Sightseeing Spots

It is said that this shrine was founded by the Japanese Takeru, about 2,000 years ago. The current main building of the shrine is a style of Shinto architecture in which the main hall and worship hall share one roof, and are connected by an intermediate passageway. The main shrine, hall of offerings, and hall of worship were rebuilt from the end of the Edo period to the early Meiji period. The shrine is said to protect from fires, theft, and pain. Not only are there many worshippers from the local area but throughout the Kanto region, with more than one million annual visitors.

This park is located in the beautiful Nagaonekyuryo mountains that extend over the border between Chichibu city and Ogano town. It covers an area of 375 hectares and has three differently themed areas. The forest of sports, the forest of music, and the forest of culture and each of the areas are connected by a three km long "sky road". This park offers one of the best vantage points to experience the breathtaking sea of clouds. The fog produced by radiative cooling lingers in the Chichibu mountain area, creating the perfect conditions for the sea of clouds to form. When the weather aligns just right, you may be lucky enough to witness the iconic Chichibu bridge seemingly floating above the sea of clouds.

The aviation museum was built on the ruins of the Tokorozawa Airport, Japan’s first airport. There are displays such as replicas of early domestic aircraft, and you can learn about Japan’s aviation history.

Shingashi river, which flows behind Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, is lined with 500 meters of cherry blossom trees that transform the area into popular "sakura"-spot in spring! The "Little Edo Kawagoe Spring Sailing" is an event arranged at the end of April. Sail down the river in a small Japanese-style boat as you enjoy the tunnel of fully blooming sakura above you and the river filled with pink flower petals floating beneath you. This is a must-experience for any fan of the Japanese cherry blossom.

It greatly thrived in 1612 when Sōjō Tenkai trusted by Ieyasu Tokugawa became the chief priest. Due to Kawagoe’s great fire in 1638, most of the Kita-in Temple burnt down, but from the Edo period, the third generation Shogun Iemitsu removed and reconstructed “Iemitsu Tanjō no Ma” and “Kasuga no Tsubone Keshō no Ma” from the Edo Castle. In addition, the entire area was designated as an important cultural property. One of Japan’s three major arhat, “Gohyakurakan”, can be seen.

Founded in 1864. A candy and pastry manufacture and sales store with a long history. “Chichibu Ame (Candy)” is meticulously and carefully crafted, with craftsmen being particular about bringing out the umami and original flavors of each ingredient. Almost all of the products are additive-free, making it safe for individuals of all ages to eat them.

Simple sulfur hot spring. Chichibu Yumoto (source of a hot spring), is a day trip hot spring that utilizes the Bukō Hot Spring as the source; it is effective for a range of chronic diseases such as neuralgia, sore muscles, arthralgia, stiff shoulders, and poor blood circulation. This is a liberating open-air bath where one can fully enjoy nature, with the cypress bath giving a tender feel of the tree and the rock bath providing a simplistic natural atmosphere. In addition, there is a “Bukō Auto Campsite (Phone Number: 0494-23-8229)” nearby and a lodging facility “Bukō-no-yu Bekkan (annex) (For reservation: 0494-24-4141)”.

This is a museum that exhibits the entire cultural heritage of Yokoze-machi. From stage models of Yokoze’s puppet show (intangible folk cultural property designated by the prefecture) and models of Bukōzanmitake Shrine Palace, there are displays of animals and plants collected from Mt. Bukō as well as historical documents that portray the transitions of Yokoze-machi. In the “nature” section of the permanent exhibition room, fossils of Sinomegaceros yabei, wild ox, wolves from about 130,000 years ago produced in the Nagoya Limestone Cave are on display. These fossil data are very rare on a national scale.

This roadside station is surrounded by rich nature with deep green mountains, clear streams of the Yokose River, clean air, flowers, and fruit trees for each of the four seasons. Inside the station, there is a farmers' market, restaurant, information center, resting area, experience dōjō (udon/soba), ceramics class, and a gallery. Outside, there is an open space for relaxing and a deck where one can view the river from above. You can also enjoy a walk next to the Yokose river. ※Publishing facility for “Monozukuri Annaijyō” of Saitama Prefecture Industrial Tourism’s Guide Book

There are about six farms located closely on the east and north sides of Yokose Station, including Mikado Farm and Komatsuzawa Leisure Farm, where you can pick strawberries, grapes, sweet potatoes, and shiitake mushrooms each season.

The fossils of the large shark, “Megalodon”, and the mysterious sea animal, “Paleoparadoxia”, found within Saitama Prefecture are on display. Furthermore, the Nagatoro area is a perfect example of the characteristics of Saitama's nature, and here you can enjoy easily to understand explanations for a deeper understanding. Also, there are simulation zones and free audio guides to be enjoyed. (For more information regarding the facility, please refer to the URL below.)

A well-established Japanese sweets shop in Yoshikawa City that has been in business for 60 years. It was relocated to the backside of Yoshikawa Shrine and reopened in 2019. The famous "Namazu Manju" made with homemade red bean paste, which is rare nowadays, is a perfect souvenir. We also recommend the "Namazu Monaka," which allows you to compare the lean and coarse red bean paste and the freshly made dumplings you can enjoy in the store.

The park is the origin of the stone tablet in which Kyoshi Takahama writes “Kokoniware Kuotomubeki Tsukinoishi”, and is very famous due to the yellowing leaves. The best time to see the yellowing of the leaves is around November, with around 50 acer amoenums Japanese maples lit up. The area becomes very crowded during this time, especially with those who are devoted to photography. The yellowing of leaves can be enjoyed at the adjoining prefectural nature museum as well.

There is “Obinzurusama”, which goes with the saying that it is good to rub a part of the body that is in pain. In spring, the rare Bukoumamezakura blooms cutely, making it a pleasant view for the eyes of visitors. In addition, the animated movie, “The Anthem of the Heart” was based off of this location. The entrance’s “Enmei Jizō (life-prolonging Jizō)” is the mark.

It is the only waterfall in Saitama Prefecture that has been selected as one of Japan's 100 best waterfalls. There is a promenade of about 1.5km, and you can enjoy the seasonal appearance of fresh greenery and autumn leaves. The waterfall is divided into 3 steps, and the huge waterfall that drops for 76 meters is both powerful and impressive!

In Chichibu Muse park's "Forest of Sports," there is a facility that anyone can enjoy regardless of age! In a mix of planted and native forests are seven zip lines high above the valley making it the largest park in Japan. The park is for adults and children older than 10 years. The courses are set at high altitudes making this forest adventure very popular among adults as well!

A townscape of “kura warehouses” still remains in Kawagoe. The kura warehouses were cleverly built with fireproof architecture and developed as housing for the merchants of Edo. The warehouses retain an image of Edo that cannot be seen in modern day Tokyo. They were chosen as national “Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings” in December of 1999 and were selected as one of “Japan’s 100 Beautiful Historical Environments” in January of 2007.

10 minutes walk from Yokoze Station. 10 minutes walk to Hitsujiyama Park and Shibazakura no Oka. Strawberries with a focus on the best taste and the most secure experience.

The history of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine goes back a long way and is said to have started with the separation of worship practices by the Ōmiya Hikawa Shrine, a part of Musashi Ichinomiya, under the reign of Emperor Kinmei in the 6th century, when the cultural practice of building burial mounds was passed on to them. Thereafter, whenever Ōta Dōkan built a castle, it was revered as a Sōja, a shrine enshrining several gods, of this location, and is familiarly called “Ohikawa-sama”.

This is a house lodge located in the mountain valley with the surrounding enclosed in deciduous trees and the chirping of birds giving one a feel of the season. In the forest, close to the Terasaka Rice Terrace, is a Yuyado (a lodge with a hot spring) of medicinal herbs which is beloved by many as the “Yakusō-no-yu (hot water of medicinal herbs)”. The pride of the lodging is the medicinal herb bath which contains, among other herbs, chameleon plant and Japanese mugwort, allowing for the body to warm up from its core and improving blood circulation. One can expect recovery from fatigue and better skin.

Many small, old-time candy stores line the Kashiya Yokochō (confectionery alley). 70 houses existed in the beginning of the Shōwa era, where they produced a variety of sweets to be sold wholesale. As of now, there are about 20 houses left that still produce and sell cheap sweets, such as mint candy and the Kintaro candy, which are nostalgic for both adults and children alike. Kashiya Yokocho was also selected as one of “The 100 Best Scented Sceneries” by the Ministry of the Environment.

Menuma Shodenzan Kangiin Temple is known to be one of Japan’s three Shoten and is said to bring success, health to the family, fortune, and scholarly achievements, and many other benefits such as matrimony. In 2012, the main shrine of Menuma Shodenzan “Kangiin Shotendo” was designated as a national treasure thanks to its highly skilled carvings, modern decorative architecture, and because it was built from donations by the public. Throughout the year, events such as the annual grand festival and Setsubun festivals take place during the spring and autumn.

This facility consists of 12 families of fruit farmers, and the closest station is Ashigakubo Station of Seibu Chichibu Line. You can find the collection of fruit farms, aka Orchard Park Village, by the southern slope of Hinatayama in the Ashigakubo district. Fruits are harvested all year with strawberries from early January to mid-May, plums from early July to mid-August, and grapes from mid-August to mid-October. The taste of fully-ripened fruits in the great wilderness and clean air is remarkable. Please come and stop by at least once. There is a restaurant, “Ashigakubo Fruit Garden,” as well as a “farming village park” with a 100-meter roller slide around the vicinity. Furthermore, there are also many great courses to go hiking.

Hanataen is a circular water garden of about 2 hectares that is centered around a beautiful pond and displays Japanese culture and tradition. It has a characteristic wooden bridge centered on a beautiful pond, a tea room built in Sukiya style, an artificial hill overlooking the garden, and atmospheric stone lanterns. Also, various trees such as cherry blossoms and plums are planted, and you can enjoy both the autumn leaves and the flowers of each season. Furthermore, the garden is adjacent to Saitama Prefecture's only outdoor Noh (a traditional type of theater) stage, Koshigaya Noh Theater. A great place to both enjoy the beauty of Japan's culture and natural beauty.