Saitama Prefecture offers tourist attractions such as Saitama Super Arena, Onuma Park, and Mt. Mitake; sightseeing events such as the Tatara Festival, Chichibu Night Festival, and Kawagoe Festival; and local delicacies such as Botan-nabe, Gojabo, and Tenranzan.
Saitama Prefecture is a sea-less prefecture located in the center of the Kanto region. Bordering Tokyo, the prefecture is convenient for commuting, making it a bedroom community for Tokyo. Saitama Prefecture is located in the Kanto Plain, which has a lot of flat land, and as a result, agriculture is flourishing in the prefecture, and the production of vegetables such as leeks and broccoli is among the top five in Japan.
Saitama Prefecture includes famous tourist and event facilities such as Saitama Super Arena, Sonic City, Seibuen Yuenchi, Totoro no Mori, Railway Museum, Tokorozawa Aviation Museum, Saitama City Omiya Park Soccer Ground, John Lennon Museum, and Kawaguchi Municipal Green Center.
Therefore, many people may visit Saitama Prefecture for concerts and other events or to watch sports games. The prefecture is also home to some of Japan's largest eco-friendly shopping centers, such as AEON Lake Town, which is very crowded on weekends.
Saitama Prefecture is located in the Kanto Plain, so there are no high mountains. Okuchichichibu is rich in nature, and visitors can enjoy the scenery of the four seasons, such as the line rafting and the famous "Sanjuchizuchi no Hyobashira" (icicles of Sanjuchizuchi) in winter.
Okuchichichibu is a tourist resort area with sightseeing and camping facilities that make the most of nature, and is only an hour and a half away from central Tokyo, where you can enjoy forest bathing.
Saitama Prefecture is also home to several hot spring resorts, including Kogano Onsen Dairyuji Onsen and Chichibu Onsen. Chichibu Onsen, in particular, has been a popular hot spring resort for people visiting Kannon Sacred Sites since the Edo period (1603-1868). Chichibu Onsen is a hot spring resort surrounded by mountains, where visitors can relax and soak in the hot springs while enjoying the natural scenery and relieving daily fatigue.
Saitama Prefecture is home to specialty products such as Fukaya green onions, Soka rice crackers, and Chichibu soba noodles, which many people have probably tasted before. Akagi Milk Industry Co., Ltd. which manufactures ice cream and Garigarikun is headquartered in Saitama Prefecture and offers factory tours, which attract many people, including Garigarikun fans.
Saitama Prefecture also hosts the 11th "Saitama B-Grade Gourmet Championship," which attracts many B-class gourmet fans.
The wooden bell tower is located about 300 meters northeast of Sengyo-kan, and was built in 1671 by Masaharu Abe, the lord of the castle, to announce the time. The bell is 182 cm tall, 76 cm in diameter, and weighs 750 kg, and is said to contain 20 large oval gold oval sheets. Since its construction, the bell has been ringing a clear tone at 6:00, noon, 15:00, and 18:00, except during the turbule...»
Misotsuchi no Tsurara is an ice art created by freezing water from the rocks, and is a famous winter scenic spot in Okuchichibu.It is a famous winter scenic spot in Okuchichibu. As the weather gets colder, the icicles gradually reveal themselves. When the ice is lit up, the scene is fantastic and romantic.The best time to see the icicles is from late January to mid-February, depending on the temp...»
Mimine Shrine is said to have been built during the eastern expedition of Takemikoto. It once flourished as a training center for mountain priests and is still an object of worship for the Mimine Ko. Recently, the shrine has been attracting attention as a power spot, and is especially known as a shrine for marriage. This shrine is one of the Chichibu Sanja (three shrines) along with Chichibu Shr...»
Koedo Kurari is a renovated facility that utilizes the buildings of the former Kagamiyama Sake Brewery, which was founded in 1875 (Meiji 8), while preserving the atmosphere of the time. The brewery, which was built between the Meiji and Showa eras, has been reused and is designated as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan. It has three warehouses: "Souvenir Shop (Meiji warehouse)," "Makanai (Tais...»
Kawagoe Castle was built in 1457 by Mochitomo Uesugi of Ougitani, who ordered Michizane Ota and his son Michikan to build the castle. The main hall of Kawagoe Castle was built in 1848 by Matsudaira Natsunori, the feudal lord of Kawagoe at the time, and the entrance and hall still retain the appearance of those days. In addition, the ruins of the Fujimi-yagura (viewing tower), earthen mounds, and ...»
The Echise Bairin is one of the most famous plum groves in the Kanto region. It is located across the Echibe River from the Umezono Shrine, and approximately 1,000 plum trees are planted on an area of about 2 hectares. Most of these plum trees were planted after World War II, but some of the oldest trees are more than 600 years old and attract people's attention. The Ume Festival is held from mid...»
The Urayama Dam is a dam opened in the area where the Urayama River is impounded, and the surrounding area has been developed. This dam is the second highest gravity concrete dam in Japan, standing at 156 meters. To give visitors an overview of the dam, an elevator with a height difference of 132 meters and the Urayama Dam Museum are also available. The Urayama Dam is one of the tallest dams in J...»
Located on rolling hills, the facility features approximately 450 herbivorous animals of about 40 species, including ponies, horses, rabbits, chickens, and sheep. Here, children can enjoy and learn while interacting with the animals. There is a horseback riding area, a dairy cow area where visitors can try milking cows, and even a dinosaur area and koala exhibit. The zoo is the largest zoo in Sa...»
Inside the building shaped like a jet engine, the museum displays aircraft and helicopters that were actually used, including the first successful domestically produced aircraft, Kai-shiki No. 1. In addition, there is a large video hall showing model animations and the Tokorozawa Memorial Gallery, which introduces the history of Tokorozawa and its role as the birthplace of aviation. Japan's firs...»
The Chichibu Night Festival is the theme of the exhibition, which includes displays of yatai and kasaboko floats, a projection corner, and an exhibition of materials related to the Night Festival. On holidays during the spring and fall tourist seasons, visitors can also enjoy powerful performances of actual Chichibu yatai music. At the Chichibu Matsuri Kaikan, the Kasaboko/Yatai Corner on the fi...»
The exhibits on nature are explained in an easy-to-understand manner using many materials such as fossils, rocks, animals, and plants. The skeletal reconstruction model of a fossil animal called "paleoparadoxia" is especially popular. In addition, for the visually impaired, there is a corner with stuffed animals that can be touched by hands. Also on display are the world's first reconstructed bi...»
Chichibu Shrine is the head shrine of the Chichibu region and is an ancient shrine with a history of 2000 years. The shrine is known for its sculptures by Jingoro Left, especially famous for his sculptures of "Tsunagi no Ryu" and "Kosodate no Tora" (a tiger raising a child). The shrine pavilions were rebuilt by Tokugawa Ieyasu in the Gongen-zukuri style, combining the main hall, the hall of offer...»
The Chichibu Yomatsuri is one of the three major Hikiyama festivals in Japan, along with the Gion Festival in Kyoto and the Takayama Festival in Gifu. The festival lasts for two days, the second day being the Yoi (waiting time) and the third day the main festival. The float pulling begins in the afternoon of the second day and continues into the morning of the third day. In the afternoon of the t...»
Washinomiya Shrine, the oldest large shrine in the Kanto region and the headquarters of the rooster, is often mentioned in the Azuma Kagami, a history book written in the Kamakura period (1185-1333), and was deeply respected by the warriors of the Kanto region. In the Kamakura period (1185-1333), the shrine was rebuilt by the shogunate, and in the Edo period (1603-1867), the Tokugawa shoguns dona...»
The townscape, known as Ichibangai, is lined with buildings built in the kurazukuri style, a style of architecture that adds to the charm of the town. The kura-zukuri is an elaborate fireproof construction to prevent similar fires, and was developed as the machiya style in the Edo period (1603-1867). Known as "Little Edo," it retains the atmosphere of a castle town, and is characterized by its wa...»
This is a beautiful scenic spot where the Arakawa River flows. In this area, rock terraces stretching 5 km long look as if they are covered with tatami mats. These rocks are called "Nagatoro-shiki metamorphic rocks" and are among the oldest rocks in Japan. This rock provides important information about the history of the earth and the formation of Japan, and is the subject of much research. In 1...»
Hikawa Shrine is worshipped as the chief guardian of Kawagoe. It is said to have been founded in the Kofun period (541), and construction of the current main shrine, built in 1842, began with beautiful carvings. Ota Michikan, a military commander in the late Muromachi Period (15th century) who built Edo Castle and Kawagoe Castle, revered the shrine and since then it has been regarded as the gener...»
Tobu Zoo is one of the largest leisure land complexes in the Kanto region, combining a zoo and an amusement park on a vast site covering a total area of 61 hectares. Visitors can meet approximately 1,200 animals of about 120 species. In the zoo, visitors are welcomed by a variety of animals, including the powerful white tigers. There will also be plenty of animal interaction and events. The zoo ...»
Moomin Valley Park is a theme park where you can enjoy the Moomin stories. This is the only Moomin theme park outside of Finland. The Moomin Valley Park is located in Metsä, a cozy and relaxing facility in a vast area (equivalent to four times the size of the Tokyo Dome) in the lush nature around Lake Miyazawa, as if it were floating in Northern Europe. Metsä has two areas: Moomin valley park, a...»
Saitama Breedstock Ranch Saiboku is known as a "theme park for pigs" with a theme of pork and health, and is a popular spot visited by 4 million people a year. The park has a meat store that sells meat and sausage directly from the farm, as well as restaurants, cafes, athletic facilities, park golf, and natural hot springs where visitors can enjoy a variety of pork dishes. It is also a new type ...»
Hikawa Shrine, one of the oldest shrines in Japan and the origin of the name of Omiya, is said to have a history of more than 2,000 years. It is the headquarters of some 280 Hikawa Shrines in Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture. It is also called "Omiya Hikawa Shrine" to distinguish it from other Hikawa shrines. As the first shrine in Musashi Province, it is worshipped throughout the Kanto region and a...»
This is the largest ice cream production plant in Japan. It manufactures up to 3 million bottles of "Garigarikun" a day. At this factory, visitors can see how "Garigarikun" is made and delivered to everyone's hands. The factory not only makes ice cream, but also focuses on hygiene management based on the concept of "5S" (seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu, seiketsu, and shitsuke). This approach, whi...»
Kashiya Yokocho is lined with candy stores that have preserved the simple, old-fashioned taste of sweets, making it a charming tourist attraction with the aroma of nostalgic sweets. There are numerous candy confections that bring back fond memories, such as the savory smell of burning soy sauce, Nikki and Hakka candies, dagashi, dango (dumplings), and other candy confections made using old-fashio...»
The area is lined with old American one-story houses called "U.S. Army Houses" and new modern low-rise houses called "Heisei Houses" that were once used by people working on the Johnson Air Force Base. You can enjoy the American atmosphere within an hour from the city center. The city is small and can be circled in 30 minutes, but American stores are everywhere. About 50 general stores, cafes, a...»
The museum is divided into two areas: the History Zone and the Learning Zone. In the History Zone, actual rolling stock is on display, and the history of railroad technology is explained in an easy-to-understand manner. The Learning Zone, on the other hand, allows visitors to learn about the principles and mechanisms of railroads through hands-on experience using actual parts and models. The muse...»
Seikeien is a famous garden known for its kaiyushiki style garden. This beautiful garden is centered around the "Tamano-ike" pond, which is the source of the Hoshi River that flows through Kumagaya City. The garden was laid out by Takei Jonyo, who was the head innkeeper of Kumagaya-juku from the Keio period to the first year of Meiji (1868-1912), who built a villa around the pond, planted trees a...»
Soka Matsubara is a 1.5-kilometer stretch of pine trees along the Ayase River from Shinmei 2-chome to the southern end of Asahi-cho 1-chome on the old Nikko Kaido (now Adachi-Koshigaya Line prefectural road). This beautiful row of pine trees has been known as "Senbon Matsubara" since the Edo period (1603-1867), when the overgrown trees created a tunnel-like green landscape and became a famous roa...»
Glicopia East is a fun-filled factory tour facility with many unique tricks, offering a variety of experiences for both children and adults. At "Wakuwaku Factory Glicopia East," you can see, learn, and enjoy the world of confectionaries. Advance reservations are required. Visitors can observe the manufacturing process of Pocky and Plitz up close, and learn about chocolate in a fun way. There is...»
Shimada Bridge, a sunken bridge 77 meters long and 3 meters wide, is located on the Echibe River between Shimada, Sakado City and Miyahana, Higashimatsuyama City. This bridge was the location of the Kawagoe-Kodama Oukan during the Edo period and was passed by ferry (Shimada no Ferry). In the Meiji period (1868-1912), a wooden bridge was built, and the present bridge is also made of wood. For thi...»
This leisure land is surrounded by beautiful nature near Lake Tama and Lake Sayama. Here, visitors can enjoy a variety of activities, including more than 20 types of rides and a swimming pool in summer. Especially on summer Saturdays and Sundays, visitors can enjoy fireworks, beer gardens, and other activities well into the night. Experiences and attractions filled with the enthusiasm of the Sho...»
The museum introduces mainly bonsai, but also bonsai vessels, suiseki, paintings, and historical materials. The collection exhibited here is explained from various angles, including bonsai, trayware, suiseki, paintings, and historical and folklore materials, in order to convey the beauty and artistry of bonsai. In the Collection Gallery, explanatory panels on bonsai are displayed along with a pr...»
Located on the east side of Chichibu City, Hitsujiyama Park is part of the Prefectural Mukou Nature Park. This park is surrounded by nature and is a popular place for citizens to relax. While visitors can enjoy the scenery of each of the four seasons, the springtime lawn cherry blossoms in particular attract people. Hitsuyama Park is also known as the park designed by Dr. Seiroku Honda. Dr. Seiro...»
The National Musashi Hills Forest Park is a vast park where visitors can enjoy the scenery and plants of the four seasons. The park boasts an area approximately 65 times the size of Tokyo Dome, and has 24 athletic facilities, a giant air trampoline, a seasonal water playground, and many other playground equipment that allow visitors to exercise their bodies to the fullest. A dog run is also very p...»
Kinchada was formed by the meandering of the Koraigawa River that flows through Hidaka City and is called Kinchada because of its shape similar to a kinchada. Locals also call it "Kawarada. It is said that in the 8th century, people from the Koguryo Kingdom moved into this area and began rice cultivation by cultivating fields using the curved Koryo River. This area is a flat plain about 500 mete...»
This is a cultural complex facility based on a completely new concept that combines a library, an art museum, and a museum, and is a landmark of Tokorozawa Sakura Town. It is a one-of-a-kind museum that reorganizes knowledge across genres such as art, literature, and natural history. The Kadokawa Musashino Museum is a cultural complex that combines a library, museum, and art museum. The five-stor...»
Tokorozawa Sakura Town is a large complex where visitors can enjoy various aspects of Japanese culture. There are museums, restaurants, bookstores, shrines, and more. Of particular note is the Kadokawa Musashino Museum. Here, a library, art museum, and museum are combined into one. There is also a permanent exhibition, "TeamLab: Life in Response to Acorn Woods," a light art space that can be enjo...»
This shrine was built in Tokorozawa Sakura Town. Kengo Kuma was in charge of the architectural design, and the shrine was named by Susumu Nakanishi, a scholar of Japanese literature known for naming the Japanese era "2025. The official reading of Musashino Reiwa Shrine is "Musashino-no-Masuwashiki Yamato no Miyashiro," commonly known as "Musashino Reiwa Shrine. The name "Uruwashiki Yamato" is an...»
The EJ Anime Museum introduces Japan's world-class anime culture from a unique perspective. EJ" is an abbreviation for "Entertainment Japan," and the museum takes a unique perspective on Japan's world-class anime culture and the many creative works that have been produced and spread as well as the entertainment that surrounds anime. The museum introduces the many creative works that have been cre...»
Located in the lush green Kita-Urawa Park, the Museum of Modern Art, Saitama is a comprehensive art museum based on the concept of "seeing, creating, and presenting", and its grid-based building has excellent formative qualities. In addition to artists associated with Saitama, the museum houses many contemporary art works from Japan and abroad. The museum exhibits a collection of outstanding work...»
It is said that around 1478, local father and son Narita Masato and Akiyasu destroyed the Oshi clan and built Oshijo Castle. At first, the castle belonged to the Ougitani Uesugi family, but they reconciled the following year and the Narita clan took possession of the castle. As the Hojo clan grew in power in the Kanto region, the Narita clan rebelled against them. In 1559, when Kenshin Uesugi mad...»
Kawagoe Suijo Koen is a year-round recreation spot where visitors can enjoy various seasonal pleasures such as cherry blossom viewing in spring, a variety of swimming pools including the prefecture's largest tube slide and running water pool in summer, autumn leaves and higanbana in fall, and pool fishing in winter. In spring, someiyoshino cherry trees and double-flowered cherry trees are in full...»
A hot spring inn with a history of more than 200 years, this hot spring is known as "Mishiro no Yu" (hot spring for the generations). It is the oldest inn among the seven Chichibu hot springs. Founded in 1827, it was known as the inn in front of Kinshoji Temple, the fourth of Chichibu's sacred places of worship, and prospered as an inn for pilgrims. Until the Taisho era (1912-1926), it was gener...»
The ancient lotus pond and ancient lotus garden are located here, and from mid-June to early August, 120,000 lotus flowers of 42 kinds bloom, covering the entire lotus pond with beautiful lotus flowers. The Gyoda lotus (ancient lotus) has a primitive form said to be about 1,400 to 3,000 years old, and the best time to see the lotus flowers is in the morning. Visitors can enjoy the fragrance and ...»
Located in the Nagaone Hills, this vast site covers approximately 375 hectares and consists of three zones: the Cultural Forest Zone, the Music Forest Zone, and the Sports Forest Zone. These zones are connected by the approximately 3-kilometer-long "Sky Road. Sky Road is a large promenade that stretches across the park and is ideal for strolling and cycling. There is also a train-type mobile amus...»