Nagatoro
Nagatoro, A Stretch Of The Arakawa River In Saitama Where Rock Banks Of Green Schist Narrow Into A Gorge, Run By Flat Bottomed Boats That Shoot Short Rapids, With A Riverside Walk And A Shrine. A Day Trip From Tokyo In Summer And Autumn. · Nagatoro, Saitama
Nagatoro is a stretch of the Arakawa river in Chichibu, western Saitama, where the water runs between banks of green schist rock. The flat slabs along the shore are often called Iwadatami, rock tatami - confirm the name. The main draw is the river-boat ride, a flat-bottomed wooden boat steered by boatmen with long poles that drifts downstream for about an hour and shoots a few small rapids. It runs for much of the year, with a heated kotatsu boat in winter - confirm the season. Rafting is also offered in the warm months - confirm. On land you can walk the rocky bank near the station, climb to a small shrine, and eat shaved ice made from natural ice in summer, a Chichibu speciality often described as soft and slow to melt. It suits people from Tokyo who want a cool, green day out by local train. It is a half-day place, pleasant but small, and not worth a long detour on its own. Weekends in autumn colour are crowded.
Nagatoro, Chichibu District, Saitama, a short walk from Nagatoro Station on the Chichibu Railway, Nagatoro, Saitama, Japan
The riverbank and walking paths are open at all hours and free. Boat rides run in daytime only, commonly from about 9:00 to late afternoon, with the last departure well before dusk and a break or reduced service in the coldest weeks and after heavy rain - confirm the season and times with the boat company. Reach Nagatoro by the Chichibu Railway from Hanyu, or from Seibu-Chichibu in the south, which links to Ikebukuro by Seibu line - confirm routes. IC cards may not work on the Chichibu Railway, so bring cash. Weekday boats rarely need booking; weekends in autumn do.