Sightseeing Spots

Hanazono Forest is a sweets theme park modeled after a quiet European mansion, just two minutes away from Hanazono Interchange by car. Baumkuchen, sweets and souvenirs perfect as gifts, cakes and gelato specially selected by pastry chefs, freshly baked bread and outlet products are also available. Enjoy your favorite pastry or bread while strolling in the vast, beautiful rose garden.

As sung in the "Sayama tea picking song," "Shizuoka is for color, Uji is for scent, but Sayama's flavor is victorious." Sayama tea is one of Japan's three great tea varieties together with Shizuoka and Uji. At Miyanoen, you can experience Sayama tea hands-on through different workshops. In the tea picking experience, you can don the typical red apron (paid rental), pick and drink tea, try tea leaf tempura, and enjoy matcha art. This is a place to truly enjoy Sayama tea and Japanese tea culture.

Given its name after Emperor Meiji climbed to the summit, Mt. Tenran (imperial inspection) is the first scenic spot designated by the prefecture. Despite its low elevation, Hanno City can be seen below. The cherry blossoms in spring, azaleas, and autumn leaves make this mountain a beautiful starting point to the Okumusashi Long Trail.

This is the birthplace of “Kan’ichi Shimofusa,” a musician and producer of many famous nursery rhymes. It is said that the atmosphere of the old town of Ōtone was his inspiration when composing songs such as “Tanabatasama,” “Nogiku” and “Hanabi.” “Ōtone Koshihikari” rice, harvested with plentiful water and one of the leading varieties “delicious Koshihikari” rice from Saitama, is sold here as “Dōyō no Furusato Ōtone" (hometown of nursery rhymes, Ōtone).

The stage for a powerful display of horseback archery, Izumo Iwai Shrine is the oldest shrine in the prefecture and, together with two building signs, designated as a national important cultural property. According to legend, the origin of the tradition dates back to 1063, when Minamoto no Yoshie visited the area to express gratitude after his successful conquest of Oshu, building the Hachiman Shrine dedicated to the god of horseback archery. Every spring and autumn, young people perform beautiful displays of archery while riding on the backs of galloping horses.

Roadside Station Showa, surrounded by a rural landscape of fertile farmland and pastoral rice fields interwoven with small forest groves, is nestled in the perfect environment to feel the change of the seasons. In the product hall, you can find a variety of souvenirs from all over the country, as well as products unique to the Kasukabe area. You can also buy local fresh vegetables at the farmers market, a place popular with tourists. Meals are also available at the restaurant, "Shokusai-kan."

At our exchange center, attached to the Iwatsuki Doll Museum, we promote the history and culture of Iwatsuki. You can participate in various fun events, try cafe menus, local specialties, eat delicious locally harvested vegetables, gain new knowledge, and meet new people! This is a joyful place where people and information come together.

Seiryu Brewery is famous for being both the biggest producer in the Kanto region and for offering superb taste and top quality. Beginning with their concept of "showing the face of the brewer to inspire trust in the customer," they were the first in the local industry to sell sake at the brewery directly to the customer.

The Nobidome Yosui irrigation canal was diverted from the Tamagawa Aqueduct (Tokyo, Kodaira City) in 1655 to use as drinking water by the pioneers of the plateau, by order of Kawagoe’s daimyō, Matsudaira Nobutsuna, to his vassal, Yasumatsu Kinemon. Today, a promenade set up around the canal transforms this road into a valued spot for nature and relaxation. It has a total length of about 24 km, and also nourishes the rice paddies of Shiki City, Muneoka.

Located only a 5-minute walk from Yoshikawaminami Station on the JR Musashino Line, this is the largest park in Yoshikawa City. From Miharashi Hill, you can see the adjacent pond and multipurpose plaza. There is also a playground with a variety of equipment which can be enjoyed by both children and adults.

This is the oldest remaining gravity dam for agricultural use in eastern Japan. The weir of the dam and its management bridge are both registered as tangible cultural properties of Japan. The area is also known as a famous place for fishing for crucian carp and Japanese smelt (wakasagi). You can also enjoy the cherry blossoms in spring and vividly colored leaves in autumn.

Behind the precincts of Takaohikone Shrine in Tako, Yoshimi Town, there is a rocky mountain with a great view. If you climb up the mountainside and stomp your feet, you will hear a clomping sound (ponpon). There is a legend regarding this place that goes something like this: Once upon a time, there was a rich man looking for a place to hide his fortune. One day, he paid a visit to Takaohikone Shrine and asked for the best place to hide it. The god told him, "Bury it in this rocky mountain. I will protect it for you." The man felt relieved and buried all his riches in the mountain. Today, the rocky mountain is called Mt. Ponpon and is said to be inhabited by a divine spirit, as a remnant of this story.

Around 200 flowers bloom here during peak season. Based on analysis, this is an ancient variety of the lotus flower, and while the exact age cannot be determined, it is estimated to be a variety from the Heian period, around 1,200 years ago. The best time to see them is around early to late July, when the flowers begin to bloom at around 5AM. Since the pond is located in the middle of a residential area, please keep quiet when visiting.

This facility, marked by its unique outer appearance, is a comprehensive learning facility with a planetarium, astronomical observation room, large-screen displays, hands-on learning rooms and workshops. There is also an attached restaurant, farmers market and the Ukino Miso processing facility. The planetarium was renovated and reopened on March 22nd, 2015. It features the latest monocular ultra-high resolution 8K-compatible digital projector, that can project realistic and powerful images of the starry skies and outer space, giving hope and excitement to people of all ages.

This road is lined with farm houses responsible for producing Miyoshi-machi’s specialty sweet potato “Fuji no Kawagoe Imo." When in season in September through January, the farmers raising their banners in unison to signify that many sweet potato varieties are now available for purchase is a sight unique to this area. There are also farmers selling ice cream, yōkan (gelled red bean wagashi) and shōchū made from Fuji no Kawagoe Imo. The large Japanese elm trees on either side of the road are another popular attraction.

A shell midden (refuse mound) from the first half of the Jyōmon period (about 7,000 years ago). At this time in history, the climate was warmer and the ocean was more inland compared to now. The mound mainly consists of the Japanese basket clams that inhabit the brackish waters of the region, but there are also shells of the Japanese littleneck clam, common Orient clam, and blood clam. The mound is located behind the Kannon statue in the fifth temple of the Adachi Bandō pilgrimage route.

This museum exhibits the collection of pictures and sculptures owned by art collector Tabei Jinichi. In addition to the exhibitions of famous painters, the artworks of artist Konoki Mioku are also permanently exhibited.

This is the main shrine of Konosu City, where the legend of the konotori (stork), also believed to be the origin of the cities name, has been handed down to this day. In 1873, Raiden Shrine, Kumano Shrine, and Hikawa Shrine were combined to form Kou Shrine. At the end of the year, they hold a Tori no Ichi fair (festival celebrating good fortune and business prosperity).

Our rice crackers (senbei) are available from a purchase of one cracker. We have more than 30 flavors available. Our senbei are individually wrapped to make them easier to eat, and gifts and seasonal Japanese sweets are also available. There is an “Inauguration Festival” in mid-April, a “Thanksgiving Festival” in mid-October, and a “Thank You Fair” at the end of June and November.

There are many exhibits that tell the history of Konosu Town as well as hina dolls and akamono dolls, a warehouse built in the Meiji period (designated as an important building of Saitama Prefecture's landscape), and a stage decorated with mosaic art. The museum also provides sightseeing information and sells local specialties. Make sure to stop by for an enjoyable time!

This barbecue area opened along the river in 2013 is the first in Tokyo to be operated by a private company. Reserve your favorite spot by the Toki River and enjoy barbecuing in the great outdoors!

Hana no Oasis (flower oasis) is a park located in the Teraya district, the birthplace of flower production in Konosu. In spring, a tulip festival is held among 40,000 tulips. In autumn, you can enjoy the late-blooming sunflowers.

From the top of the park's symbol, the 16-meter high "Yoshikawa Mount Fuji," you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city. On a clear day, you can see the Tokyo Sky Tree and, if you're lucky, you can even see the real Mount Fuji! The majority of the park is covered by green lawn, making the park feel spacious and open.

Strawberry picking is available from January to May, grape picking from August to October, and sweet potato digging from September to October. You can also enjoy a barbeque along with seasonal fruit picking with a reservation. For larger groups, please contact us at least seven days in advance for reservations. When making a reservation, please note that harvest conditions may vary depending on weather and other factors. Please contact us in advance to inquire about harvest conditions.