Sightseeing Spots

As said in the "Sayama tea picking song", "Shizuoka is color, Uji is the scent, but flavor, that is limited to Sayama". Sayama tea is one of Japan's three great tea sorts together with Shizuoka and Uji. It is considered to be one of the "large teas". At Miyanoen, you can familiarize yourself with Sayama tea 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.

This is a historical shrine said to have started Jikaku Daishi Ennin In 849. There is also a letter bearing the shogun’s scarlet seal.

This is a museum that exhibits the collection of pictures and sculptures owned by Tabei Jinichi. Along with the exhibition of famous painters, the artworks of artist, Konoki Mioku, is permanently exhibited.

This park, which is unique in the prefecture due to its skateboard and basketball area and its outdoor stage, was made possible after a young man attending the coming-of-age ceremony contacted the mayor of the city. During heavy rains, the park becomes a regulating pond to reduce flooding damage to nearby houses.

The historic site "Sugaya Yakata Castle" (a national historic castle site) overlooking the Toki River to the south is said to be the place where Hatakeyama Shigetada built his mansion in the early Kamakura period. Inside Sugaya-kan, there is a museum dedicated to the historic remains of Ranzan Town. Furthermore, the area is also known for its Yamayuri (Mountain Lilies), which grow wild and are at their best around July every year. In addition, plum and cherry trees are also planted here. Together with Sugaya-kan, Ranzan town is home to Sugiyama Castle, and both of them were appointed as being among the "Continued 100 Fine Castles of Japan" on April 6, 2017.

An old resting house for travelers, built from local cedar and cypress trees, was remodeled and opened on May 16th in 2018 as a public rest area. Local products, such as the Sōka Senbei (rice cracker), are sold, and you can find plenty of useful information, making it a great starting place for any traveler in the area.

Known as Iwadono Kannon, Shōbōji’s official name is Iwadonosan Shōbōji. At the Bando 33 spot pilgrimage’s 10th Holy Place, people have prayed from ancient times, which lead to the achievement of a constant stream of people. During the age of civil wars, when the forces of Takeda took on Matsuyama Castle, it is said that the honjin (an officially appointed hotel with accommodations for a daimyo and his procession) was established. When you pass the row of houses that hid what used to be a constant stream of people, the Niōmon gate comes into view. If you climb up the stone steps you can see the city’s oldest bell tower and a temple built by wood dedicated to Kannon as well as a large Ginkgo tree. ※ Seasonal Information: The yellowing of the leaves of the large ginkgo tree estimated to be over 700 years-old is best in early December.

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.

12 million cosmos flowers bloom on the fields along the Arakawa riverbank. Enjoy the impressive view of the Chichibu mountain range and Mt. Fuji, all while surrounded by a sea of cosmos flowers. The best time to see the cosmos flower is in mid-October, but poppies can also be enjoyed in May. At the Cosmos Festival in mid-October, the area becomes lively with stage events, refreshment stalls, and cosmos picking events.

Harvesting can be experienced throughout the year with tomato and strawberry picking in the spring, eggplant and blueberry picking in the summer, chestnut picking and sweet potato digging in the autumn, and finally harvesting broccoli, onions, and radishes in the winter. Also, barbecue, camping (mess kit for rice making), and classes of Kazo City’s famous handmade udon are available. From late March to the end of November, there will be a stage show of popular characters among children such as Pretty Cure, Kamen Rider, Anpanman. On a day with clear weather, it will take place on the stage outside while on a rainy day, it will take place at the family building hall.

With the improvements of the biotop, the marshes are much more approachable. Suitable as a fishing place, many individuals come to fish throughout the year.

It has been called this name ever since the Meiji Emperor reached the summit, making it the first scenic spot designated by the prefecture. Despite the low altitude, the town of Hannō can be overlooked. The sakura in the spring, azalea, and the tinted colors of the autumn leaves are beautiful making it the starting point of the Oku-Musashi nature trail.

Located at the north exit of Yoshikawa Station on the JR Musashino Line, Rappi-Land offers a wide variety of goods and souvenirs related to the city of Yoshikawa, the home of the catfish. There is a wide variety of Japaese sweets such as manjyu, dorayaki, monaka, senbei, and even locally produced cola. You will even be greeted by a real catfish! The shop also serves as a tourist information center, so please stop by when you come to Yoshikawa.

The observatory at Mt. Ninomiya is the highest point in town, with an altitude of 131.8 meters. And needless to say, it offers a spectacular view! From this observatory, you can enjoy the far-off Mt. Asama, Mt. Tanigawa, Nikko Mountain range, Mt. Tsukuba, and the Chichibu mountains. If you go up to the top floor, you can overlook the skyscrapers of Shinjuku by using the free telescope. If you're lucky, you can even see the Tokyo Skytree! Besides, there are flowers such as the azalea planted, making it a lovely route for a stroll.

The Ishizaka no Mori, is a mountain village where you can easily come in contact with the vast nature. Many people build a relationship with the area to search for additional value in their lives or to delve deeper into the understanding of ecosystems and the conservation of nature. This is a place where you can become a part of creating the new version of countryside life before anyone else.

The 12 cities and towns along with the 13 places of scenic beauty related to Matsuo Bashō’s “Oku no Hosomichi” has been recognized for influencing the scenery and lives of future people, as well as preserving the elegance and atmosphere of past times. Collectively, these areas are appointed as one of the best scenic spots in the country.

Fresh vegetables and locally-produced eggs harvested by more than 130 local farmers along with handmade dishes (to be served with rice) can be bought in the bright shop where you can feel the warmth of the wooden interior. Outside, a shop put out by the local butcher sells Yakitori and dumplings made of pure rice. This farmers' market is very popular with the people of the town. Products brought in by farmers in the morning are sold on the day, for the whole day. The best part about it all is the freshness.

Center for Environmental Science in Saitama is a core institution of environmental sciences with the environmental education center and the national institute for environmental studies combined into one. We offer various opportunities for the citizens of the prefecture to study the environment through exhibitions and a range of events. With the renewal construction completed in 2020, a new exhibition hall “Sai Kankan” has been added. Please come and see the changes for yourself! An eye-catching renewal! Sai Kankan Dome. A large video screen, covering your entire field of vision! There are two sections: “A Chapter on the Earth’s Environment”, which takes on the issues of the environment on a global scale, and “A Chapter on the Biological Environment”, which takes on environmental issues that take place close to us through a dragonflies perspective. There are 42 seats available.

As a base for agricultural promotion and regional revitalization, this is a direct sales facility that mainly sells local agricultural products and specialties. In addition to local agricultural products, handicrafts and processed products from both within and outside the prefecture are sold. The store has an eat-in space where you can eat and drink on the spot. There is also a spacious lawn on the premises. In the future, they even intend to rent out a processing room where anyone can make sweets and side dishes to sell.

The 20-hectare park was established in March 1989 to ensure a comfortable living environment and to create a beautiful urban landscape on the former site of Camp Asaka, which was confiscated by the U.S. military in 1945. The park is well known as a place for sports and recreation, with a multipurpose plaza and jogging course. Furthermore, the vast park is also used as an evacuation site. Nearby are Tokyo Metropolitan Oizumi Central Park, Nerima Ward Oizumi Sakura Athletic Park, Tokyo Yono Green Belt (Nagakubo Ryokuchi), Niiza Ryokudo, and Sakae Ryokudo in Niiza City, each of which functions as a large green belt that straddles municipal and prefectural borders.

This is a unique factory tour facility where you can have a fun time while learning about the world of sweets. You can observe the manufacturing process of Pocky and Pretz up close, learn about chocolate in a fun way, enjoy a quiz tour, watch the museum zone where 1500 toys are exhibited, and you can even take part in a workshop to make your own sweets! This is a spot that not only children but also adults can enjoy through a wide variety of experiences!

JA Saitama Chuo's Higashi Matsuyama direct sales center "Inahoterasu" is an open building constructed with local wood and natural material. The name was chosen through a contest where locals participated and came with suggestions. Inahoterasu symbolizes how the ears of rice (=inaho) will light up (=terasu) a bright future for people. Here you can find a wide variety of souvenirs from Higashimatsuyama City, such as processed pears and chestnuts, yakitori rice crackers, and other sweets!

Houses of farmers who are responsible for the production of Miyoshi-machi’s specialty product “Fuji-no-kawagoe-Imo” are lined up on the highroad. During the season, banner-flags are risen and a range of products can be bought directly from each farmer which is something that can only be done at the district of production (from September to January). There are also farmers who sell ice cream and yōkan made by Fuji-no-kawagoe-Imo and shōchū. In addition, there are large Japanese zelkovas on both sides of the highroad which is another highlight.

The purpose of this facility is to provide a place for interaction within and outside the community. The facility has a spacious lawn and a variety of playground equipment that can be freely used by anyone. In addition to renting out the training room and processing room facilities, the Exchange and Experience Center also holds independent projects such as hands-on classes and exhibitions.