Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day (あの日見た花の名前を僕達はまだ知らない。) is one of the most emotionally resonant anime of the 2010s, and its setting — the mountain-ringed city of Chichibu, Saitama — is drawn with enough care that fans have been visiting ever since the series aired in 2011. Unlike faster-paced action pilgrimages, an Anohana trip rewards a slower, quieter pace through a genuinely beautiful part of rural Saitama.
Quick Facts
| Series | Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day (2011) |
| Studio | A-1 Pictures |
| Setting | Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture |
| Key Locations | Chichibu Shrine · Seibu-Chichibu Station · Hitsujiyama Park |
| Best Season | Early April (shibazakura in bloom) or early December (Chichibu Night Festival) |
| Trip Duration | 1 day trip from Tokyo |
1. Chichibu Shrine (秩父神社)
Chichibu Shrine is one of the city’s spiritual anchors and a recurring location throughout the series. It’s also the home of the Chichibu Yomatsuri (Chichibu Night Festival), the dramatic winter festival referenced in the show’s emotional final arc — one of Japan’s three great float festivals, held every December 2–3.
- Hours: Grounds open 24 hours
- Entry: Free
- Access: 15-minute walk from Seibu-Chichibu Station
Chichibu Night Festival (秩父夜祭)
If you can time a visit for early December, the night festival is spectacular — enormous illuminated floats (yatai and kasaboko) are pulled through the streets accompanied by fireworks. It’s the real-world counterpart to the festival scene that closes out Anohana’s story.
2. Seibu-Chichibu Station & the Old Town
Seibu-Chichibu Station is the natural arrival point for most visitors and sits at the edge of Chichibu’s old town — narrow streets, traditional shopfronts, and the kind of unhurried rural-Japan atmosphere that gives the series its wistful tone.
- Nearby: Chichibu’s covered shopping arcade, local sake breweries, soba restaurants
Hitsujiyama Park (羊山公園)
A short walk from the old town, Hitsujiyama Park is famous for its shibazakura (moss phlox) hill, which blazes pink and purple every April. It isn’t a specific plot location, but it’s become an essential stop for fans making the trip and offers sweeping views over the town and surrounding mountains.
- Best time: Mid-April to early May for peak bloom
- Entry: Small fee during shibazakura season; otherwise free
3. The Arakawa River & SL Paleo Express
The Arakawa River cuts through Chichibu, and the vintage steam locomotive SL Paleo Express still runs along it — a scenic ride that captures the same mountain-valley setting woven throughout the series’ quieter moments.
Getting There
- From Tokyo (Ikebukuro): Seibu Railway Red Arrow limited express directly to Seibu-Chichibu Station (~1 hr 20 min)
- From Tokyo (via JR): JR to Kumagaya or Hanno, then transfer to the Chichibu Railway
- Within Chichibu: The old town, shrine, and station are all walkable; Hitsujiyama Park is a 20-minute walk from the station
FAQ
Q: Is there a real “secret base” like in the show? No single confirmed location — it’s understood to be a composite of Chichibu’s rural mountain scenery rather than one exact spot, so most fans focus on the shrine, station, and old town instead.
Q: What’s the best time of year to visit? Early April for the shibazakura at Hitsujiyama Park, or early December for the Chichibu Night Festival — both offer a striking backdrop that matches the series’ emotional tone.
Q: Can this be combined with other day trips from Tokyo? Yes — Chichibu is often paired with nearby Nagatoro for river rafting, or visited as a standalone relaxed day trip from Ikebukuro.