This blog is not only an anime pilgrimage for "Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day" (hereinafter referred to as "Anohana"), but also a simple pilgrimage guide, hoping to be of some help to everyone's pilgrimage.

May 2, 2024, sunny. Today I visited the sacred place of "Anohana" — Chichibu.

Although I mentioned in a previous tweet that it was a spontaneous trip, I had actually been planning to visit Chichibu since I first came to Japan. But back then, with the pandemic and the maintenance of the Old Chichibu Bridge and Chichibu Shrine, the idea kept getting postponed. This time, taking advantage of Japan's Golden Week and piecing together some annual leave, I finally embarked on this spontaneous journey.

Preparation

① Tickets

The usual way to get from Tokyo to Chichibu is by train, taking the Seibu Ikebukuro Line from Ikebukuro Station to Seibu-Chichibu Station.

The Seibu Ikebukuro Line is roughly divided into two types: the reserved-seat Limited Express Laview and the regular train.

The Limited Express saves about 30 minutes compared to the regular train.

In addition to the regular ticket, the Limited Express requires an additional 900 yen limited express ticket.

The Seibu Railway website also introduces the "Chichibu Free Ticket," which includes round-trip regular train fare and unlimited rides on all Chichibu Railway stations within the Chichibu area for two days, as well as discounts at some facilities.

For pricing and rules, check the official website: https://www.seiburailway.jp/railway/ticket/specialticket/chichibu-free-kippu/

If you plan to stay in Chichibu for two days or more, I highly recommend purchasing the "Chichibu Free Ticket." You can buy it at the regular ticket counter at the station.

Also, as mentioned above, this ticket does not include the limited express fare, so you need to purchase an additional limited express ticket at the limited express ticket machine.

Like this, I entered the station holding two tickets (the Chichibu Free Ticket needs to be scanned).

② Check the Timetable

In Chichibu, whether it's trains or buses, the frequency is very low, sometimes you might wait up to an hour. So be sure to check the departure times on the official website before you go, and plan your itinerary accordingly to be more efficient.

Seibu Bus timetable inquiry system: https://transfer.navitime.biz/seibubus-dia/pc/map/Top

Chichibu Railway timetable inquiry system: https://www.chichibu-railway.co.jp/station/

③ Collaboration Train

In Chichibu, there is also a train collaborating with "Anohana."

There is only one such train, and it only runs on holidays and weekends.

As for the timetable, I searched everywhere but couldn't find it, so it's a matter of luck.

④ Check Closing Times of Facilities

Most facilities in Chichibu close at 5 PM, and a few may close at 4 PM. Be sure to check before your pilgrimage!

Planned Route

Above is the planned route for this pilgrimage, covering most of the famous scenes from the original work. If you take the 8:30 train from Ikebukuro, you can finish before the facilities close.

Another famous spot is "Ryusei Kaikan," but it's quite remote, requiring a 40-minute bus ride. If you plan a two-day pilgrimage, you can set aside half a day for it.

Seibu-Chichibu Station

Since it wasn't a holiday in Japan, there weren't many people.

Right outside Seibu-Chichibu Station, you can see the Chichibu Tourist Information Center.

Here you can ask for the Chichibu Trilogy tourist brochures, and also rent bicycles. You need to register with your real name and return them by 5 PM.

"Anohana" inside the Tourist Information Center.

After visiting the information center, you can wait at the bus stop for the bus to Old Chichibu Bridge.

There are two bus lines from Seibu-Chichibu to Old Chichibu Bridge:

• G Ogano Line bound for Kurio, at Platform 1
• D Chichibu Yoshida Line bound for Yoshida Genki Mura via Hospital, at Platform 3.

Note that only the D Chichibu Yoshida Line buses that go via the hospital pass by Chichibu Bridge. When checking the timetable, look for the"Hospital"mark.

While waiting for the bus, I took a panoramic shot of Seibu-Chichibu Station.

At that moment, a collaboration bus passed by.

Old Chichibu Bridge

After a long bus ride, I arrived at Old Chichibu Bridge, the filming location for the main visual of the original work.

The underside of the bridge.

The stairs are also a scene from the anime.

Also, this part on the wall, I think fans must have drawn it.

Various views from on and under the bridge.

Secret Base

There are many theories about the secret base in the original work, but the small house in the sewer center is currently the most supported one.

A 20-minute walk from Old Chichibu Bridge brings you to the Chichibu City Sewage Center.

It is open to the public until 6:30 PM, with no staff around. Just go straight down and turn left, and you'll see a small blue tin house.

Entering the interior, it's a different world. Seeing this scene, I was so moved I almost cried.

I'm not sure if these decorations are official; I personally think they were put together bit by bit by fans.

In the communication diary, you can see messages from fans.

Among them, there are also messages from China.

Lunch Time

For lunch, I chose a small restaurant I passed by — Fukukurushokudo.

Just a small shop I passed by, yet it was full of "Anohana" elements!

I ordered a "regular chicken cutlet rice bowl." The menu literally said "regular."

But both the portion and the taste were anything but ordinary! Maybe it's ordinary for the residents of Chichibu.

Anyway, this meal sustained all my energy and taste for the afternoon.

Keyaki Park

About a 10-minute walk from the Sewage Center, you'll find this park.

The park is actually quite simple.

Besides the photo spot, there are two more scenes, but there were local children playing at the time, and I was afraid of being mistaken for a creepy uncle, so I didn't take pictures 😅.

Jorin-ji Temple

This is also a frequently appearing scene in the anime, and it's highly faithfully recreated!

Chichibu Matsuri Kaikan

Chichibu Shrine

Compared to other places, Chichibu Shrine was much livelier.

Across from Chichibu Shrine, there is a device like this. Is it for measuring wind speed? I don't know what it is, but it's also full of "Anohana" elements.

Hot Spot Chichibu-kan

On the shopping street where Hot Spot Chichibu-kan is located, flags of "Anohana" are hung everywhere.

Arriving at Hot Spot Chichibu-kan, it sells local Chichibu agricultural products and also runs a café.

But the most impressive thing is the display of "Anohana" inside!

They also sell some collaboration products.

Found holy water! Bought a bottle without hesitation! 🤣

Chichibu Station

The area around Chichibu Station is also a scene from the anime.

Inside the station, there is also a signboard for "Anohana."

After swiping my ticket to enter the station, I saw the cute main characters of the Chichibu Trilogy!

Come to think of it, this was my first time using the aforementioned "Chichibu Free Ticket" to enter a Chichibu Railway station.

Although there was a card reader set up inside the station, there was no ticket gate. After asking the staff, I was told to just show the ticket to the stationmaster.

Hitsujiyama Park

Take the train from Chichibu Station to Ohanabatake Station, then walk 17 minutes to Hitsujiyama Park. This is also a famous scene from the anime.

The view of the entire Chichibu from "Miharashi Hill" is stunning! You can see the iconic Chichibu Bridge in the front, and I came all the way from there today.

Michi-no-Eki Chichibu

This place mainly sells local Chichibu specialties.

By the way, is it really okay to use Menma to promote local liquor like this?

Next to it, I found an "Anohana" themed vending machine!

Check-in at Hotel

After a hard day, I checked into the hotel.

The hotel is just a 1-minute walk from Chichibu Station, super convenient! 8,500 yen per night without breakfast.

It's a typical business hotel, small but well-equipped!

Except for the air conditioner... too hot to sleep without it, but too noisy with it on 😅, so I didn't sleep well all night.

Also, when I flipped through the local information booklet provided by the hotel, I saw that under the local specialties of Chichibu, it clearly said "Anime Goods"! A great local specialty!

Dinner Time

For dinner, I chose the famous century-old restaurant Pari Shokudo on the nearby shopping street.

From the architectural style, it really has a sense of history.

I heard their omurice is especially famous, so I ordered one. It was indeed unique, at a reasonable price of 900 yen, and even came with a slice of melon!

Compared to the high-calorie lunch, this dinner balanced vegetables and fruit, and tasted great. Highly recommended!

Collaboration Train

Since I couldn't find the timetable for the collaboration train at all, I had given up.

Unexpectedly, on the second day, when I was heading home after the pilgrimage, I encountered the collaboration train coming from the opposite direction!

I had to get on and experience it, even if it was going the wrong way.

What a stroke of luck!!

Since I rode in the opposite direction for a bit, I ended up spending half an hour in this place with only natural sounds, waiting for the next train.

At that moment, I thought about life in Tokyo, where every minute counts. A situation like this, waiting for half an hour, is unimaginable. Everyone's pace of life is precise to the minute, sometimes even to the second. Can that really make you happy? Why not slow down and live such a slow life?

Haha, maybe it was the sage mode induced by the joy of the collaboration train, starting to fantasize about retirement life!

Loot Section

Some might be surprised by the intrusion of "The Quintessential Quintuplets."

During the pilgrimage in Chichibu, I passed by a convenience store and happened to see a promotion: buy 3 packs of gum and get a "The Quintessential Quintuplets" folder. So I bought 3 packs without hesitation 😅.

For souvenirs, I bought two Menma keychains at Michi-no-Eki Chichibu.

And I happened to encounter a Golden Week stamp rally. I filled the card and got a limited edition folder (only 2000 available). Yay!

Finally, the pilgrimage map of the Chichibu Trilogy that I got at the information center.

That concludes the first day of my Chichibu trip. The second day will be a visit to Nagatoro, the macho sacred place for the movie "WATATEN!: an Angel Flew Down to Me – Precious Friends."