Sightseeing Spots

The Hachimanyama Kofun (Mount Hachiman burial mound), is the central burial mound within the group of Wakakodama burial mounds that can be found in the area. It is estimated to be built in the 7th century and has a diameter of 80 meters. It was restored in 1981. From the stone hut, the “Urushi Nuri Mokkan (lacquered wooden casket)” was found in almost perfect condition. Those buried inside are assumed to have been people of power. It is called “Kanto-no-Ishibutai (Kanto’s Ishibutai) because it is a grand stone hut that matches those of the Ishibutai Kofun (Ishibutal burial mound) of Asukamura of Nara prefecture.

The entrance of the Kawagoe Kashiya Yokochō candy store is marked with a large purple noren (shop curtain with emblem and name). A wide variety of sweets are produced and sold here, including kura manjū (Japanese-style bun stuffed with sweetened bean paste), sweet potato yōkan (sweetened bean jelly), potato sweets, and rice crackers. We can assist you in basic English.

At the Hanayo Glass Studio of Tamami Sudo, a glass blowing artist who has done exhibitions at numerous famous department stores, you can try your hand at glass blowing and sandblasting (reservations required). The studio is popular, both for the thorough instructions that make it enjoyable for anyone, as well as the fact that you make a memento that you can bring with you home. You can also enjoy the stunning works of Tamami Sudo that are on display in the studio.

Natural hot springs, open-air baths, Ganban yoku which uses black silica; experience the full healing effects of 10 unique baths that are ready to wash your fatigue away. Enjoy a relaxing meal or a foot bath surrounded by the traditional townscape that will make you feel like you have traveled back in time. In addition, chiropractors, body scrub treatment, and refreshment rooms are plentiful, allowing maximum leisure! Enjoy “healing and moisture” to your heart’s content.

Being rich in wood, Tokigawa Town’s local industry is prominent in the production of fixtures. Products beings sold center around fixtures, furniture, handicrafts, and agricultural products that hold warmth. You are guaranteed to encounter handicrafts made with care. Orders of fixtures and furniture, as well as consultation, can be done. How would you like an “exclusive product” only for you?

A shell 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 seashells of Japanese littleneck, common orient clam, and blood clam. The mound is located behind the Kannon statue in the 5th temple of the Adachi Bandō pilgrim route.

A cluster of spider lily grows on the banks of the Karasu River. With a backdrop of a clear blue sky, Mt. Haruna, one of the three mountains of Jōmō, and the Karasu River, named after the legend of Yamato Takeru, a ripe red carpet spreads out.

With an elevation of 305 meters, this charming little mountain is a familiar symbol of Hidaka City. There is a hiking course that offers a variety of ways to climb the mountain, including a gentle slope for the inexperienced and a rocky slope for the veteran climber. At the top of the mountain is a Japanese Hokyointo Pagoda, and you can enjoy the view of Hidaka City. On a clear day, you can also see the skyscrapers of Shinjuku and the Tokyo Sky Tree looming in the distance.

This is the main shrine of Kounosu, where the legend of konotori (=stork), which is also believed to be the reason behind the cities name, has been handed down to this day. In 1873, Raiden Shrine, Kumano Shrine, and Hikawa Shrine were combined to form Kono Shrine. At the end of the year, they hold a Tori no Ichi marked at the shrine.

From the “Sakitama Kofun (Tumulus)” built between the late 5th century to the early 7th century to the national treasure “Musashi Sakitama Inariyama Kofun Artifact”, much of these valuable cultural properties are stored here. Also, this is a facility that allows you to climb both the Inariyama Kofun and Maruhakayama Kofun. (For more information regarding the facility, please refer to the URL below.)

The Yoshimi Hundred Caves is a horizontal hole tomb built at the end of the Kofun period (late 6th to late 7th century) and was designated as a national historic site in 1918. It is a historic site that represents Yoshimi Town, and there are currently 219 horizontal holes that have been confirmed. Each hole consists of two parts, a narrow passage, and a burial chamber. In some of the holes, you can also find the natural monument luminous moss growing.

A fermentation theme park run by Pickles Corporation, a tsukemono (Japanese pickles) maker. There are select shops for fermented foods, cafes, restaurants, and workshops available. You can eat dishes made with rice bran and lactic acid bacteria, buy pickles and fermented foods carefully selected from all over the country. You can also experience fermentation directly with any of the workshops to make kimchi, pickled bran, and seasonal dishes.

This facility utilizes the nature of Sayama Hills as an opportunity to interact with and think about our relationship to nature. There is an exhibition room, observation balcony, seminar hall, outdoor grilling space, and much more. There are also five themed spots on a hill adjacent to the center: Waterbird Paradise, Bug Forest, Wetlands Village, Tree Forest, and Butterfly Forest.

Enjoy country-style handmade soba, udon, and other set menus long popular among the farmers of Ashigakubo. You can also enjoy strawberry picking! The strawberries are bright red and packed with juicy sweetness. Strawberry picking is located right next to Menya Kinoko Chaya. If you want to pick strawberries, stop by Menya Kinoko Chaya first. ※ Time limit of 30 minutes per entry. ※ We would appreciate it if you could contact us in advance.

The ruins of Matsuyama Castle, once a superb flatland-mountain castle in the Kitamusashi region, have been designated as a prefectural historical site since 1925. In 2008, the ruins of Sugaya yakata (Ranzan Town), which had already been designated as a national historic site, were joined by the ruins of Sugiyama Castle (Ranzan Town) and Kokura Castle (Tokigawa, Ranzan, and Ogawa Town) to form the Hiki Castle Ruins Group, which now is designated as a national historic site. The castle is surrounded by a swampy area formed by the Ichino River, which creates a natural barrier.

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. There is a legend regarding this place that goes something like this. Once upon a time, there was a rich man who was looking for a place to hide his treasure. One day, he paid a visit to Takaohikone Shrine and asked for the best place to hide his treasure. 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, as a remnant of this story, the rocky mountain is called Mount Ponpon and is said to be inhabited by a divine spirit.

As you go through the mountain road, you will see a direct sales store built from Japanese cypress. It specializes in the treasures of the mountain, harvested in the Ōno region, such as the mountain mushrooms and wild plants. The “Chirimen Norabō-na” only available here has a deep sweet taste, making it a popular product every year. The building is the oldest out of the 4 direct sales stores within the town and is said to be the model of the “Myōkaku Station” which has the same octagonal shape.

It is one of the most prestigious shrines in the prefecture, and since it is dedicated to Mt. Omuro, which is considered to be a sacred mountain, there is no main shrine, making it one of the few places that still display the traditional form of Shinto belief. There are only two other shrines such as Kamana Shrine in Japan. The Suwa Grand Shrine in Nagano and the Oomiwa Shrine in Nara. The origin of the shrine is said to be when the god Yamato Takeru Nomikoto hid the tools of fire in Mt. Omuro. The shrine also enshrines the god of the sun, Amaterasu Omikami, and the god of storm, Susano Onomikoto.

Purchases can be made from 1 piece of sembei (Japanese rice crackers). We have more than 30 flavors available. Other than this, we also offer sembei wrapped individually to make it easier to eat, along with gifts and seasonal Japanese sweets. 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.

The barbecue place opened on the river site 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 while being immersed in nature.

The main building and the guest house, built from the end of the Edo period to the first half of the Meiji period, are centered around a barn and two storehouses, and the stone walls and white walls facing the street are what create the beautiful scenery of Komago. It was designated as a national tangible cultural property in 2014.

It is a place located very close to the Ōshi Castle and is noted for its water hyacinth. The Aoi-no-ike (lake) within the park displays beautiful water hyacinth at a certain season. The square is also known for its 200 trees of sakura (cherry blossom). In addition, “Inaka Kyōshi-no Bungakuhi" (Literary Monument of a Country Teacher) of Katai Tayama was built here. In the monument, a verse from the book Inaka Kyōshi, “The road to Yori was long…”, is engraved.

Here you can find local vegetables and fruits harvested in Namegawa. We recommend the freshly polished white rice, cucumber, eggplant, and radish (vegetables vary based on the season). The farmers' market is a popular location where you can find seasonal fresh vegetables. Also, there are a variety of events such as the corn festival, rice harvest festival, agricultural festival along with the sales of seasonal delicacies such as the chestnut and dried persimmon of Bushū.

Atarashii Mura, or The New Village, is a tourist facility with "agriculture" as its theme. The facility has a market called "Mori no Ichiba Yui" that sells fresh vegetables produced by the local farmers of Atarashii Mura. Furthermore, there is a cafe called Mori no Cafe, where visitors can enjoy a light meal or a drink. Lastly, At the facility called "Noh no Ie," they have a herb garden that contains more than 100 different species. Among other things, they offer hands-on experiences of harvesting lavender and mint, programs and lectures on agriculture and food, and rent out their facilities. If that isn't enough, they even grow their own rice, a popular product that many visitors buy and bring home.