In the metropolitan area where there is little snow, you cannot see the superb view of snow and ice. However, in fact, it may not be well known that you can see the spectacular view of ice in Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture.
Chichibu is famous for its “Shibazakura” in spring and the “Chichibu Night Festival” in winter. The new winter feature of Chichibu is “Misotsuchi Icicles”, one of the three major icicles in Chichibu. The spectacle that natural ice can show is a first-class work of art called a superb view, a gift from nature. Enjoy the superb view of winter on the icicles of Chichibu, near the city center.
“Misotsuchi Icicles” is at the foot of Mount Mitsumine, where Mitsumine Shrine is located, in Okuchibu, close to the park area of Chichibutamakai National Park. “Misotsuchi Icicles” are icicles that can be seen along the Arakawa River near the “Misotsuchi Bridge” on the trail of the “Misotsuchi Hiking Course” leading to the Mitsumine Shrine.
The Misotsuchi Icicles is called the Chichibu Three Great Ice Pillars along with “Onouchi Hyakkei ice pillar” and “Ashigakubo ice pillar”. Misotsuchi Icicles is the oldest of these three icicles and the only one created by natural spring water. Natural icicles were a famous spot that people know. And every year when the “Otaki Ice Festival” was held, many tourists visited and became a winter feature.
The best time to see Misotsuchi Icicles is from early January to late February every year. The art of ice created by the spring water that exudes from the rock face of the mountain standing along the Arakawa will impress the viewer.
The icicles are natural on the downstream side of the Arakawa River and artificial ones on the upstream side. The difference between natural and artificial is its transparency, and the clear and transparent natural icicle is a first-class work of art created by nature. In particular, co-starring with icicles reflected on the surface of the Arakawa River is a gift from nature that goes beyond the best of the superb view that creates a mysterious world.
The icicle itself is a first-class piece of ice, but when it is lit up at night, it creates a mysterious and fantastic atmosphere that is different from daytime. The light up at night is based on the following four seasons of Chichibu. “Spring pink that expresses the cherry blossoms of Hitsujiyama“, “Summer green that brings nature to Mount Mitsumine”, “Autumn red that colors the autumn leaves of Nakatsu Valley”, and “Misotsuchi Icicles itself winter white”.
The illuminating of the icicles is different because the timing of the shining varies depending on the light. In the winter scene, you can experience a fantastic atmosphere that fuses the scenery of the winter starry sky and the sound of the river. Please look forward to what the taste is.
Height about 10 meters, width about 50 meters
There is a wonderful winter-only scenery that has been drawing attention in Chichibu, Saitama prefecture for several years. That is “Icicles”. It is an art of ice that can only be seen for two months in winter. It was also lighted up in the evening, and that fantastic space is also recommended for a couple’s date. Access is good about 2 hours from the city center.
It is frozen in the form of icicles with the water flowing through the mountain slopes and cliffs. It will gradually be completed from around December when Chichibu region is getting cold. Its beauty is called ice art and it is a topic on TV and SNS as a magnificent view of Chichibu tourism in winter.
“Icicles of Misotsuchi” is a giant natural ice pillar with water trickling from rocks made by freezing in the winter’s cold, height about 10 meters, width about 50 meters. It is not unusual for the Otaki area of Okuchichibu to have temperatures below freezing in the morning and evening, and the harsh coldness in winter creates this fantastic sight.
The best time to see is the mid-January to mid-February when the cold becomes hardest, and it will be lit up at night during this time. The ice pillar emerges in the night sky, and it also reflects on the clear stream, as if it were a dreamlike sight. The ice pillar is exactly the experience of a once-in-a-lifetime as the expression varies depending on the weather and time of the day.
It is crowded with many people
The “Icicles of Misotsuchi” is one of Chichibu ‘s three largest icicles and is a huge natural icicles in the Arakawa riverbed of Otaki, Chichibu city, Saitama Prefecture. Of the icicles, the big ones are 10 meters tall and 50 meters wide, and there are natural icicles and artificially created icicles .
In the evening, the icicles are lighted up, it becomes a fantastic sight and it is crowded with many people. The “Otaki Ice Festival” is held every year from the beginning of January to the middle of February, and during a period serves as best time to see of icicles .
Chichibu Three Major Icicles
Chichibu has three places where you can see a huge Icicles, including the “Icicles of Misotsuchi”. They are called Chichibu Three Major Icicles.
Enjoy Chichibu specialty products and special goods
Moreover, while watching the icicles, you can also enjoy Chichibu specialty products and special goods. Recommendations are “Amazake” (sweet mild sake) which the body gets warm in cold winter, and hot “Miso potato” fried.
There are two kinds of icicles
Water drips from the top of the cliff and a cold ice cold in the winter forms a huge ice pillar. There are two kinds of Icicles of Misotsuchi: a natural ice column and an ice pillar created with human hands.
They show a breathtaking appearance
It is very beautiful unlike the atmosphere of daytime when it is lighted up. Each time the color of the light up changes, the atmosphere of the place changes and you can see the mysterious sight.
“icicles” shine and its appearance is reflected in the river. And they show a breathtaking appearance.
Information(Access, Price/Charge, Tel, Address, Official site, etc.)
| Name: | The Misotsuchi Icicles |
| Address: | Otaki 4066 Chichibu, Saitama 369-1901 Japan |
| Access: | Chichibu Tetsudou-sen Line “Mitsumineguchi-eki Station” (20 minutes by car) |
| Tel: | (+81) 494-55-0707 (Chichibu Tourism Association) |
| Price: | Environmental maintenance cooperation money 200 yen (Junior high school students or Over) Please refer the official web page. |
| Official site: | https://navi.city.chichibu.lg.jp/ |
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