15 Charming Places to Visit in Saitama, Near Tokyo

>> 15 Charming Places to Visit in Saitama — Easy to Reach from Tokyo, with Plenty to See <<

Saitama Prefecture is a large prefecture bordering Tokyo to the north, with many interesting attractions less than an hour from Tokyo. It's a great escape from the crowded city, offering smaller towns and a more relaxed, countryside atmosphere. You can visit on a day trip, or stay overnight for an even better experience.

Let's look at 15 must-see spots in Saitama, and discover how much charm this often-overlooked prefecture has to offer.

1. Kawagoe Old Town

Kawagoe's Warehouse District is a charming and distinctive area, located about 2 kilometers north of Kawagoe Station. The main street is about 700 meters long, with narrow alleys branching off on both sides that are also worth exploring. What makes this old town so popular with visitors is that it's lined with well-preserved Edo-period buildings along both sides of the street, so well maintained that it feels like stepping back into the Edo period. This has earned the district the nickname "Koedo Kawagoe," meaning "Little Edo."

2. Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine

Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine is located in Kawagoe and is one of the most famous shrines in the area. It usually has a quiet, peaceful atmosphere. The current shrine buildings date from 1849. During annual festivals or special occasions such as New Year, however, it becomes extremely crowded, as large numbers of visitors come for the first shrine visit of the year, making it one of the busiest shrines in Japan at that time.

3. Gongendo Park

Gongendo Park is well known as a cherry blossom viewing spot in spring. Cherry trees line a long walking path, and there is also a field of nanohana (rapeseed) flowers, another symbol of Japanese spring, filling the center with bright yellow for a refreshing and uplifting sight.

4. Kumagaya Arakawa Ryokuchi Park

Kumagaya Sakura Tsutsumi is a cherry blossom viewing spot located within Kumagaya Arakawa Ryokuchi Park, a riverside park with a 2-kilometer tunnel of cherry trees near JR Kumagaya Station in Saitama. It is one of Japan's most beautiful and famous cherry blossom spots, ranked among Japan's top 100 cherry blossom viewing sites. Since it's only a 5-minute walk from the station, it's very easy to reach. The long stretch of park also offers plenty of space for viewing or holding hanami parties. There is also a night cherry blossom festival with illuminated trees, held for about two weeks from early to mid-April.

5. Hitsujiyama Park

Hitsujiyama Park is one of Saitama's landmarks, especially in spring, when its shibazakura (moss phlox) field is in bloom. The pink and white flowers create a striking contrast against the sky and mountain backdrop, covering a large area. There is also a section selling food, snacks, and souvenirs, many of which are locally made and available as limited editions for the season, such as fragrant, refreshing shibazakura-flavored drinks.

Access

The park can be reached from any of three stations — Seibu-Chichibu, Chichibu, or Yokoze — each followed by a 15–20 minute walk.

6. Pick and Eat Fresh Strawberries at a Farm

Chichibu is known for growing some of Japan's most famous strawberry varieties, having even won a top grand prix award. Strawberry picking runs from winter through spring. There are several varieties with different flavors, but most are sweet and juicy, with some having almost no tartness at all. The berries are a good size — not too big, not too small — bright red, crisp on the outside and juicy inside. They're grown organically and cleanly enough to eat straight from the plant.

7. Arakawa River Boat Rides

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Another highlight of Saitama is taking a boat ride on the Arakawa River in Nagatoro. It's especially exciting in summer when the strong current gets everyone splashed, or in autumn when the leaves turn red, orange, and yellow against the clear blue-green water.

Access

About a 10-minute walk from Nagatoro Station.

8. Cherry Blossoms Lining the Riverside Road

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One of Saitama's most popular cherry blossom spots is the riverside road in Nagatoro — a small street lined with cherry trees on both sides, with a festival selling local products held alongside it.

9. The Icicles of Misotsuchi

The Icicles of Misotsuchi, also known in Japanese as "Misotsuchi no Tsurara," is located along the Arakawa Riverbed in Chichibu, Saitama. It is one of three highlight icicle viewing spots in Chichibu and a major winter attraction in Saitama — not to be missed.

10. Mount Hodo Ropeway

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The Hodosan Ropeway is the only ropeway in Saitama. The area also has a walking path for viewing cherry blossoms, a mountaintop viewpoint, a shrine, and a small zoo. It's also beautiful during the autumn leaves season.

11. Mitsumine Shrine

Mitsumine Shrine (三峯神社) is an old Shinto shrine located on the summit of Mount Mitsumine in Chichibu, Saitama. Anyone looking for a beautiful shrine with a million-dollar view won't be disappointed here. Because the shrine sits atop the mountain, visitors can enjoy a full panoramic view of the area below. Despite being on a mountain, getting here isn't difficult — you can take a bus or drive up easily. The path up isn't steep either, and it's lined with trees that keep it shaded for most of the way.

12. See Over 500 Statues at Kita-in Temple

Kita-in Temple is one of the oldest temples in Kawagoe and was once the head temple of the Tendai sect in the Kanto region. During the Edo period, the shogun held the temple's chief priest in high esteem. The temple's main highlight is its collection of 540 statues, each with a different facial expression and pose, making them a major draw for visitors. The temple was originally built in 830, but parts of it were later destroyed; what remains includes sections relocated from Edo Castle.

13. Moomin Valley Park

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Fans of Moomin, the beloved Finnish cartoon characters, can visit Moomin Valley Park in Saitama. Besides plenty of photo spots, there's also a wide range of souvenirs to shop for.

14. Omiya Railway Museum

Anyone who has traveled around Japan will be familiar with the many types of trains here, with hundreds of models and series ranging from old steam locomotives to modern Shinkansen (bullet trains). It's no surprise the Railway Museum is such a popular attraction. Train enthusiasts could easily spend hours here, browsing the many full-size and model trains on display — a favorite especially among kids.

15. Bonsai Museum

Bonsai lovers shouldn't miss the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum in Omiya — one of Japan's most famous bonsai towns and host of several World Bonsai Conventions.

If you've read this far, you'll probably agree that Saitama offers a wonderful variety of attractions and is well worth exploring.