Japan

Seibu Laview: Ikebukuro to Chichibu

Kazuyo Sejima's round-nosed limited express out of Tokyo into the Chichibu hills

Tokyo→Chichibu

1h 23m aboard

Reservation required

Tickets and booking

The curved glass nose of a Seibu 001 series Laview standing at Seibu-Chichibu with a Chichibu headboard.

Photo: 江戸村のとくぞう · CC BY-SA 4.0

Image source

Why this journey

Kazuyo Sejima designed a commuter limited express as if it were a building: a three-dimensional curved glass nose, an aluminium body finished to reflect the city, and side windows dropped almost to floor height so that you sit inside the view rather than looking through a slot.

Route and highlights

Japan · Approximate route through recorded stops · not exact railway tracks

Laview is Seibu's 001-series limited express.

On the Chichibu-go service it runs from Ikebukuro in Tokyo to Seibu-Chichibu via Tokorozawa, Iruma-shi, Hannō and Yokoze; the shorter Musashi-go turns back at Hannō.

The yellow seats are visible from the platform before you board, which tells you how much glass there is.

The run itself is a real transition; out of Ikebukuro through the western suburbs, then past Hannō the line climbs into the Chichibu hills towards Yokose and Seibu-Chichibu, the base for Mitsumine shrine and the Chichibu Night Festival. It takes under an hour and a half and costs a reserved-seat supplement of ¥900, which makes it one of the cheapest genuinely designed trains anywhere.

IkebukuroJapan
TokorozawaJapan
Iruma-shiJapan
HannōJapan
YokozeJapan
Seibu-ChichibuJapan

A Seibu 001 series Laview at Ikebukuro, its yellow seats visible through the floor-deep side windows.
Photo: choo chin nian · CC BY-SA 2.0
Image source

When to go

Season and timing

JanGood
FebGood
MarGood
AprGood
MayBest
JunRainy season
JulGood
AugGood
SepBest
OctBest
NovGood
DecGood

Best
Good
Rainy season

Best: May · Sep · Oct
Good: Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · Jul · Aug · Nov · Dec

All year: Runs year-round as a scheduled limited express. Chichibu-go services run through to Seibu-Chichibu; Musashi-go services terminate at Hannō.

Jan: Cold mountain scenery; snow is possible.
Feb: Winter landscapes with gradually longer daylight.
Mar: Snow may remain at higher elevations.
Apr: Valley spring can contrast with colder slopes.
May: Fresh greenery and milder days.
Jun: Rain and low cloud can obscure mountain views.
Jul: Summer greenery; mountains can be cooler than lowlands.
Aug: Summer weather varies with altitude; storms remain possible.
Sep: Cooler mountain days and the first autumn changes.
Oct: Autumn colour develops at different elevations.
Nov: Late autumn; cold weather can return to high sections.
Dec: Short daylight and wintry mountain conditions.

Before you book

Who it suits

Good fit for

Budget travellers
Unusually good value for the distance and the scenery covered.
Rail enthusiasts
The train and the line itself are a large part of the reason to travel.
Families
Short enough, frequent enough or engaging enough to work with children.

Booking

Seibu publishes a limited-express fare of ¥900 for Ikebukuro to Seibu-Chichibu on top of the ordinary fare.

Reservation: Required

Reserved seats are sold through Seibu's Smooz ticketing app, at station ticket machines and at ticket windows.
Same-day seats are usually available outside festival weekends.

Check availability with Seibu Railway Compare similar journeys