[Winter 2025] Nagatoro Town, Saitama Prefecture: Come see the winter flower "Wintersweet" blooming under the clear winter sky
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Nagatoro Town in Saitama Prefecture is a tourist destination known for its nature-filled streets and the spectacular Arakawa River valley, where you can enjoy seasonal flowers. In this article, we will introduce sightseeing spots in Nagatoro that are perfect for the winter season.
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Chichibu Railway is a local private railway that boasts a total length of 71.7 km that crosses northern Saitama Prefecture from east to west. The line is dotted with tourist spots such as Chichibu, Nagatoro, Yorii, Fukaya, Gyoda, and Hanyu, and is a line that allows you to travel through areas rich in nature. You can enjoy seasonal scenery such as rural landscapes and the valleys along the Arakawa River. Various tourist businesses are also operated along the line, such as the steam locomotive "SL Paleo Express" which is the closest to the city center and the "Nagatoro Line Kudari".
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Table of Contents
- Nagatoro is popular in the summer and during the autumn foliage season, but it's also a charming tourist destination in the winter!
- Photogenic scenery created by winter nature - Hodo Mountain Wintersweet Garden
- A winter-only activity where a kotatsu is placed on a Japanese boat - Kotatsu Boat
- Mosaic art using only pink - Umehyakukaen
- Once a year, greet the first dawn on Mt. Hodo - Hatsuhinode viewing
- Let's try the traditional winter cuisine of the Chichibu region - Okkirikomi Udon
- A special sight to see on a snowy day
- Things to check before visiting Nagatoro in winter
Nagatoro is popular in the summer and during the autumn foliage season, but it's also a charming tourist destination in the winter!
Have you decided where to go in winter? If you're still undecided, we recommend "Nagatoro" in winter.
Nagatoro is located in the northwest of Saitama Prefecture, and is a tourist destination rich in nature that can be accessed in 90 minutes from Tokyo. The valley along the Arakawa River is beautiful, and the entire town of Nagatoro is designated as the Nagatoro Tamayodo Prefectural Natural Park. The town is surrounded by beautiful nature, including the valley along the Arakawa River that runs through the center of the town.
Currently, the park is visited by 3 million tourists annually. Although visitors can enjoy seasonal flowers and scenery throughout the year, it is especially popular in summer and during the autumn foliage season.
This article will introduce you to the unique charms of Nagatoro as the winter season approaches.
You'll definitely want to visit Nagatoro in winter!
Photogenic scenery created by winter nature - Hodo Mountain Wintersweet Garden
There are five kinds of wintersweet flowers, with about 3,000 wintersweet plants planted around the summit of Mt. Hodo. On a clear day, you can see Mt. Buko and Mt. Ryokami, as well as the townscape of Chichibu, from the summit. You can enjoy the rich, sweet scent of the wintersweet in this one of a kind location in the Kanto region.
What is the winter flower "Wintersweet"?
Wintersweet is a deciduous tree native to China that belongs to the genus Wintersweet and family Winterbai of the order Lauraceae. The name Wintersweet is said to come from the fact that its flowers are as beautiful as wax sculptures, or that it blooms in the twelfth month of the lunar calendar.
Wintersweet produces small, shiny yellow flowers that look like waxwork and have a sweet, rich fragrance.
Five types of wintersweet flowers that can be seen on Mt. Hodo
Japanese Wintersweet
Solid core wintersweet
Full moon wintersweet
Fukuju Wintersweet
Fukurokuju Nickname: The Shining of Takato
Take the Hodo Mountain Ropeway to the Hodo Mountain Ropeway
There is a ropeway to Mt. Hodo. The Hodo Wintersweet Garden is a 2-minute walk from the Hodo Ropeway summit station.
The first Hodo Ropeway trip will be brought forward to coincide with the peak viewing time for the wintersweet.
The normal departure time for the Hodo Mountain Ropeway is 9:40 AM, but during the peak viewing period for the wintersweet flowers the departure time will be moved up to 9:00 AM.
A free shuttle bus will be operating from Nagatoro Station to the Hodosan Ropeway base station to coincide with the peak viewing time for the wintersweet.
To make it easier to access the Hodo Mountain Wintersweet Garden, a free shuttle bus will operate from Nagatoro Station to the Hodo Mountain base parking lot (near the Hodo Mountain Ropeway base station) during the peak viewing period for the wintersweet.
*For information on the earlier departure of the Hodo Mountain Ropeway and the operation of the free shuttle bus, please check the latest information on the Hodo Mountain Ropeway official website.
Enjoy a romantic date with the illuminated wintersweet. The sparkling night view of Chichibu is also a must-see.
The wintersweet illuminations began in 2020. When in full bloom, the wintersweet is beautifully illuminated, allowing you to enjoy the night view of the Chichibu region.
*For the period when the wintersweet flowers are lit up, please check the official Hodo Mountain Ropeway website for the latest information.
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Hodosan Ropeway
Operating hours: 9:40am - 5:00pm *After 10:00am, it operates every 15-30 minutes. *Operating hours may change depending on the season.
Fare: Adults 700 yen one way, 1,200 yen round trip / Children 350 yen one way, 600 yen round trip Holidays: Open all year round *Closed during the regular inspection period (2 weeks) in December every year Location: 1766-1 Nagatoro, Nagatoro-machi, Chichibu-gun, Saitama Prefecture
Access: 20 minutes on foot from Nagatoro Station on the Chichibu Railway. *A free shuttle bus runs from Nagatoro Station to the Hodosan Ropeway base station.
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Let's try hiking in low mountains in winter
If you're confident in your stamina, try hiking Mt. Hodo. It's 4 kilometers from Nagatoro Station to the summit, and takes about 80 minutes on foot.
*If the trails freeze over, you may need to bring light crampons. Please check the weather and road conditions in Nagatoro Town before heading out.
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Hodo Mountain Wintersweet Garden
Location: Nagatoromachi, Chichibu District, Saitama Prefecture Best time to see: Mid-January to late February *Blooming conditions may vary depending on weather conditions.
Access: 20 minutes on foot from Nagatoro Station on the Chichibu Railway, 5 minutes by Hodosan Ropeway, 2 minutes on foot from the summit station
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A winter-only activity where a kotatsu is placed on a Japanese boat - Kotatsu Boat
The highlight of sightseeing in Nagatoro is the Nagatoro Line Boat Ride, which is only open from early March to early December.
However, in January and February every year, "Kotatsu Boats" are operated, where Japanese boats are equipped with traditional Japanese "Kotatsu" tables and passengers can stay warm while traveling down the river .
Kotatsu is a heating device that has been deeply rooted in Japanese life for a long time. Currently, most kotatsu are heated by electricity. On the Kotatsu Boat, we have a traditional kotatsu that uses charcoal briquettes, which will warm you up slowly and gently.
In winter, the water level of the river is low, so Japanese-style boats cannot go down the river. Therefore, the Kotatsu Boat operates a course that takes you around the rock formations of Nagatoro, a nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty and Natural Monument. The river around the rock formations is a place called "Toroba," where the water is deep and the current is gentle. The Japanese-style boat slowly sails around the area for 20 minutes. You can view the strange rock formations created by the power of nature, such as the rock formations that are the tourist highlight of Nagatoro, and the red rock cliffs of Chichibu Sekibeki.
In winter, the Nagatoro Gorge has a gentle current and a sparkling emerald green river surface. It is also characterized by a silence so quiet that only the sounds of the boatman plowing through the water and the chirping of the birds stand out.
Don't be disappointed if the Japanese boats can't go down the river. You can still enjoy the winter nature of Nagatoro while staying warm on the "Kotatsu Boat."
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Warm Kotatsu Boat
Operating period: January and February only Operating hours: 10:00am - 2:30pm *Japanese boats operate every 5-20 minutes during operating hours. *May be canceled due to weather conditions, etc. Location: 489-2 Nagatoro, Nagatoro-machi, Chichibu-gun, Saitama Prefecture
Access: 1 minute walk from Nagatoro Station Inquiries: Nagatoro Line Boat Cruise Headquarters 0494-66-0950 (9:00 am to 5:00 pm)
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Mosaic art using only pink - Umehyakukaen
Ume Hyakukaen, located in front of the Hodo Ropeway summit station, began planting plum trees in 1986. Currently, it is home to about 170 varieties of plum, including early-blooming plums, famous flowers, and rare flowers, making it the plum garden with the most varieties in the Kanto region.
During the plum blossom season, the plum blossoms decorate the southern slope of Mt. Hodo like a mosaic art.
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Ume Hyakukaen
Location: Nagatoromachi, Chichibu District, Saitama Prefecture Best time to see: Late February to mid-March *Blooming conditions may vary depending on weather conditions.
Access: 20 minutes on foot from Nagatoro Station on the Chichibu Railway, 5 minutes by Hodosan Ropeway, 2 minutes on foot from the summit station
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Once a year, greet the first dawn on Mt. Hodo - Hatsuhinode viewing
It is a Japanese custom to watch the first sunrise of the month on the morning of January 1. In Japan, watching the sunrise on January 1 marks the start of the new year with a quiet and pure feeling.
Why not see this Japanese custom, the first sunrise, on Mt. Hodo?
The Hodosan Ropeway will operate a special early morning service on January 1st called the "First Sunrise Viewing Service" so that passengers can see the first sunrise from Mt. Hodo.
Mt. Hodo is written in kanji as "mountain climbing treasure" and is a very auspicious mountain. Let's get some power for the new year at Mt. Hodo.
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Hodosan Ropeway First Sunrise Viewing Tour
The ropeway operates from 6:00 AM on January 1st every year.
*Please check the official Hodosan Ropeway website for information on the 2025 event schedule.
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Let's try the traditional winter cuisine of the Chichibu region - Okkirikomi Udon
"Okkirikomi Udon" is a local Chichibu dish, a warm and comforting noodle dish.
Its characteristic is that the noodles are thicker and flatter than udon, and have a chewy and elastic texture. They mix well with the soup, making them satisfying to eat. The ingredients include tenderly stewed pork and vegetables. The flavors of each ingredient blend into the soup, giving it a deeper flavor.
Okkirikomi udon is a perfect dish for the cold season as it warms both the body and soul.
Garden House Yurin's "Okkirikomi Udon" has a miso-based soup base, and is topped with plenty of winter vegetables such as daikon radish and Chinese cabbage, with yuzu added as an accent.
A special sight to see on a snowy day
Snowfall is observed several times a year in the Chichibu region. The scenery of the Nagatoro Valley, which can only be seen when snow has fallen, resembles a watercolor painting and is incredibly beautiful.
Wintersweet covered in snow is a special sight to see on a snowy day.
Things to check before visiting Nagatoro in winter
・In Nagatoro Town, mornings and evenings are very cold, and daytime temperatures will feel warmer than in Tokyo. There will be some windy days, so be sure to bring a thick outer layer, scarf, and gloves.
・The ground may freeze in winter on Mt. Hodo. Also, the ground may melt and become muddy. We recommend wearing comfortable shoes such as sneakers, or shoes that you are used to wearing.
・Some restaurants and souvenir shops in Nagatoro Town accept electronic payments, but many still require cash. We recommend that you bring as much cash as possible.
・If you need to use an ATM, the closest ATM to Nagatoro Station is the Seven-Eleven Nagatoro Iwadatami branch.
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The areas introduced this time are closest to Chichibu Railway's Nagatoro Station and Kami-Nagatoro Station. If you are traveling to the Chichibu and Nagatoro areas, please use the Chichibu Railway.
Chichibu Railway is a local private railway that boasts a total length of 71.7 km that crosses northern Saitama Prefecture from east to west. The line is dotted with tourist spots such as Chichibu, Nagatoro, Yorii, Fukaya, Gyoda, and Hanyu, and is a line that allows you to travel through areas rich in nature. You can enjoy seasonal scenery such as rural landscapes and the valleys along the Arakawa River. Various tourist businesses are also operated along the line, such as the steam locomotive "SL Paleo Express" which is the closest to the city center and the "Nagatoro Line Kudari".
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