Michinoeki CHICHIBU

We visited Michinoeki "CHICHIBU" and put the flyer of Japan CROPs ("Michinoeki" is road station). Michinoeki "CHICHIBU" is one of Michinoeki that is located in Chichibu city of Saitama prefecture.

Chichibu city is located at the westernmost part of Saitama prefecture, and it is the region that is surrounded by mountains and richly endowed with nature. It is also the city having old history. This area was the producer of bronze around A.D. 700 year, and the bronze was used for coins made by Japan government at that time. When we were driving in Chichibu city, we saw the signs for the building called as "FUDASHO" throughout the city. Chichibu is well-known as holy place in which people can visit 34 temples. There are a lot of old buildings remains along with thickly mountains, we always felt sacred atomosphere from this city. In fact, 80% of Chichibu-city is covered with forest, and by utilizing the climate and hilly and mountainous characteristic, cucumber, green beans, fagopyrum, amorphophalus and mushroom such as lentinula edodes are produced in this area. In addition, there are many fruit gardens such as strawberry and grape, and the agriculture is deployed associated with tourist business.

Since it was located in the center of Chichibu city and on national road (Route 140), we felt that nobody (who visit at Chichibu by car) can overlook this facility and this is center place of Chichibu sightseeing. This area is center of city and it was surrounded by restaurants and shopping facilities. Meanwhile, when looking to the back side, there are mountains in Chichibu very near the facility. We found the region characteristics where commerce and tourism business are integrated well. When When we entered into the facility, the appearance is pink color-based building, and inside building, a lot of vegetables and processed food are displayed, and it has food court and it produced cozy atomosphere. We had the impression that this facility would have continued accepting a lot of people, who is both local people and tourists for long time. When we visited at lunch time, there were a lot of customers both in sales area and food court.

Though we visited it in busy hours, stuff of the Michinoeki "CHICHIBU" accepted our visit kindly.