Sightseeing Spots

This is a museum for the classics of the Rolls Royce and the Bentley, in which the Bentley was beloved by Jirō Shirasu and the Rolls Royce by the former prime minister, Shigeru Yoshida. See the door open and close, hear the sound of the engine, and come into contact with the running figure of the car; the power of these once active famous cars can be felt to this day.

The Sakitama Shrine holds a history of a thousand and a few hundred years and is an ancient shrine with a majestic and calm atmosphere originating from Saitama Prefecture. 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 tumulus named Sengenzuka (mound) and adjoins to Saitama Kofun Group. The deity has two pillars: Sakitamahimenomikoto and Sakitamahikonomikoto and are gods that protect individuals, brings good fortune and matrimony. Recently, there are limited edition Shuin (seal stamps) with the motif of 4 cats that reside in the shrine (every month on the 22nd including a few days before and after) and is very popular.

Hanazono Forest is two minutes away from the Hanazono Interchange via car and is a sweets theme park with the theme being a quiet European mansion. Here you can buy sweet gifts, such as Baumkuchen, perfect to snack on or give as souvenirs. Cakes and gelatos chosen by patissiers, freshly baked bread, and outlet products are sold as well. Please enjoy the vast garden with the beautiful blooming roses while eating your favorite sweets or bread. (For more information regarding the facility, please refer to the URL below)

The Saitama Museum of Rivers is an experience-oriented comprehensive museum centering around the Arakawa river with the theme being water and the livelihood of people.

The dam constructed in Yorii town on the Arakawa River is called the "Tamayodo Dam," and the artificial lake created by the Tamayodo Dam is known as the “Lake Tamayodo (Tamayodoko).” It is said to have highly transparent water and offers a peaceful lake surrounded by forests. Visitors can enjoy activities such as canoeing and rafting. It is also famous as one of the famous spots for autumn leaves in Yorii town.

Of the total 61 kilometers of the Motoara River, 8 kilometers run through the Fukiage area. There are 17 bridges across the river, including the Shinsaga Bridge, a Civil Engineering Heritage Site selected by the Japan Society of Civil Engineers. Many of the bridges are decorated with poems and sculptures, making the exploration of them a perfect activity for some leisurely sightseeing!

Hachigata Castle is a typical castle from the Warring States period and selected as one of the 100 famous castles of Japan. The castle is said to have been built in 1476 by one of the retainers of Yamanouchi Uesugi, the leader of the Kanto region, and later expanded to its current size in 1560 by the Odawara clan. When the feudal lord Hideyoshi Toyotomi attacked and besieged the castle in 1590, the soldiers inside held out for one month before giving up, opening the castle in exchange for their lives. After this incident, the castle was demolished and abandoned, but you can still see a large number of ruins that remain largely undisturbed, reminding us of the strong fortress of the past.

The Edo-higan zakura tree located in Hachigata Castle Park is a natural monument of the town. This cherry blossom is estimated to be over 150 years old, and every year around the end of March, its branches spread out in the shape of an umbrella to display the flowers as they bloom magnificently! In the evening during peak season, you can even enjoy it illuminated!

Although the historical Kisai Castle was a one-story building enclosed by earthworks and walls, it was restored as a castle with an impressive keep. Many of the unearthed artifacts and historical collections found through the excavations of the Kisai region are displayed in the exhibition room for local collections.

From the moment you pass through the Nagaya gate, you will find yourself in an atmospheric space where you can feel the peace and nostalgia of an old traditional house. In the garden, roses are in full bloom, and inside the facility, there is a restaurant where you can eat and a center specializing in local produce, allowing you to buy and bring home fresh vegetables. This is a great place to enjoy an atmospheric and relaxing time.

There are old breweries that are from the second half of the Edo period to Shōwa, allowing for one to feel the unique unique charm of a sake brewery. There is the historic Tamashiki Shrine and Kisai Castle nearby, with a promenade set up allowing for a relaxed stroll in the countryside.

From the observation deck located at an altitude of 370 meters, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Yorii Town and the glittering night view of the skyline. In September, this place turns into a hotspot for observing the seasonal migration of the hawks.

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. Furthermore, the shrine appears in the animation “Lucky Star”, and in turn, Washimiya shrine uses this work to revitalize the area.

The Arakawa Line downstream boating in Chichibu Nagatoro allows you to ride upon the beautifully layered stone riverbed, which is designated as a national natural monument. It is a relaxing course with a couple of thrills along the way, but perfectly safe for children and seniors to enjoy as well. While listening to the boatman's entertaining speech, you can enjoy the cherry blossoms in the spring, the cool breeze in the summer, the beautiful colors of autumn, and the warmth of the kotatsu (heated table) boat in the winter. In other words, a perfect outdoor activity regardless of the season!

This shrine was said to be founded by Yamato Takeru, the 12th Emperor of Japan, around 2,000 years ago. The current main building of the shrine is Shinto-style architecture, where 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 during the end of the Edo period to the early Meiji period. The shrine is said to protect from fires, theft, and pain. Not only do many worshipers come from the local area, but also from throughout Kanto region, with more than one million annual visitors.

This garden is located on a vast field of about 10,000 square meters behind the Nagatoro Town Folk Museum. The Japanese name "Hanabishisou" comes from the shape of the California golden poppy, which is said to resemble a rhombus ("hishi" in Japanese). In early summer, California golden poppies bloom all over the entire hill, and from May to June, the contrast between the deep blue sky and the vivid orange flowers is mesmerizing.

Established 290 years ago, Nagatorogura Sake Brewery and Boutique Store is a sake brewery that carries on the spirit of 11th Hino merchant Sōbē Fujisaki, who devoted his life to bringing Saitama’s Japanese sake to the world. In September 2018, to further pursue Sōbe Fujisaki's sake brewing tradition of “polish with skill and brew from your heart," the sake brewery moved to Nagatoro, a beautiful place of nature. Using naturally flowing water from the Fuppu area and rice grown on Saitama soil, we are producing the Japanese sake "THE SAITAMA ORIGINAL." (For more information about our facility, please visit the URL below.)

The sakura garden in Gongendo is a hot spot for cherry blossoms, thanks to the 1000 Yoshino cherry trees that line up along a stretch of 1 km. Surrounded by beautiful yellow rapeseed, this place is a popular destination for spring explorers. Furthermore, in June, you can enjoy stunning Hydrangea, in September the vivid red Spider lily, and in January, charming white Daffodils. A wonderful spot to visit, regardless of the season!

Plum planting began in 1986 at Ume Hyakkaen Garden. You can enjoy about 170 varieties of plum flowers, including rare ones such as the early blooming red plum during the winter solstice and the three famous flowers of the moon, mangetsu, tagoto, and soumei. From mid-February, about 470 plum are in full bloom, and the fragrant plum scent spreads all the way to the summit.

This ropeway was installed on Mt. Hodōsan at an altitude of 497 meters, connecting the 832 meter distance from Sanroku Station to Sanchō Station in 5 minutes. The two gondolas go back and forth between Sanroku and Sanchō Stations operating under a four-line crossing system. The gondolas’ names, “The Bambi” and “The Monkey I,” both originate from the popular Japanese macaque and deer that inhabit the small zoo on Mt. Hodōsan.

Kita-zakura Street is the tunnel of cherry blossoms, with about 400 cherry blossoms lining a 2.5 kilometer road that runs the length of the Arakawa river from Nagatoro Station to Takasago Bridge. The Sakura Passage is located at the foot of Mt. Hodo in Nagatoro Town. Here you can see about 500 cherry blossoms trees with more than 30 varieties of double cherry blossoms. During the flowering season, they are lit up with beautiful illuminations. The best time to see the flowers is from early April to mid-April on Kita-zakura Street and from mid-April to late April on the Sakura Passage.

Become one with the peaceful scenery of a mountain village as you enjoy nature and farm life. Pay an annual fee and get unlimited access to farmland where you can grow crops and areas where you can pick and enjoy fruits such as strawberries. In addition, multiple events featuring rice cultivation, digging of bamboo shoots, noodle-making, potato cultivation, and countryside hiking are held throughout the year.

The park is named after the stone tablet on which Kyoshi Takahama wrote the haiku “Kokoniware Kuotomubeki Tsukinoishi,” and is very famous for its autumn leaves. The best time to see the autumn leaves is around November, with the illumination of around 50 acer amoenums Japanese maples. The area is very crowded during this time, especially with photography aficionados. You can enjoy the autumn leaves at the adjacent prefectural nature museum as well.

Presenting the theme, "From the past to the future: traveling 300 million years through Saitama's history of people's coexistence with nature," Saitama Museum of Natural History stores various resources related to nature, and displays the fossils of giant shark, “Megalodon," and mysterious sea animal, “Paleoparadoxia," discovered in Saitama Prefecture. The museum is constructed into two halls: the "Geology Exhibition," where visitors can learn about various fossils, rocks and minerals, geological strata and earth formations, and the "Biology Exhibition," featuring large dioramas of the four major forests of Saitama and the animals that live in them. Nagatoro area is a perfect example of the nature in Saitama, and here you can enjoy detailed explanations of its characteristics for a deeper understanding. You can also enjoy simulations and free audio guides. (For more information regarding the facility, please refer to the URL below.)