Saitama is directly connected to Tokyo, and can be reached with ease. If you are looking for something a little more hands on during your trip to Japan, then why not try a train simulator, learn how to grow a Bonsai tree, or climb a mountain. Here are five suggestions for a one day trip to Saitama Prefecture:
1. Eat loads of candy in Kawagoe
Kawagoe, which enjoyed great prosperity and was beloved by the Tokugawa shoguns for over 400 years, has a comfortable familiarity and a dignified Japanese elegance born from its long history. Let’s introduce three areas to focus on for first-timers. The Ichibangai area is an area whose Kurazukuri Street is a notable spot of Kawagoe which has been selected as one of “Japan’s Top 100 Beautiful Historic Features”. The area which centers on the symbolic The Bell of Time is Edo Era merchant culture in itself. On holidays, rickshaws go back and forth through the town filled with tourist activity, and it is as if you have gotten lost in a castle town from a samurai flick. In Kashiya Yokocho (Confectionary Row), up to 20 classic small-time candy shops line the alley which is popular for its nostalgic air and friendliness. The Kawagoe specialty of “daikokubashira” has a length of 95 cm and is Japan’s longest candy. It has quite the impact as a souvenir. There is also the liveliest event of the year in the form of the Kawagoe Festival which takes place in the fall. From all over the area, floats come out from their storehouses and compete with each other in gorgeous style. The lushly green Kita-in area includes Kita-in Temple which was patronized by the Tokugawa family. Within the open temple grounds, Senba Tosho-gu Shrine, one of Japan’s 3 Great Tosho-gu shrines, was established, and inside the shrine, there is also “Iemitsu Tokugawa’s birth room” which was recognized as an Important Cultural Property. The 500 Rakan statues which were created in one part of the temple have humorous expressions to cheer up visitors. The Honmaru Palace area has Kawagoe Castle which has been chosen as one of “Japan’s Top 100 Famous Castles”. Honmaru Palace, the only surviving building of the former castle, still retains its bold appearance and has an enormous entrance hall where a long corridor stretches out from side to side with a great hall with personality opening up to you. During good weather, how about sitting out on the open veranda while imagining the lives of the feudal lords of the time? Elsewhere, there are other buildings such as Miyoshino Shrine and Hikawa Shrine which evoke Japanese culture.
Admission: Free
- Guidebook from Planetyze about Kawagoe
- Reviews from TripAdvisor about Kawagoe
- Tours of Kawagoe
2. Climb the treasure trove in Nagatoro
Nagatoro is famous as a longtime tourist destination within Saitama Prefecture. Along with it being a popular spot for every season, there are plenty of things to enjoy throughout the year such as the temples and shrines and a steam engine. Spring is the season of cherry blossoms, and in Nagatoro, which has been selected as one of “Japan’s Top 100 Places for Cherry Blossoms”, there are about 3000 cherry trees planted there with 3 good times to visit.
The first time is late March with the Ohte-no-Sakura cherry tree which is a 100-year-old weeping cherry tree whose width goes up to 16 meters making it a local natural monument. The second time is early April on Kita Sakura-dori where a tunnel of 600 cherry trees runs for 2.5 km from Nagatoro Station to Higuchi Station two stations away. And the third time is from mid-April to late April with the cherry trees on the side streets. 500 trees of 31 different species of double-flowered cherries can be enjoyed and during the season, there is also evening illumination. In the summer, river activities are synonymous with the season. Rafting down the rapids, cruising down the river and people of all ages enjoying river activities, you can fully enjoy Mother Nature while viewing the sedimentary rock for 1 kilometer that has been recognized as a National Natural Monument. Then there is autumn which is famous for its colors. The trees across from the sedimentary rock provide a natural beauty of color with their reds and golds. Also, seven flowers of autumn are each planted at 7 different temples so that The Seven-Flower Temples Tour in which all of the temples are seen has been considered a secret hit with the tourists.
Winter is the season for hatsumode at Hodosan (Treasure Trove Climb) Shrine. The name is said to have originated from the phrase “Climb the treasure trove”, and many visitors come since the history of the hatsumode there has been good. As well, going up to the peak of Mt. Hodo by ropeway, you will be greeted by colorful flowers, and from the peak, you can get a panoramic view of Chichibu. Recently, pamphlets in foreign languages and Wi-Fi have been provided, and the area has become a spot that can be toured easily by foreign tourists.
Admission: Free
- Guidebook from Planetyze about Nagatoro
- Reviews from TripAdvisor about Nagatoro
- Tours of Nagatoro
3. Enjoy a blanket of moss phlox
Hitsujiyama Park is located at the base of Mt. Bukoh of Chichibu City in the back of Saitama Prefecture. The north and south sides of the park are known as Misubarashi Hill and Shibazakura Hill respectively. The planting of moss phlox began in the year 2000, and with the number of flowers growing each year, even the mass media has started to pay attention. In 2014, 570,000 people visited the site which has become the tourist spot for Chichibu in spring. Moss phlox (shibazakura) is a perennial which originally came from North America. Its blossoms resemble those of the cherry (sakura) but spread across the ground like grass (shiba) which gives it its Japanese name. Since the colors, which can range through dark & light pink, white, violet and blue, and shape of the petals differ, there are many ways to enjoy view the flowers whether looking at them one-by-one up close or admiring the pink carpet from a distance. The peak time of mid-April to mid-May is also the time of the Shibazakura Festival where many people enjoy the specialty products of Chichibu and comfort food such as miso potatoes being sold.
Hitsujiyama Park is famous for its moss phlox, but it is also the most famous spot in Chichibu for its cherry blossoms. About 1000 cherry trees of different species compete for beauty in the park. Misubarashi Hill where the cherries are planted doesn’t try to shut out the blue sky but uses the contrast between it and the cherry blossoms to symbolize a Japanese spring. Hitsujiyama (Sheep Mountain) was named after the fact that the area once had Saitama Prefecture’s sheep breeding farms. Even now within the park, there is a petting farm which has sheep, and elsewhere there is the Wanpaku Plaza for the athletically-minded, along with the Mt. Bukoh Museum and a museum showing the works of Shiko Munakata.
Admission: Free
- Guidebook from Planetyze about Hitsujiyama Park
- Reviews from TripAdvisor about Hitsujiyama Park
- Tours of Hitsujiyama Park
4. Learn everything about the art of Bonsai
Bonsai involves growing plants in small containers and having their branches and leaves shaped to express nature. Brought over from China in the Heian Era, it became actively enjoyed in the Edo Era. Bonsai, which takes time and effort, is known as a hobby for people like the elderly, but for the past several years, it has also received attention overseas and bonsai culture has been rising in popularity. In addition, it has also become a cute statement in terms of interior design starting from the small pots, and in recent years, it has become a hit with young women.
The Bonsai Art Museum began displaying bonsai from its opening in 2010. Omiya has a Bonsai Village, and so the museum was established by the village. Aside from a display of bonsai, the museum also provides a plethora of information pertaining to the art such as displays of the pots and stones used for the art, paintings such as ukiyo-e which have depicted bonsai, and historical information related to bonsai.
Furthermore, in the large bonsai garden that is in the museum, pine that is a staple for bonsai is displayed through approximately 50 exhibits, shaped into trees such as maple. The time spent leisurely viewing the bonsai from Azumaya in the center of the garden and getting a sense of nature is one of the charms of this Japanese traditional culture. How about starting your knowledge of bonsai from this occasion? As well, around the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, there are 9 bonsai gardens in operation which make up the Bonsai Village. If you have become interested in bonsai after a visit to the museum, then it would be great to visit these gardens by all means.
Admission: Adult: ¥ 300 / Child: ¥ 100
- Guidebook from Planetyze about Omiya Bonsai Art Museum
- Reviews from TripAdvisor about Omiya Bonsai Art Museum
- Tours of Omiya Bonsai Art Museum
5. Try out a steam engine driving simulator
The Railway Museum is famous for its excellent permanent display. The main exhibition is in the History Zone which makes up about half of the entire museum. There is an atrium up to the 3rd floor where 36 of Japan’s railway trains are displayed in chronological order. There are steam locomotives and Bullet Trains, and from April 2015, prewar electric engines have also made an appearance. An even greater feeling for the trains of that time can be felt with the recreation of features from those days such as platforms and schedule boards. You can sightsee from inside the trains, look down on the trains from above and see them from various angles through the passage of time. In the Entrance Zone on the 2nd floor, there is the huge railroad diorama that is said to be the largest in Japan. You can get a full view of stations, bridges, tunnels and other railway fixtures along with up to 20 trains in operation. In the commentaries that occur 8 times a day for 10 minutes each, the lighting is adjusted so that you can see the diorama through a day’s morning, afternoon and night.
There are 2 rides that require numbered tickets. The D51 steam engine driving simulator is aimed for junior high school students and older. Gauges such as the speedometer operate in tandem with the operation of the train, and there is even vibration. It’s a simulation where you can even try tossing coal into the fire chamber. If you are familiar with the construction of a steam engine, then you must try it at least once. Operation of the mini-trains is for Grade 1 elementary school students and older. The mini-trains can hold 3 people and run a loop on a 300-meter railroad track. There are 10 types of train including the Narita Express and an electric engine. An actual railway system is faithfully recreated. You can also try other simulators without needing a reservation, try being railway staff, and design your own trains. Even if you are not a train fan, this is a museum which you can still fully enjoy.
Admission: Adult: ¥ 1,000 / Child: ¥ 500
- Guidebook from Planetyze about The Railway Museum
- Reviews from TripAdvisor about The Railway Museum
- Tours of The Railway Museum
Do you want to make your trip to Saitama more interesting?
Interested in Saitama? Do you want to make your travel to and in Saitama more exciting? Or do you want to have an enhanced and deeper experience while traveling in Saitama, here’s how: Go with day tours!
There are many great day tour options to Saitama. It’s way more convenient as you don’t have to plan your itinerary yourself and you are even guided by a qualified tour guide. You can visit the popular places and enjoy the many different attractions Saitama offers without hassle.
There are many places on the web that offer day tours to Saitama, but you never know whether they are a trustworthy and good website or not. That’s why I’m recommending you GoWithGuide. The website is trustworthy, offering many different day trip options to Saitama. You can also customize the tour itinerary according to your preferences.You also don't have to figure out the transport from Tokyo to Saitama because your guide will help you with that.
Not only the website offers day tours to Saitama, it also offers many different qualified tour guides you can hire to make your trip more interesting and meaningful.
Recommended day tours to Saitama from Kawagoe
To enjoy Saitama, here are some of my recommendations of great day tours to Saitama.
Enjoyment of Bonsai sightseeing and Kawagoe Koedo tour spots one day trip in Saitama tour, where you can enjoy bonsai sightseeing and explore around Kawagoe Koedo.
You can also check A good old town of Kawagoe, called little Edo tour and Hikawa Shrine & Omiya Bonsai Village tour.
If you are a train fan or have children, I recommend the For Children and Railway fans! Tour to The Railway Museum. You will visit the Railway Museum, but you will surely have a more interesting trip as you will be guided by an experienced tour guide.
There are still many more day tour options to Saitama. If you want to check them out, click here.
Get this:
With these day tours, not only you can have a better experience in Saitama by visiting beautiful and popular spots, you can also learn with the insights given by your private guide. You will also have an easier travel to and from Saitama. This allows you to have an enhanced yet hassle-free experience!
From the tours mentioned above, they also provide set itinerary suggestions which you can follow or customize according to your preferences.
Wait, there's more:
If you are not looking for private tours but for private guides in Saitama, you can click here. For tours or private guide options for other areas in Japan, you can click here.
I hope this article helps provide useful information for your trip to Saitama, including how to go to Saitama from some major places in Tokyo, where are the must-visit spots in Saitama, options for day tours to Saitama from Tokyo, and more recommendation for a great Saitama trip. I hope you have a great time in Saitama!
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Day tour to Saitama from Tokyo - How to go and what to do
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Summer Fireworks Festivals in Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama, Tochigi, Shizuoka 2014
