Saitama Prefecture Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Jun)

Little “Edo” Kawagoe

Kawagoe is known as little edo as it has an area which preserves all the edo houses. This is where you get a chance to see a glimpse of the historical buildings in Japan. It’s a day trip out of central Japan, about 45mins train ride from Shinjuku. The place definitely gives out a quaint small town vibe, peaceful and definitely lesser crowd compared to other more famous attractions in the central Japan. One of the #mustvisit is the Starbucks! It is designed in the tradition warehouse style which blends in so nicely with the rest of the buildings. It has a outdoor section behind which customers can get a drink and sit to enjoy the lovely weather. There are also shops around which sells delicious snacks. Something different compared to the usual attractions that slow us down to appreciate the traditional side of Japan. #japan #mustdo

A nearby area to visit in Tokyo is Kawagoe. 30 minutes away from the city by train. It is known as "Little Edo". Get to experience the traditional Japan. Make sure to purchase also the Kawagoe Discount Pass for access to buses in the area. #happynewyear #wandermye #kawagoe #japan #happynewyear

Oedo Kawagoe-Tokyo tour is the most recommended niche tourist city As an old city traditional building, temple , stone road in the suburbs of Tokyo, people seem to walk The Edo period in Japan. Compared with the commercialization and crowds of downtown Tokyo, the tourists here are less and quieter, more suitable for travel photography~, you can visit: Glacier Shrine, Fruit House Terrier, Yifan Street, Sesame Futang, Bell Tower , Kumano Shrine have shooting and clothing plans can choose to rent a kimono shooting here. Asakusa Temple is not recommended, too many tourists. Transportation: Take the subway and get off at Kawagoe Station. Exit at the east exit and get off the stairs. It is a bus stop. The 1st car is directly accessible (remember to pick up the watermelon card on the back door and get off at the front door) jacket / skirt / T-shirt: WJS only Jane photography / late: big wing classmates

Edo Period Castle Town of Kawagoe

#japantrip Explore the Edo Period Castle Town of Kawagoe and Its Warehouse District✨ The streets of Kawagoe City are lined with traditional “kurazukuri” warehouse buildings designed to prevent the spread of fires. Home to numerous historical structures, it presents a vivid snapshot of Tokyo as it was 400 years ago during the Edo Period. Kawagoe was once a castle town, and is steeped in the legacy of the Tokugawa Shogunate with treasures like the Honmaru Goten Palace of Kawagoe Castle and more. Kawagoe is also a hub of culinary delights, like traditional Japanese confectionery such as manju and dango, trendy photo-worthy desserts, and casual street food.🍡 A must-try is the local specialty—sweet potatoes! There are lots of sweet potato treats in Kawagoe sure to delight!🍠

Chichibu Shibazakura

During the spring season in Japan, foreign tourists tend to focus only on the famous cherry blossoms at tourist spots, but in reality, there's more to see than just cherry blossoms. From April to May each year, there is another equally stunning flower called Shibazakura (Pink Moss). In this post, I would like to introduce a spot to view Shibazakura at Hitsujiyama in Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture, which is not far from Tokyo. It is mostly visited by Japanese locals, and you hardly see any foreigners here. During the festival, you can enjoy both Pink Moss and various local foods offered by the local Japanese vendors. It's a real treat for both the eyes and the palate.

Chichibu Railway to Chichibu for Flower Viewing.

I took advantage of the holiday to ride the Chichibu Railway to Nagatoro for a river trip to see the rock formations in mid-April, then went to the Shibazakura Hill at Hitsujiyama Park in Chichibu's Makkaji area. Chichibu also has a whisky distillery, and the Chichibu Shrine features richly colored carvings. This trip was a very satisfying nature journey, during which I also enjoyed a variety of delicious foods. The hotels there are affordable, grateful!

Hitsujiyama Park

#springblossom Hitsujiyama Park, Chichibu, is known for its attractive moss-pink field. Open hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the festival from mid-April to early May. The ticket price was just 300 yen per adult, and it’s really worth it. The ticket counter staff and other staff were really kind and friendly. The park is well maintained, and they have some beautiful flower decorations too. They had 10 types of flowers there, and those flowers are lovely and take away all stress. This hillside park is pretty crowded during festival season, but you can still enjoy it. You can enjoy a variety of foods from stoles in addition to the moss pink yard.There are plenty of food styles, which include Japanese traditional cuisine. The food was really yummy, and the vendors were really nice. When you go a few steps further, you can see a few sheep on their small farm. Sometimes we can’t actually watch sheep at the zoo, so I feel so happy. However, take my advice: if you go during peak season, please be ready to walk, or else you can get on a taxi too. I walked from Chchibu station to Hitsujiyama Park, and it took me 20 minutes, but it was a nice experience. This gorgeous park gives you fresh air to breathe. It was worth visiting this garden again, and I hope to go there next year too.

Have you ever seen a vast field of flowers? Yes, I did. And it was in Chichibu's Hitsujiyama Park. This picturesque view is blooms during the end of Spring around April and early May. The park is quite big, and these moss pink fields are located at the southern part of it. What's also great when visiting this park is that, you won't starve. They also have a lot of food stalls around. #wintergetaway

【Saitama】Neon Shrine.

Musashino Reiwa Shrine is a shrine located in Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture, and is an artistic shrine spot supervised by the world-renowned architect Kengo Kuma. This shrine, while following the traditional architectural style of shrines, incorporates symbolic Shinto structures and components such as torii gates and chigi. At first glance, the building does not look like a shrine, and it would not be recognizable without the torii gate. The torii gate lights up as neon at night. Musashino Reiwa Shrine is built in Musashino, which is also the setting for the Manyoshu, and has been selected as the first pilgrimage site of the '88 Places in Japan Anime Fans Should Visit' chosen by the Anime Tourism Association. This shrine can be said to be a place that expresses the universal desire for peace and happiness. Furthermore, the shrine's stamp book is made of wood, with a charming design featuring cherry blossoms and foxes. When you visit, be sure to receive a stamp. 📍Located at 3 Chome-31-3 Higashitokorozawa Wada, Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture Walking: About 11 minutes from JR Higashitokorozawa Station. Bus: Take the bus bound for 'Wada' from JR Higashitokorozawa Station and get off at the stop. Car: Approximately 8-10 minutes from Tokorozawa IC

Kadokawa Musashino Museum: An Art Spot to Enjoy All Day

Kadokawa Musashino Museum is not only impressive in its exterior design, but by purchasing a KCM Standard Ticket, you can immerse yourself in exhibitions such as the painting experience and the bookshelf museum, and enjoy the whole day. After the museum closes, the view from the outside is also very beautiful. It's reassuring to have cafes and restaurants both inside and outside the facility. Outing Plan 📍Spot Name: Kadokawa Musashino Museum Address: 3-31-3 Higashitokorozawa Wada, Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture 359-0023, Tokorozawa Sakura Town Business Hours: Sun - Thu 10:00 - 18:00 (Last admission 17:30) Fri & Sat 10:00 - 21:00 (Last admission 20:30) Cost: For the KCM 1day Passport which allows you to see the main exhibits Weekends: Adults 3,500 yen Recommendation: The 1day Passport is recommended as it allows you to stay for the whole day and see all the exhibits except for the third floor. 📝When I visited, it was the Van Gogh exhibition, but currently, there is a Dali exhibition underway!

A good place to travel | Japan Railway Museum I think the railway is an indispensable factor in Japan's travel, whether it is a special theme sightseeing train, or a unique railway landscape, criss-crossing, railroad crossing In a country with an extremely developed system, the railway has become the most important part of Japanese culture. When you come to Tokyo with convenient transportation, you must go to the Railway Museum in Saitama not far away! After purchasing the commemorative ticket, took a short section of the railway, this exciting museum is in front of you, the high-end avant-garde decoration style and a wide range of surrounding goods, is my first impression of ta, But the good play is still behind. When we enter the train exhibition hall, it seems to have passed back to the past. From the rickshaw to the business train of the Showa era, the retro and elegant 1:1 train model can not only visit but also "ride", and some even move Come to the real thing.

#freehotelstay Japan was amazing! Here’s a photo from the train museum

The Railway Museum Saitama 🇯🇵

#2024wish Just had a train-tastic day at The Railway Museum in Saitama! 🚂 The 1,300 JPY entrance fee was a small fare for a journey through Japan's fascinating rail history. 💸 The museum is a paradise for locomotive enthusiasts – from vintage steam engines to sleek shinkansen, it's a rail lover's dream come true. 🚆 The interactive exhibits allow you to hop on and experience different train models firsthand. 🎟️ The outdoor railway park is a highlight – a lineup of retired trains you can explore and even step inside. The miniature train ride was a hit – felt like a kid again! 🚄👧 Located near Omiya Station, the bonsai village and Hikawa Shrine are perfect nearby spots for post-museum exploration. And don't forget the themed cafe inside the museum for a train-shaped treat! 🌳🍵 #RailwayMuseumAdventure #TrainLoverDream #SaitamaExploration #AllAboardJapan

Life Lessons from a Bonsai Tree

When in Saitama-ken, never miss to visit the underrated Omiya Bonsai Art Museum. The Omiya Bonsai Art Museum is the first public museum in the world which is primarily dedicated to the traditional Japanese art of bonsai. Bonsai trees, aside from being famous for being elegant and resilient, were originally known as dwelling place of deities. Personally, there are many life-lessons that I learned from seeing these miniature trees: 1. Any living art, Bonsai as an easy example, requires patience and rootedness amidst the wavering seasons for it to beautifully grow. Humans as we are, we too are living arts. Thus, in order for us to come out as a masterpiece, we also have to deepen our roots and embrace the changing seasons while being patient with our growth. 2. It takes vision to come up with something great. Any bonsai artist needs to have a plan in mind before the process begins -- from the lines of its branches to the curves of its stems, an artist has to bear in his mind the way how he wants the outcome to be. In the same way, in life, it also makes a difference when we know the direction we want to head in. 3. It takes a high level of commitment and time to cultivate a bonsai tree and see its fullest potential. I even saw an eight-hundred-year-old bonsai tree in the museum! Nonetheless, it still stood strong! So to speak, a bonsai tree can endure so many generations, and its longevity and full potential are highly dependent on the generation being passed on. In the same way, we can learn from a bonsai tree that nothing beautiful happens over night. Things may even have to first endure the test of time to see its beauty unfold in the future. All in all, this trip taught me one striking concept: living life and growing a bonsai -- same difference! We are meant to grow. We are meant to endure life's seasons. Most importantly, we are meant to submit to the Greatest Artist, who knows how to grow, prune, break, and mend our branches in order to create a masterpiece in us.

Bonsai Art Museum in Saitama

#2024wish If you are interested in Bonsai, this is definitely worth a visit as the trees are the creme de la creme of bonsais. You will also have an opportunity to see a leafy suburb of Tokyo. There are no refreshments on site but a little restaurant opposite (which also doubles as a bonsai tool sales shop) which does a decent and inexpensive Japanese meal and the staff spoke good English when we visited. In 2024, I want to give my friend bonsai. She would love it.

Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, Saitama 🗺️

#2024wish Just plunged myself into the peaceful realm of bonsai at Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, Saitama! 🌳 Bonsai artistry provided a peaceful journey with the 700 JPY entrance fee as little investment. 💸 It is a masterpiece – from trees that have lived for centuries to modern recreations, such as each tree has its story of patience and craftsmanship. The seasonal exhibitions offer a glimpse of the ever-changing beauty in these tiny masterpieces. 🍃 Bonsai Garden is an oasis of green – 🏡 The interactive exhibits give an understanding of the art and methods used in bonsai cultivation. To watch this delicate pruning and artistic arrangements is quite fascinating. ✂️ Close by is the Omiya’s Railway Museum to link up with nature and technology, or visit Hikawa Shrine that offers an ideal cultural escape. #BonsaiBeauty #SaitamaSerenity #ArtistryInNature #OmiyaBonsaiJourney