Chichibu & Kumagaya Cherry blossoms(C-16)⭐⭐⭐ ‘23.2nd,Apr
This route is in Area-C “Kanto". See Area-C map/ See Japan map
Sights & Entertainment ⭐⭐⭐⭐ *Just for cherry blossoms
Food & Drinks ⭐⭐⭐
Easiness ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Road condition ⭐⭐⭐ *Arakawa river:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Safety ⭐⭐⭐
Spring has come! I was carefully checking the timing to go cycling for cherry blossoms. Though it was cloudy on 2nd April, I carried out my plan. Waking up at AM4:00, I reached Chichibu city at AM8:10. I met many hikers who also would enjoy the spring season on board toward Chichibu city.
Around the Seibu Chichibu station, I could enjoy many cherry trees with full blossoms(pic.1). The famous cherry blossoms area, Nagatoro town was 15km north from the station. The road was not so special but easy for cycling since it seemed down slope all the way.
Nagatoro town is one of the most famous sight seeing spots in Saitama prefecture. It has hot springs and caves(pic.2) with beautiful seasonal scene though my purpose in this time was just watching cherry blossoms here in Chichibu and Kumagaya bank of Arakawa river.
According to web site of Nagatoro town, the cherry blossoms makes a flower tunnel. I’ve been always disappointed by such advertisement but when I reached the North Cherry blossoms street, I unintentionally said wow to the spectacle. After 1km inside the road from the entrance, I could see the real flower tunnel(pic.3) over the cars.
There were many classic open cars running under the trees. It would be the popular way to enjoy this spectacle here.
Before going down toward Arakawa river, I dropped in a famous temple, Houzenji with weeping cherry blossoms. The tree is over 100 years old though it still flourish(pic.4).
Now starting toward Arakawa. Since it was an early morning of Sunday, few cars were running on the street(pic.5) so it was comfy cycling though there was a little climbing on the way.
After reaching the alluvial fan(30km from the starting point), I couldn’t find a good cycling road along the river bank so I took a strait way toward Kumagaya city, R-140. It was a little narrow for cyclists and a little dangerous. What made me worse was I felt pain at the right knee caused by the last long cycling trip in the rain in Kii peninsula.
Anyhow I reached the Arakawa river bank at Kumagaya cherry blossoms bank(pic.6). I had been afraid of flowers already falling but they were still full blooming. I could be mesmerized by the long cascade of cherry trees with rape blossoms under them. It was the best cherry blossom’s scene I’ve ever seen in decades.
After enjoying the cherry trees for 2km, I continued cycling toward east on the river bank(pic.8). Of course it was designed for cycling and running, the condition was good but for my knee. My last destination in this trip was Gyoza(Chinese dumpling) with Fukaya welsh onion for my lunch.
Fukaya city, located 5km west from Kumagaya city, is famous for welsh onion production thanks to its feature of soil. Due to my course in this time, I didn’t drop in Fukaya city but I found a nice restaurant, “Negigyouza" who serves the welsh onion in Kounosu city, 10km East from Kumagaya city.
I reached the restaurant at noon. I ordered Gyoza rice bowl with welsh onion on top at \750. It was cheap but very delicious. Very nice taste for tired body!
It was just 10km from the restaurant to Ageo station, my goal in this trip. I took R-17 for short cut since my knee throbbed with pain. But the route was very dangerous. The space for bike was too narrow and uneven. And many trucks passed by even in Sunday. I recommend to take a river bank road as much as possible since the bank road goes to the center of Tokyo in 40km.
<Transportation info>
1st train from Tokyo to Chichibu: Yamanote line from Tokyo station AM5:01 → Ikebukuro station AM5:28. Change to Seibu Ikebukuro line, AM5:38 → Hanno station AM6:32, Change train(same line) AM6:41 to Chichibu station → AM7:33 arrival. Total \1,004-
<Connection route>
S-13: Arakawa riding toward north
C-17: Gunma to Tochigi cycling