Sightseeing Spots

Oshi Castle is one of seven famous castles in the Kanto region, built during the civilization years of the Muromachi period. It is known as an “Uki-jō (Floating Castle),” as it is said to have endured the flooding of Ishida Mitsunari during Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s suppression of Kanto. The story of this castle was the model for the movie “Nobō-no-Shiro (The Floating Castle).” It is currently listed as one of Japan's Top 100 castles. The “Oshijyō Gosankaiyagura (Oshi Castle Three Story Turret)” was torn down during the Meiji period and rebuilt in 1988, with the inside turned into an exhibition room of the local museum, and a view of the entire city can be seen from the top floor.

Gongendo Park is a hot spot for cherry blossoms, thanks to a 1 km stretch of 1,000 Yoshino cherry trees contrasting with beautiful yellow rapeseed flowers, and the park is filled with revelers every year. In addition, in June you can enjoy stunning hydrangea, in September the vivid red spider lily, and in January the charming white daffodils. A wonderful spot to visit, regardless of the season!

Sakitama Kofun Park is home to nine large megalithic tombs (kofun), such as the "Inariyama Kofun," where the national treasure the "Iron Sword with Golden Illusions" was excavated, and the largest kofun in Japan, "Maruhakayama Kofun," a popular cherry blossom spot. Gyoda City Sakitama, where the park is located, is also known as the origin of Saitama Prefecture's name (the characters for "Sakitama" are also read as "Saitama"), and you can see the stone monument commemorating this in the park.

We offer tourist information and general information about the city. There is everything from displays of the original picture of “Crayon Shin-chan,” an animated character representing Kasukabe, to food for sale approved by the city’s “Food Selection." It is also registered as a “baby friendly station,” and families can use the station to change diapers and breastfeed here. Please feel free to stop by.

AEON Lake Town is one of the largest shopping malls in Japan, with over 700 specialty shops and Aeon Style grocery store located in three buildings: kaze, mori and outlet.

A well-established Japanese sweets shop in Yoshikawa City that has been in business for 60 years. It was relocated to behind Yoshikawa Shrine and reopened in 2019. The famous "Namazu Manju," made from homemade red bean paste cooked with a rare attention to detail, makes for a perfect souvenir. We also recommend the "Namazu Monaka" to compare the taste of smooth and coarse red bean paste, and the dango (rice flour dumplings) made fresh to order.

This park features an open lawn space and large wooden play equipment, and the area is crowded with families all year. Seasonal flowers grow throughout the park, and in addition to cherry blossoms in the spring, the moss phlox (April to May) and irises (early June) bloom in a heart-warming sight. There are also kitchen spaces for barbecue, and visitors can fish at the large pond, Koai Tamei (within the designated area).

Gyōda Hachiman Shrine is called “Fūji no Miya" (Palace of Sealing) for its secret prayer method which is believed to help children sleep, prevents nervousness, cancer, diseases, bad habits and dementia in the elderly. In the precincts, there is a “shrine of the eyes,” the Kasamori Inari Shrine which enshrines the god of eczema and beautiful skin, along with “Okuninushi Shrine” that enshrines Oshi Castle’s 7 lucky gods. Recently, the “nade momo” (patting peach) is said to be a place for spiritual energy, and is famous for the god of warding off suffering from illness and misfortune.

Located on about 13,000 square meters of the Nakagawa Riverbed, the contrast between the 120 pink peach blossoms and fields of yellow rapeseed flowers that bloom from March to April every year is a beautiful sight to see. In autumn, you can enjoy red spider lilies and cosmos. The annual Hanamomo Festival held in late March attracts many tourists.

This aquarium features exhibits of approximately 70 different types of freshwater fish native to Saitama Prefecture that inhabit the upper stream of the Arakawa River to the region surrounding the mouth of the river. Among the highlights are the Tokyo bitterling, Musashi ninespine stickleback, and the waterwheel plant. (For more information regarding the facility, please refer to the URL below.)

This is the oldest grand shrine in Kanto. It is said to have been founded by descendants of the Izumo family because of its old nickname, Hazenomiya; another theory is that it was established by Yamato Takeru 1900 years ago in the time of Emperor Keikō. The Washimiya Saibara Kagura music and dance is a tradition in the shrine and is designated as an important intangible folk cultural property of the country. The shrine also appears in the animation “Lucky Star,” and Washimiya shrine uses this connection to the work to revitalize the area.

To help visitors learn more about the role of the regional flood control facility, “Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel,” we have increased the appeal of our tours and begun the second installment of this ongoing social experiment. In addition to the wildly popular tour of the surge tank, known as the "underground shrine," we have added secret passages, pump rooms, and sections of the gas turbine which will be opened to the public in 4 different courses. We encourage you to experience the grandeur of the “Metropolitan Outer Area Underground Discharge Channel.” Please check the URL below for details regarding tours and facilities. Notes on the reservation site: You can switch to English by clicking on the mark next to the earth symbol in the top right corner of a header section

This is the Ōsawa village shrine. It is said the Katori Shrine was transferred here from Sagishiro. The “Meisaichō” notes the shrine's establishment as Ōei era (1394 to 1428). This area belonged to Shimōsa Province in the middle ages, and Katori Shrine, the province's first shrine, was invited to the village as its guardian deity and built in Sagishiro. It was moved to its current ground around the Kan’ei era (1624 to 1644) due to the maintenance of the Ōushū Kaidō. According to the sign displaying date of construction (munafuda), the current main shrine was renovated in 1866. A pattern from the fabric-dyer is engraved around one side of the main shrine. It is the work of Takejiro Hasegawa who resides in Mount Asama San’ya-machi and is the city’s designated cultural property.

Hanataen is a traditional Japanese strolling pond garden (kaiyu shiki teien) of about 2 hectares, with a characteristic wooden bridge centered on a beautiful pond, a tea room built in Sukiya style, a man-made hill overlooking the garden and elegant stone lanterns. Various trees such as cherry blossoms and plums also grow, and you can enjoy the seasonal flowers and foliage. In addition, the garden is adjacent to Saitama Prefecture's only outdoor Noh (traditional theater) stage, Koshigaya Noh Theater. A great place to both enjoy the beauty of Japan's culture and the four seasons.

From mid-June to early August, 12,000 stocks of 42 different types of lotus flowers bloom on the surface of this lotus pond. The Gyōda lotus (ancient lotus) is a primitive form with few petals; it is said this variety of lotus is from about 1,400 to 3,000 years ago. Lotus flowers are best viewed midmorning. There are aquatic plant botanical gardens, aquatic bird lakes, peony gardens, plum tree groves, and a spot for flower viewing (hanami) cherry blossom trees, making it a place to go to 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 annual rice transplanting taking place with the help of several volunteers and participants. Not only are the designs original, but some have been featured in movies, TV shows, games. In 2015 it was recorded in the Guinness World Records as “the world’s largest (rice paddy art).”

The Border of Three Prefectures straddles Tochigi Prefecture’s Tochigi City, Gunma Prefecture’s Itakura Town, Saitama Prefecture’s Kazo City (around the Kitakawabe region), and comes together at a rice field approximately 500 meters to the southeast of Roadside Station Kitakawabe. The Border of Three Prefectures was located inside the Watarase River, however during the restoration of the river during the Meiji and Taishō periods, the location was changed to the current river channel. From January to March of 2016, land measurements were carried out by Tochigi City, Itakura Town, and Kazo City and an old stake made from concrete, assumed to be installed prior, was discovered and confirmed as the true point of intersection of the three prefectures.

The water at this hot spring, which flows from 1,500 meters underground, scored a maximum score of 5 out of 6 categories in the Japan Natural Hot Spring Examining Authority inspection! With a composition similar to salty seawater, it is also called “Netsu no Yu” (high temperature bath) due to the amount of cold water needed to cool it down. Another appeal is the fact that this hot spring can be enjoyed during the colder months without any added water. The high-concentration carbonated spring, which even garners the attention of the medical industry, can also be enjoyed.

Sakitama Shrine is an ancient shrine with a majestic and calm atmosphere which holds a history of a thousand and a few hundred years, and is the origin of Saitama Prefecture's name. The main building of the shrine has a height of 8.7 meters, a circumference of about 92 meters, and is built on top of a megalith tomb (kofun) called Sengenzuka, connected to the Saitama Kofun Group. The deity has two pillars: Sakitamahime-no-mikoto and Sakitamahiko-no-mikoto, gods that protect individuals and bring good fortune and success in matrimony. Recently, a popular limited edition go-shuin (seal stamp) with a motif of the 4 cats that reside in the shrine is available (every month on the 22nd including a few days before and after).

With old storage houses dating from the second half of the Edo period to the Shōwa era, visitors can feel the charm of an authentic sake brewery. The historic Tamashiki Shrine and Kisai Castle are nearby, and there is a promenade set up for a relaxed stroll in the countryside.

Reopened in April 2021 as a tourism and souvenir center! This store has a modern Japanese atmosphere that stays true to Gyoda City, which has been recognized as a Japanese Heritage site. There are a wide range of 150 different types of products available for sale from around 50 brands, including local goods such as fashionably designed tabi (split-toed socks), Minamikawara slippers made of colorful fabrics from Africa and other foreign countries, "Gyoda no gyoza" (dumplings) made from local flour, Narazuke pickles, Jumangoku Manju (steamed bun), Wataboku Milk, and more. So can also rent bicycles here, so be sure to stop by on your way to sightseeing.

“Kiyasse Hanyū” is the nickname for Hanyū City Mitakaya agricultural and forest park. This park, with an area of roughly 3.6 hectares, has a flower-filled “Shiki no Oka” (four seasons hill), a production building selling local vegetables harvested fresh each morning, a beer factory that manufactures Hanyū’s local beer “Kobushi Hana Beer,” and a restaurant to enjoy handmade udon. Inside the park, there is playground equipment for kids, and events and vegetable harvesting experiences are held year round.

This hot spring was opened at Aeon Town Yoshikawa Minami in June 2021 under the theme ''deliciousness, happiness, beauty, and health." There are three types of indoor baths, a reclining bath and an outdoor bath. After taking a bath, you can enjoy sushi produced by Kanazawa Maimon and sweets by chocolatier Hironobu Tsujiguchi of Le Chocolat de H in the food court attached to the spa.

Tabi to Kurashi (Tabi and Life) Museum was originally a factory of tabi socks delivering to tabi stores under the name Bokuya Honten (Main Branch). The factory was reborn as a museum, retaining most of the original factory’s appearance. At the museum, demonstrations by individuals who used to be tabi craftsmen can be seen, and your own original tabi (additional cost) can be made every second Sunday of the month.

This spot located nearby Ōshi Castle is famous for its water hyacinth. The park's Blue Lake (Aoi no Ike) displays beautiful water hyacinth when in season. The square is also known for its 200 cherry blossom trees. There is also the "Literary Monument of a Country Teacher“ (Inaka Kyōshi-no Bungakuhi) of Katai Tayama. A verse from the book Inaka Kyōshi, “The road to Yori was long…,” is engraved on the monument.