【Onsen Shokudo】Driving to Ohtaki Onsen in Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture, completely satisfied with “Pork Miso Bowl” and “Blueberry Soft Serve”

I took a drive to Chichibu in my Jimny. I enjoyed the local gourmet at Ohtaki Onsen along the gorge. On the way back, I also enjoyed the exquisite soft serve at the roadside station Arakawa.

The onsen cafeteria is a hidden spot where you can enjoy local gourmet food leisurely

Basically, onsen cafeterias are only frequented by onsen guests, making them less crowded, allowing you to enjoy unique local gourmet dishes and simple flavors. In fact, I am not good at dining in crowded places. I really appreciate that at a cafeteria attached to a day-use onsen, I can enjoy my meal without feeling cramped.

Popular among drivers and touring guests, "Otaki Onsen" in Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture

I have come to the Otaki Onsen Yuyukan in Chichibu City. This onsen has a weak alkaline quality and offers a great atmosphere where you can bathe while looking at the Arakawa River flowing nearby. Since it's on the way to the popular spot, Mitsumine Shrine, it has become a favored onsen among drivers and touring guests.

Pork miso bowl at the Gojikan attached to the onsen

I ordered a pork miso bowl at the dining establishment, Gojikan, which is located nearby. There was a long line of customers at a shop in the city that I happened to pass by, and the pork miso bowl is known as a popular gourmet dish for tourists visiting Chichibu. I will enjoy it right away while gazing at the scenery of the valley.

The fragrant grilled pork is tender and juicy, with a sweet and spicy miso flavor that goes well with rice! The bowl, which looked small, is generously filled with rice, providing more volume than it appears.

The side dishes and miso soup are also delicious and further enhance the main miso pork bowl. I slurp up the bowl while washing it down with the flavorful miso soup, which turned out to be a very satisfying hot spring gourmet experience.

After finishing my meal, I came to the Oichikawa Valley, a tributary of the Arakawa, to explore the nearby forest roads. Beside the overgrown forest road, there are steep rock formations carved by the flowing water, showcasing the unique scenery of the Oku-Chichibu nature.

On the way back, I encountered an overpass that goes under the Chichibu Railway tracks. The tracks are laid directly on top of the steel framework, a structure that is typical of local railways. The road under the bridge is curved and very narrow, leading to a steep slope, and I was glad to be riding in a compact Jimny at that moment.

The exquisite blueberry soft serve is a must-try

I also stopped by the roadside station Arakawa along the way back. It is a peaceful roadside station built along the Chichibu Railway tracks, surrounded by fields and mountains. The reason I made a special trip here was because I was attracted by the banner that said "Blueberry Soft Serve" along the way.

At the restaurant Suzuhiro-an, which is attached to the roadside station, I found the soft serve I was looking for. The soft serve looks very rich, and this time I chose the mix. I learned that the blueberries are newly harvested, and it's my first time eating them fresh.

As soon as I took a bite, the aroma of the blueberry sauce spread, and biting into the fruit gave me a popping texture and juice to enjoy! I never expected to enjoy such a quality dessert at a spot I just stumbled upon. I definitely want to stop by again next time.

The soft serve using fresh fruits also includes flavors like strawberry and kiwi besides blueberry. Perhaps because they are made with fresh produce, they are only available for a limited time, so it seems better to visit during the peak season.

The restaurant was bustling with many customers, and the food menu also seemed popular.

In Chichibu, which I casually headed to, there are many spots worth stopping by, and I was able to encounter natural landscapes and restaurants that I had never known before. In particular, the Okuchichibu area has places that I have not yet visited, and I feel the charm of the land, so I want to drive back to explore Okuchichibu again.

Interview and text / Kazuma Tanaka

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