Nestled within the center of the Chichibu Tama Kai National Park, this city is surrounded by mountains on all sides, making it a prime location for hikers.  While the city itself is rather small, it is a great base from which to explore various nearby natural sights.

It has also been the setting of various anime series and films – The anime script writer, [Mari Okada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mari_Okada), was born in Chichibu and has set multiple of her original works there, including: [Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anohana), [The Anthem of the Heart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Anthem_of_the_Heart), and [Her Blue Sky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Her_Blue_Sky). Fans of these series will be pleased to find merchandise and images of these characters all over the city and its tourist attractions. 

Main building of Mitsumine Shrine in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture

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Cream puff at Matsuri no Utage in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture

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River stream at the base of the Mitsumine Shrine hiking route

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Waraji Katsudon at Oshimaya in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture

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Exterior of Matsuri no Yu in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture

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Matsuri no Yu.webp

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