huge, aren’t they? The “L” in the Laview Limited Express name comes from “Living Room,” and the “a” from “Arrow,” which was also used on the previous train, the New Red Arrow. It’s quite a stylish name. The side windows are huge, allowing you to see all the way to the bottom of the seats. I think this is a major feature. There are two large screens above the doors displaying various information. The train is eight cars in total; the previous train was supposed to have seven cars, so it’s longer. The train departed without making a sound. Since it was full, there was a passenger next to me, so the interior footage is kept to a minimum. The journey to Seibu Chichibu takes 82 minutes. The express fare is 900 yen to the last stop. Seibu’s limited express trains are affordable and enjoyable. The one-way fare is 800 yen. This time, I used the Chichibu Free Ticket, which includes a round-trip ticket from Ikebukuro and free access to the Chichibu Railway for 2,440 yen. I recommend this ticket if you’re visiting Chichibu and Nagatoro as well. A quick calculation will quickly show you how much it pays for itself. Now, let’s move to the first stop, Tokorozawa Station. The fact that it’s equipped with platform doors suggests it’s a modern limited express train. There’s an unused platform at Irumashi Station. It’s platform number one. It was originally built as a seven-car-long platform exclusively for outbound limited express trains, but apparently it was discontinued when the Laview was converted to eight cars. I currently have two limited express tickets: one from Ikebukuro to Hanno, and one from Hanno to Seibu Chichibu. From Hanno, I’m scheduled to transfer to a different seat on the same limited express train. Although this will cost extra, I found a good seat, so I made the effort to separate them. So, from Hanno to Seibu Chichibu, I reserved the very front seat in the first car. Miraculously, this seat was available. What luck! The seat area looks like this. It’s a strange seat with the backrest and armrests integrated. Hanno Station is a station where the direction of travel changes. From Ikebukuro to here, this seat was the very back of the car. Due to the structure of Hanno Station, this is how the train operates. As you can see from the front of the train, the view is not very good. It’s barely visible from the aisle on the right side of the train. In the video, the train is stopped at Musashigaoka Signal Station. From here on, the track is single-track, so I think the train is stopping to let other trains pass. With a view of the mountains stretching out in the distance, it really hits home that we’re leaving the Kanto Plain. From here on, we’re heading into the Chichibu Mountains. From here on, the line name changes to the Seibu Chichibu Line. Yokoze Station is the final stop. The platform is divided into the Seibu Chichibu Line platform and the Chichibu Railway platform. For convenient, direct access to Chichibu, transferring to the Chichibu Railway is convenient. A Laview was coming from the opposite direction. Being able to remain calm in situations like this is a testament to Japan’s excellent transportation system. The Laview is quite distinctive and special, not only when you’re aboard, but also from the outside. Before I knew it, I arrived at Seibu Chichibu Station. Designed by a famous architect, the interior stands out from previous express trains. The exterior has a futuristic form. The silver body was designed to blend seamlessly into the cityscape. The weather is beautiful. The temperature is just right for autumn travel, making it pleasant. Perhaps because Seibu Chichibu Station is a tourist gateway, it boasts a splendid hot spring facility and souvenir shop. I immediately walked toward Chichibu Railway Chichibu Station, Chichibu’s main street? In addition to Seibu Railway, Chichibu City is also home to the Chichibu Railway, a local private railway company with convenient routes for sightseeing in Chichibu and Nagatoro. It’s not directly connected to Seibu Chichibu Station, so you’ll need to walk a bit to the nearest station, Onohata Station. Furthermore, the area around Chichibu Railway’s Chichibu Station seems more prosperous, with more shops than the area around Seibu Chichibu Station. So, I walked one stop to Bancho Street, the main street. It’s a recommended spot for restaurants, cafes, and sweets. It’s also on the main approach to nearby Chichibu Shrine, which is likely to be crowded during the holidays. I decided to try something right away. It was “Imo Urara,” a specialty shop for Chichibu sweets. I tried a simple soft serve ice cream. It also contained sweet potato chips, which looked delicious! It was very sweet and delicious. I personally love sweet potatoes, so I’m glad I went! It’s a must-visit shop when you visit Chichibu. I highly recommend it. Next, I visited Chichibu Shrine. Located in the center of Chichibu, it has a history of over 2,000 years since its founding. This shrine is the Chichibu region’s main naval base and is one of the three Chichibu shrines, along with Mitake Shrine and Hodosan Shrine. The existing shrine building was built in 1592. Its gorgeous and luxurious building resembles that of Nikko Toshogu Shrine. One of the highlights of Chichibu Shrine is the “Three Genki Monkeys.” If you look closely, you’ll see that they’re not “see no evil,” “hear no evil,” or “speak no evil. ” They actually represent “look carefully,” “listen carefully,” and “speak well.” The ” Genki Three Monkeys” are meant to evoke the spirits of these monkeys, and are meant to encourage everyone to be healthy and energetic. Also, since it’s autumn foliage season, the ginkgo trees on the shrine grounds are a highlight. Apparently, they were planted by Princess Setsuko of Chichibu. Next, I walked to Chichibu Station. The Chichibu area is relatively compact, making it easy to explore on foot. This is Chichibu Station. It’s a large station building. From here, I’ll board the Chichibu Railway and head towards Nagatoro. Here comes the Chichibu Railway 5000 series train. Trains that once ran on the Toei Mita Line are still in use here. It’s not uncommon to reunite with old trains on the Chichibu Railway . They zip by at impressive speeds. Since the line also carries freight, the tracks seem to be well maintained. At the station, we pass the Chichibu Railway’s signature train, the “Steam Locomotive Paleo Express.” This popular train runs mainly on weekends and holidays. This is Nagatoro Station. Its wooden building has garnered attention and it was selected as one of the 100 best stations in the Kanto region. It still retains its original appearance from when it first opened in 1911. When you think of Nagatoro, these rock formations are the first thing that comes to mind. The word “toro ” (“toro”) refers to a place with deep, calm river water, which is how the name “Nagatoro” came from. Long known as a scenic spot, it remains a popular spot for boat rides. To the north, you can see a series of impressive mountains. Is Takasaki the area on the other side of those mountains? We’re back at Nagatoro Station. The street in front of the station is bustling with restaurants. For lunch, we went to Yurin, a restaurant specializing in pork and miso rice bowls. This restaurant specializes in miso pork bowls. It’s a standard miso pork bowl topped with three large slices of pork. While there’s a long wait, you can get a ticket and receive a notification on your smartphone, so I recommend getting your ticket before heading to the rock formations. This time, I stayed at Hotel Route Inn Grand Chichibu. It’s a fairly large and impressive building for a Route Inn. It’s a new hotel that opened in 2023. The Grand designation differentiates it from regular Route Inns. Let’s take a room tour. The tatami-style raised floor offers a relaxing space. I booked a single room, but they upgraded me to a semi-double. The cafe table was also lovely. I could see my office outside. There was a welcome drink service in the first-floor lounge. Coffee and vinegar drinks were served on this day. And so, the first day of my Chichibu trip came to an end. On the second day, I took a bus to Mitsumine Shrine, rumored to be the most powerful power spot in the Kanto region. It was the morning of the second day. It’s currently 8:40 AM, relatively early, but I’m heading to Seibu Chichibu Station on foot. Today, I’m heading to Mitake Shrine. While I can access the shrine by bus, I learned in advance that if I don’t line up at the bus stop about 20 minutes before departure, I’ll have to stand on the bus, so I set off with plenty of time to spare. About 20 minutes before departure, there was already a line of about 10 people. That’s enough space to comfortably find a seat. The bus ride to Mitake Shrine takes 80 minutes. Since the photo was taken on a weekday, the bus was on schedule, but on weekends and three-day weekends, traffic congestion almost always results in delays. Cash and transportation IC cards are accepted; fares are 950 yen and 944 yen, respectively. The bus arrived right on time. By the time the bus arrived, the line had grown considerably, and there were many standing passengers on the bus. We arrived at Mitake Shrine right on time! The autumn leaves were beautiful and incredibly beautiful. The scenery was breathtaking. The contrast between the sky, mountains, and autumn leaves was truly stunning. The torii gate of Mitake Shrine is called “Mitsutorii” and has a slightly strange shape. Enshrined on both sides are wolves, not lion dogs. Apparently, there are many wolves enshrined throughout the temple grounds, not just here. The tranquil atmosphere continues like this. It’s nice to be able to experience such a wonderful atmosphere relatively close to Tokyo. This is the Suishinmon Gate. Built in 1792, it was formerly the Niomon Gate. Amidst the lush greenery, this vibrant gate catches the eye. Apparently, passing through here from the main approach has been the correct order of worship since ancient times. Let’s go further. Passing through the bronze torii gate, we are greeted by two sacred trees. In the distance, we can see the glittering lacquered worship hall. The bronze torii gate was erected in 1845. On the left is a chozuya (water purification fountain), where we purify ourselves before worshipping. The sacred trees on both sides are said to be 800 years old. They have been here for an unimaginable amount of time. We receive energy from the sacred trees nearby. Hold your hands over them and receive their power. Even looking at them again, they are truly magnificent trees. This is the chozuya (water purification fountain). Looking up, you’ll see vibrant dragon decorations. Beautiful carvings everywhere you look. From the worship hall, you can circle back by going to the right, but first, head left, where the shrine office is located. Further ahead, you’ll find a tree called the Matchmaking Tree. If you’ve come this far, don’t miss it. Apparently, it got its name from the different types of trees nestled close together at the base. It’s two trees tied together with a sacred rope. They stretch high into the sky. A little further back from this tree is Mikariya Shrine. This shrine, dedicated to wolves, is an unmissable sight. Returning to the worship hall, you’ll find the sub-shrines on your right. I think there are about 20 of them. Gods from all over Japan are enshrined here. It’s said that it’s good to express your gratitude for having come this far. Further back, in an open area, you’ll find a bronze statue of Yamato Takeru no Mikoto. There are many haiku monuments around. If you visit Mitake Shrine, there’s one place you definitely can’t miss. Climbing the stairs, you’ll find the worship hall of the inner shrine. From here, you can visit the inner shrine of Mitake Shrine. As you can see, it’s a great place to see the sights. The Okumiya Shrine is located far from here, and although it’s quite a challenge to get there, you can visit the faraway Okumiya Shrine from here. It would be a shame not to visit. It’s definitely worth it. This appears to be downtown Chichibu. A magnificent view unfolds below. The Okumiya Shrine is enshrined at the summit of Mt. Myoho-ga-take. Apparently, if you time it right, you can even see a sea of clouds. So, I headed back the way I came, toward Seibu Chichibu Station. Inside the station building, there was a magnificent facility called Matsuri-no-Yu, which houses a souvenir shop, food court, hot springs, and more. For my last meal in Chichibu, I had some light soba noodles. They were decent and delicious. Since I had some time before my return train, I decided to take a short walk to a place called “Miharashi-no-Oka.” Along the way, I found a wonderful spot with a view of La View. As expected of its reputation for great views, the slope was quite steep. But that only heightened my anticipation for the view. I reached the top! The view was even more beautiful than I imagined. It was a place where you could get a panoramic view of Chichibu city. To the right is the area around Nagatoro. You can also see the Route Inn where I stayed yesterday. Is that the Ohnohara cement factory in the background? Apparently this is Chichibu Park Bridge. It’s a magnificent bridge stretching about 500 meters. On the way back, I saw a train heading up the line. It was also an express train. It’s very convenient, as it’s directly to Ikebukuro without any transfers . So, that concludes my two-day, one-night trip. It was really fun. Sightseeing around Chichibu is easy and recommended. Why not buy a Chichibu Free Ticket and enjoy sightseeing in Chichibu? Thank you for watching this far. Please subscribe to my channel and leave a high rating.
こんにちは。鉄旅チャンネルです。
動画で一緒に旅をしましょう！
【この動画の内容について】
涼しい紅葉の時期に秩父と長瀞を観光しました。
特急ラビューちちぶ号に乗って、秩父神社や岩畳を観光しました。
【目次】
00:00 オープニング
00:56 特急ラビューちちぶ号
06:21 秩父芋菓子専門店 芋うらら
07:06 秩父神社
08:24 秩父鉄道で長瀞へ
09:36 長瀞・岩畳
10:10 豚みそ丼専門店 有隣
10:36 ホテルルートインGrand秩父に宿泊
11:52 二日目・三峰神社
16:24 絶対行くべき 奥宮遥拝所
17:35 西武秩父駅前温泉 祭りの湯
18:02 見晴らしの丘
19:37 帰りも特急で
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