We'll make a stop at Takasaka Service Area on the Kan-Etsu Expressway heading from Tokyo to Saitama. This is a popular service area well-known to locals living around the Tokyo. It offers a wide range of food options, including restaurants, sweets shops, and a bakery, and has a large selection of souvenirs from Saitama, Gunma, and Niigata.

Let’s enjoy a little warm-up for the trip by picking up some drinks or snacks and browsing for unique souvenirs you won’t find in central Tokyo!

This impressive rock formation in Nagatoro, Saitama Prefecture, features expansive, layered rocks that blanket the area much like tatami mats on a floor. The striking crystalline schist layers were shaped over time by the Arakawa River’s currents, creating a truly awe-inspiring natural attraction.

Spanning 80 meters in width and 500 meters in length, this expansive rocky terrain was shaped by the currents of the Arakawa River, which eroded the crystalline schist and carved out a fault valley and rock terraces. The formation is named “iwa-datami” because it resembles the smooth, layered look of tatami mats. Often referred to as the “window to the earth,” Nagatoro offers a rare chance to observe the earth’s crust exposed at the surface.

Soba noodles (Buckwheat noodles) are one of Chichibu’s local specialties.

While soba can be enjoyed throughout Japan, the soba from the Chichibu area is particularly delicious, with a firm texture and rich flavor, as it is cultivated using the pure headwaters of the Arakawa River that flows through Tokyo and Saitama.

Let’s enjoy a traditional lunch at a local spot frequented mainly by Japanese, where you can also try dishes like Chichibu-grown maitake mushroom tempura and seasoned rice.

Mitsumine shrine is said to be the strongest energy hot-spot in Kanto Region. This expansive and stunning mountain shrine is dedicated to wolf spirits, among others, and features several wolf statues throughout the grounds. Although Japanese wolves are now extinct, they once roamed these mountains, and it was believed their spirits guarded homes against fires and theft. Because of this, the shrine held great popularity among the people of Edo.

Wandering the shrine grounds is truly enjoyable—there’s always something unexpected around each corner. Be sure to look out for scenic mountain views, an elegant red tower, intricate carvings on the main hall, a mysterious stone with a hidden dragon, and sacred trees that are said to renew your energy if you place your hands and forehead against them. You’ll also come across the striking red gate, Zuishinmon, likely one of the most beautiful gates you’ll ever see, as well as a statue of Yamato Takeru, who founded the shrine nearly 1,900 years ago.

Michi-no-Eki Arakawa is a rest stop surrounded by the natural beauty of the Oku-Chichibu area. In addition to locally grown vegetables and fruits from Chichibu, it offers a wide variety of souvenirs.

Let’s take a break with some delicious sweets— the ice cream here is absolutely fantastic!