【Best viewing in November】Famous autumn foliage spot! A drive to investigate the coloring of Nakatsusawa in Okuchichibu, Saitama Prefecture

There are many spots around the area welcoming autumn leaves, but I was curious about how much the Chichibu area, which I love, is coloring up, so I went on an investigation drive.

The autumn foliage survey route goes through the Otaki Tunnel and aims for Nakatsu Gorge

This time, the route passes through the Otaki Tunnel, which was temporarily opened to bypass the road closure section due to falling rocks on National Route 140 in Saitama Prefecture, heading towards the Otaki Onsen roadside station and then to Nakatsu Gorge. From there, we will turn back and stop by the Arakawa roadside station on the way home.

Heading to the 奥秩父 (Okuchichibu), which is expected to be at its best for autumn foliage

Although it was still late October this day, we head towards Okuchichibu, which is soon expected to be at its best for autumn leaves. First, the plan is to pass through the temporarily opened Otaki Tunnel and then stop by the Otaki Onsen roadside station for a meal.

After going through the tunnel and turning left, there is the roadside station. Before the falling rocks on National Route 140, it was located on the main route for people coming from the Tokyo area, but now it has become a place that is only reachable by going in the opposite direction of travel. Additionally, it is important to note that the tunnel is essentially not accessible to anyone other than vehicles.

The roadside station has convenience stores, dining halls, and hot springs, making it a valuable resting spot in this area where there are few places to eat. It might be nice to relax and wash away your sweat in the hot springs for purposes other than dining.

I had tempura udon for lunch. The large tempura and the rich broth really matched well, making it very delicious. The fact that you can also enjoy the autumn leaves from the terrace seating is another attractive point, isn't it?

Now that I've finished eating, I'm off to Nakatsu-bekko. Thank you for the meal.

Heading to the famous autumn leaves spot, Nakatsu-bekko

I’m driving across the stunning Raiden Tsuujukibashi bridge on my way to Nakatsu-bekko. At this point, the elevation is getting higher, so I can see some trees starting to change color here and there. It looks like this area will also have beautiful autumn leaves in November.

I have arrived at Nakatsu-bekko. The trees are starting to change color, but it still seems like there's more to come. Mid-November is likely to be the peak. Even though it’s before the peak, the lush cliffs filled with trees are spread out all around, and once they are fully colored, it will be an impressive sight. I feel like I caught a glimpse of what makes this place a renowned autumn leaves spot.

After a while, I came across a shop selling "wild boar soup." I don’t remember seeing it when I came to this area in the summer, but perhaps it only operates during this season. I wanted to try the wild boar soup, but I had just eaten tempura udon and was full, what a pity.

As I headed towards the tourist toilet located behind the shop, I saw a poster for the "Okuchichibu Ootaki Autumn Leaf Festival." The event will take place on November 1, 2, 8, and 9, 2025, from 10:00 to 15:00, at the roadside station Ootaki Onsen that I visited earlier. It seems the region will also hold events and is getting lively with the autumn leaves.

Further along, I encountered a fork in the road with a traffic restriction sign, indicating that this is the turnaround point (endpoint) for this time.

On the left side is the road to Nakatsukawa Forest Road, but beyond the campsite, it is closed to traffic. The right side, where a mining site is located, was also closed due to tunnel repair work.

Lastly, I decided to finish off with soft serve ice cream.

Returning along the path I came, I decided to end with a Mont Blanc soft serve from the roadside station Arakawa, which I have been visiting frequently lately. Although it was an investigation before the peak of autumn leaves, it turned out to be a very enjoyable drive. It is expected that the deeper regions of Okuchichibu will become even more vibrant with autumn colors. If you want to see beautiful scenery, why not extend your trip to Chichibu?

Reported and written by / Kazuma Tanaka

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