World-Famous Museums, Bonsai, and Beautiful Surroundings!

It is the world’s first public museum specializing in bonsai and a core facility for promoting bonsai culture. To spread the culture of bonsai, which is designated as Saitama’s traditional industry, not only bonsai, but also bonki (pottery), suiseki (rocks), and paintings of bonsai can be enjoyed, making it a diverse exhibit. (For more information regarding the facility, please refer to the URL below.)

This is one of the few bonsai villages existing in the Kanto Region. You can tour 6 different unique bonsai gardens.

Japan is also famous for its parks, and with Omiya Park rated among the top 100 city parks in Japan, this park is a must-see. With 1,201 cherry trees, an artificial lake, a red pine forest, and even a petting zoo and playground, Omiya Park has something for everyone!

Musashi Ichinomiya Hikawa Shrine is one of the oldest shrines in the Kanto region, with a history that stretches back over an astonishing 2,400 years! Its history and beauty make it popular with both locals and visitors alike, and it’s often the site of traditional festivals and other events.

Surrounding Hikawa No Mori Culture Hall is a beautiful bamboo forest, which is adjacent to the Hikawa Shrine. In the evening, the forest is illuminated with gentle lighting, creating a truly beautiful and mystical atmosphere.

Beer aficionados can’t miss Hikawa Brewery, opened in 2014 and the first brewery of its kind in Saitama City. There’s a wide choice of food and ten different delicious craft beers brewed in-house and served on tap. Drop in on your way to the station!

The Railway Museum opened on October 14th of 2007 in Saitama, Ōmiya as part of Japan Railways (JR) Group’s 20th-anniversary commemorative project. The newly renovated South Building was opened in July of 2018, with the permanent exhibition of the main building renewed extensively. Through this renewal, the inside of the building has been divided into stations of 5 categories: rolling stock, history, jobs, science, and future, updating the museum to tell the rich story of the relationship of humans and railways from unique and diverse perspectives.