Immerse Yourself in Nature and History with a Full-Day Tour of Gyoda!

“Tabi to Kurashi (Tabi and Life) Museum” was formerly a tabi socks factory that delivered to stores under the name Bokuya Honten (Main Branch), and it has been reborn as a museum that retains most of the factory’s original appearance. At the museum, you can see demonstrations by tabi craftsmen, and for an additional cost, you can make your very own original tabi every second Sunday of the month.

Gyōda Hachiman Shrine is called “Fūji-no-miya (Palace of Sealing)” for its secret method of praying believed to help children sleep, prevent nervousness, cancer, diseases, bad habits, and dementia in the elderly. On the shrine grounds there is a “Shrine of the Eyes," "Kasamori Inari Shrine" for the god of beautiful skin who cures eczema, and the “Okuninushi Shrine” that enshrines Oshi Castle’s 7 lucky gods. Recently, the “Nade Momo” (sculpture of a peach you can rub for good luck) is said to be a power spot, and is famous as a god for fending off illness and misfortune.

Built in 1917 (year Taisho 6), Isami Corporation is a long-established tabi socks manufacturer housed in Gyoda's largest and most unique factory. Featuring a saw-toothed roof, the factory inherited the beauty, tradition, and technology of the wooden Western-style architecture popular at the time of its founding. *Only the exterior of the factory is open to the public.

This stylish soba (buckwheat noodles) restaurant with an outstanding modern Japanese atmosphere was built in a remodeled large earthenware tabi warehouse originally constructed from the Taisho to the early Showa periods (1912-1945). In this storehouse constructed from natural materials, you can enjoy authentic handmade soba noodles and dishes made of carefully selected ingredients based on the concept of "delicious for the body."

The Gyoda Honten landmark is its over 100-year-old Edo style warehouse! It offers a wide variety of products including "Jumangoku Manju," a favorite of Saitama Prefecture residents.

Embark on a unique adventure as you craft Hana Chozu, Water Basin Flower Arrangements, at Oshijo Castle in Gyoda City, a location celebrated in novels and movies. Choose your favorite flowers to create a personalized masterpiece and capture a memorable photo with your creation! Join us for this exclusive experience, tailored to your unique preferences. English-speaking guides are available for our international guests.

The traditional Japanese tabi sock is a fashion item that adorns the feet when one wears a Japanese kimono. Gyoda has a history of tabi sock production of about 300 years, and is the most active city in tabi production in Japan. Plain white tabi socks are most common, but Musashino Uniform is famous for making unique and exciting tabi socks that complement modern fashion. Learn the history of Gyoda tabi socks at Musashino Uniform, experience making your own tabi socks, and choose your favorite Samurai Tabi and yukata (summer kimono)! Take a commemorative photo at Oshijo Castle or Sakitama Ancient Tomb Park, the symbol of Gyoda City. You can take home the SAMURAI TABI of your choice as a souvenir. The product of the tabi socks making experience will be mailed to you at a later date after the craftsman has finished the final touches on your one-of-a-kind pair of tabi socks.　　　

Schedule: 9:00 AM, gather at Kumagaya Station (meet the interpreter guide), transfer by chartered cab; 9:20 AM, arrive at Musashino Uniform, receive guidance on how to make Gyoda tabi socks (20 minutes), experience finishing tabi socks (15 minutes), experience making your own tabi socks (30 minutes), experience wearing SAMURAI TABI and yukata (25 minutes); 11:00 AM, SAMURAI TABI and yukata wearing, enjoy walking around the city [Oshijo Castle, Sakitama Old Park, Gyoda Hachiman Shrine, etc.] at the place of your choice and take a commemorative photo; 1:00 PM, arrive at Kumagaya Station.

　

From mid-June to early August, 12,000 stalks of 42 different types of lotus flowers bloom on the surface of this lotus pond. The Gyōda lotus (ancient lotus) is a primitive variety with fewer petals; it is said to be a lotus from about 1,400 to 3,000 years ago. Lotus flowers are best viewed mid-morning. There are botanical gardens for aquatic plants, lakes for aquatic birds, peony gardens, ume gardens, and a place for hanami (flower viewing) with sakura (cherry blossom) trees, making it a place where one can feel the beauty of nature all year round. In addition, from mid-July to mid-October, rice paddy art is at its prime and can be viewed from the Ancient Lotus Hall’s Observation Room. The rice paddy art of Gyōda City started in 2008, with rice transplanting done annually by several volunteers and participants. The designs are completely original, and some have even been included in collaborations with movies, TV shows, and games. In 2015 the area set a Guinness World Record for “the world’s largest (rice paddy art)."