1Day Model Course Near Tokyo: A Journey with the SEIBU 1Day Pass! Lose yourself in the Scenic Fall Colors Around Chichibu & Nagatoro.

When mentioning Chichibu’s signature dishes, we would be remiss to forget Waraji Katsu Don and Pork Miso Don. Waraji Katsu Don is a rice-bowl topped with two large-sized pork cutlets that are arranged in a way that winks at traditional “waraji” sandals. Pork Miso Don, other hand, is the one to get if you like grilled pork steeped in a miso blend and piled high atop a bowl of rice. Both dishes are sure to blow you away with their sheer look and size, just begging to be photographed. You can find either at a number of spots around Seibu-Chichibu Station, each with a secret sauce so good its hard to pick a favorite. Find out which bowl calls to you most is half the fun.

After placating your palate with great local eats, step over to Seibu Chichibu Station Onsen Matsuri no Yu, a hot spring facility inspired by the famous Chichibu festivals. Matsuri no Yu is home to four open-air baths and six indoor baths, including a high-concentration artificial carbonated spring and a silky bath (with five indoor baths for men). Additionally, there are rock baths and a well-equipped "Premium Lounge" for relaxation. During the autumn foliage season, you can enjoy a serene soak in the open-air baths, surrounded by trees painted in vibrant hues of red and yellow, invoking a traditional Japanese ambiance. Apart from the hot springs, there's a shopping area "Chichibu Souvenir Market" offering specialty and limited products only found in Chichibu. The food court, "Drinking and Dining Place - Matsuri no Feast," is a must-visit after a relaxing bath or as the perfect end to your trip.

Nagatoro River Rafting will send you soaring down the Arakawa River aboard a traditional Japanese boat, while enjoying the breathtaking river views flanked by valleys. When autumn comes around the Nagatoro Gorge seems to sing with sheer autumn splendor as you look up from the boat. Look down at the tapestry of color reflecting on the surface and prepare to be impressed by the skill of the boatman’s gondola-style steering.

After taking it all in, head to Komatsuzawa Leisure Farm for a time away picking grapes. In the fall, you can even pick shiitake mushrooms instead of grapes, and enjoy activities like trout catching and trout fishing (varying by season). With mini hiking trails and lava rock barbecuing available, it's a spot that will surely satiate your appetite.

Tsuki no Ishi Momiji Park, a small park along the river lined with maple trees and unique rock formations, is the most bustling autumn leaf viewing spot in Nagatoro. It's also one of the venues for the annual Nagatoro Autumn Leaf Festival held every November. During the festival period from early to late November, visitors are greeted with the mesmerizing sight of illuminated autumn leaves.

If you wish to further indulge in autumn colors around Chichibu or Nagatoro, consider heading to Marugami Falls, accessible by bus from either the Chichibu Railway Mitsumineguchi Station or the Seibu Railway's Seibu－Chichibu Station. Counted as one of Japan's top 100 waterfalls, its impressive cascade stretches a whopping 76 meters! You can bask in the unique views of dynamic, by delicate glory, which only become all the more beautiful in the fall.