A quiet suburb of Tokyo, Chichibu is nestled into the river terraces and mountain ranges of western Saitama. A hiker’s paradise, Chichibu is known as big nature and small town. The kind of place that shuts down on the weekends as the excitement (and the people) flock to the neon nightlife of Tokyo. It is textbook rural Japan, and nothing else…. Or is it?
As any veteran of the Tokyo commute will tell you, fast and furious—it is not. Congested streets, bloated train cars, and staggering gridlock define the experience. On top of that, Tokyo expressways come laden with expensive tolls. For driving enthusiasts, this means getting out of the city, and surprisingly—into Chichibu.
With long stretches of winding roads, few intersections, and seemingly endless green lights, the Chichibu mountain pass ways or tōge(峠) are a driver’s dream. And with less than 69,000 residents and an off-the-beaten-track reputation, this quaint suburb offers more than enough privacy. But even better is the exotic location for night driving. Shadowy peaks decorate the backdrop while the gray smears of torii gates whiz by in the dark. The atmosphere really feels like a scene from a movie. (Disclaimer: It’s not. Please drive responsibly). Like all good adrenaline rushes, Chichibu’s streets come with their fair share of lore. Legend tells of a haunted hospital nearby, plagued by the ghosts’ of drivers passed. And drivers still warn of the 'headless rider', a cautionary tale that began after a biker was decapitated while joyriding his motorcycle into a wire. (Seriously, please drive responsibly).
Upwards of 100 drivers are known to turnout on the weekends—the later, the better. But rest assured, there’s more than enough space to go around. And applications like “ハイタッチ！drive” (“High touch! drive”) make hangouts with other gearheads easy. (Because it’s always more fun in a pack). With alerts when other motorsport enthusiasts are in the area, you’ll be surprised how quickly konbini parking lots will become pit stop garages. (Just steer clear of any low-hanging wires).
Yearning for more? Check out Japan’s driving culture in popular media. The manga and subsequent anime Initial D were seminal in promoting tōge as the premier places to burn rubber. Supervised by legendary motorsport “Drift King” Keiichi Tsuchiya, the story even features Chichibu’s Shomaru pass way.
Getting there: Head for Route 299 or the Shomaru pass way in the mountains of Chichibu. They offer thrills and chills, respectively. From Tokyo, take Route 254 to either tōge. Look for the muscle cars.
