Saitama Prefecture is located in northern Tokyo and has a well-developed transport network including railways and motorways, which allows easy access from nearby prefectures and international airports. The prefecture offers a wide variety of tourist attractions such as Kawagoe which retains its Edo era appearance, and the greenery of Chichibu and Nagatoro, as well as gastronomy, popular culture, industry, history, traditional culture and various physical activities.
Omiya bonsai art museum and omiya bonsai village
The village of Omiya Bonsai in the city of Saitama is a quiet area at two stations north of the Omiya railway station. Several bonsai nurseries and a superb Bonsai Art Museum are located along the quiet trails of the neighborhood. Private houses in the area usually have a collection of bonsai in their gardens.
An excellent addition to the village in 2010 was the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, which educates visitors on the different aspects of bonsai. Audio guides in English and well written English descriptions clearly explain how to appreciate this form of art.
Railway Museum
Here you can have fun learning about the development and evolution of railway technology from the beginning of the Meiji era, when the rail made its debut in Japan, until today. In addition to the objects exposed, there are many other attractions, including driving simulators for a steam locomotive, JR Lines and the high-speed train, as well as a classroom for “train operators”. There is also a miniature train system that you can use along a 300-metre track. In addition, the building includes a restaurant, a shop that offers original products for sale. The explanations and notes on the exhibitions are available in English, Chinese and Korean.
Saitama Museum of History and Folklore
The museum was established in 1971 to mark the 100th anniversary of Saitama. In 2006, he was reborn as the Museum of History and Folklore.
The museum covers history, folklore and art. The main theme of the main exhibition hall is the way of life and culture of the inhabitants of Saitama.
Other rooms receive temporary and seasonal exhibitions and workshops (for which reservations are requested in advance).
Hikawa jinja
The name of the city Omiya is in fact derived from the presence of this very ancient and famous sanctuary, its full name being Musashi Ichinomiya Hikawa Jinja. It is one of the oldest and most important shrines in the Kanto region, with an impressive history of over 2000 years.
It is easily accessible from Saitama station. The walkway is magnificent under the cover of trees and allows a nice walk before reaching the main area of the sanctuary. It’s about 2 kilometers away, just enough to get hungry for dango rice cakes along the way, very popular here.
The long road ends with an iconic red bridge that crosses a pond in the main area of the sanctuary. Whether you wish to do the typical shinto prayer and throw coins into the gift box, or simply take a step back and enjoy the know-how and atmosphere of the sanctuary, it is a history and tradition bubble easily accessible from Tokyo.
Very popular with residents during seasonal events, this sanctuary is a central element of the history and culture of Omiya. While the lively atmosphere of the festival during the new year or summer seasons is exciting, the quiet serenity of the low season and weekdays makes it a more mystical experience.
Ruins of Iwatsuki Castle
The Iwatsuki Castle Park is located in the Iwatsuki district of Saitama, and was built around the ruins of the ancient Iwatsuki Castle. Near the centre of the Kanto plain, Iwatsuki was once a major post on the Nikko-Kaido road. Explore the past on footpaths formed by the ancient moats of the castle.
A large pond surrounded by iris in season is crossed by Yatsuhashi Bridge. It is a perfect place to admire the view of the park, especially during the season of cherry blossoms.
The park is surrounded by lush forests with trails that cross them and a playground for children. There is also a baseball field, tennis courts and an old exposed locomotive.
Tobu zoo
The Tobu Zoo is closer to the amusement park as it also contains a water park and roller coasters. The zoo hosts 120 species of animals, including its famous white tigers. Part of the zoo allows children to caress some of the animals.
Tobu Zoo also has the world’s first fireflies theatre. Fireflies have become difficult to find in urban Japan, even during the summer season, but here you can see the light of 10,000 fireflies at any time. There are also events such as bird shows, pony walks, and goose walks.
Tsuki jinja
The Tsuki-jinja shrine in Urawa is amazing because it has rabbits as its theme. Indeed, in Japan, the rabbit is often linked to the moon (“tsuki” meaning moon) by a word game, the shrine Tsuki jinja pays tribute to this word game.
Iwatsuki district and dolls museum
The Iwatsuki doll (Iwatsuki ningyo) is known for its round face with large eyes, smooth skin and shiny hair. White skin comes from a white pigmented mixture of water, glue and calcium carbonate powder called gofun while the hair is made of raw silk. Soft silk resembling human hair is used and the hair is carefully maintained by a doll hairdresser.
Many paulownia wood products, including traditional Japanese chests and sandals (geta), have long been made in and around the Iwatsuki district. The parish of Iwatsuki flourished thanks to this profession. Even now, various Japanese dolls, including the Hina, Gotatsu and Ukiyoe dolls, are produced in this region.
The museum exhibits many types of Japanese ningyo in one place, which allows to see the regional specificities of these dolls. Japan’s Ningyo culture covers three main concepts of Japanese life: regional crafts, social status and protection of daily life.
Ningyo symbolizes the growth of children within the family, especially during the “Hina Matsuri”. Symbolizing the children who will perpetuate the inheritance, the family attaches great spiritual value to the ningyo, and the role of “watching” their children. They are similar to the “Omamori” charms purchased in the shrines and each family entrusts its own wishes and prayers to the ningyo.
Saitama, the prefecture adjacent toTokyo, is less known to foreign travellers but has a large number of tourist attractions, including the historic city ofKawagoe, magnificent sights of cherry blossoms and unique places to visit. Saitama is very popular since the prefecture is easily accessible from Tokyo, so you can easily make a stop in Saitama even if you live in central Tokyo.
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