Sightseeing Spots

This monument of a golden catfish, the symbol of Yoshikawa City, is proudly displayed in the Yoshikawa Station South Exit rotary on the JR Musashino Line. It welcomes visitors to Yoshikawa City, which promotes itself as the "home of the catfish." It was created by Kazumi Murose, a lacquer artist considered a "national living treasure," and was installed on May 9th, 1995.

This is a long-established rice cracker shop recognized by its large signboard. The cute "namazu sembei (rice cracker)" in the shape of a catfish symbolize Yoshikawa, the home of the catfish, and is a popular souvenir. Another favorite with many repeat customers are the Yoshikawa Chips, made with 100% Yoshikawa-grown rice flour and deep-fried in a secret recipe of soy sauce and vegetable oil. Both products have been certified as premium brands by Yoshikawa City.

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 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).

Harvesting experience events are held 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 harvesting broccoli, onions, and radishes in the winter. Also, barbecue, camping (mess kit for rice making), and Kazo City’s famous handmade udon workshops are available. From late March to the end of November, there are stage shows of popular children's characters such as Pretty Cure, Kamen Rider and Anpanman. The shows take place on the outdoor stage on clear weather days, and inside the family building hall on rainy days.

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.

The waters of this hot spring contain no sodium, classifying it as a "simple" alkaline hot spring, a rarity in the Kanto region. The color of the water is dark brown but sparkles gold when hit by sunlight. Soaking in the hot spring will make your skin smooth, and you are guaranteed to have a relaxing time.

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

These twelve cities and towns and thirteen places of scenic beauty related to Matsuo Bashō’s “Oku no Hosomichi” have been recognized as influencing the scenery and lives of future generations, while preserving the elegance and atmosphere of ancient times. Collectively, these areas have been appointed as one of the top scenic spots in the country.

Enjoy natural hot spring open-air baths and Ganban yoku (hot stone baths) made from black silica, just a few of the ten unique baths prepared to wash your fatigue away. Enjoy a relaxing meal or foot bath surrounded by a traditional townscape that will make you feel like you have traveled back in time. In addition, there are many refreshment rooms for massage and body scrub treatments, allowing for maximum leisure! Enjoy “healing and moisture” to your heart’s content.

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.

This single-floor wooden house, built using the 'Sukiya' architectural style, has been praised and written about by the Japanese literature researcher Donald Keene. The facility now serves as a place to introduce the Sōka area's culture of tea ceremony, flower arrangement, and classical instruments such as koto and shamisen. Furthermore, the facility is also open as a resting area where visitors can enjoy a cup of tea for a small fee.

At the Hanayoi Glass Studio run by Tamami Sudo, a glass artist who has had numerous exhibitions at famous department stores, you can try your hand at glass blowing and sandblasting (reservations required). Participants receive careful instructions which are easy for even beginners, and the workshops are popular for making wedding anniversary or children's milestone mementos. The stunning works of Tamami Sudo that are on display in the studio.

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)”.

Many valuable cultural properties are stored here, such as the “Sakitama Kofun" (megalith tombs) built between the late 5th century and early 7th century and the national treasure “Musashi Sakitama Inariyama Kofun Artifact." At this facility you can also climb both the Inariyama Kofun and Maruhakayama Kofun. (For more information regarding the facility, please refer to the URL below.)

The Hachimanyama Kofun (Mount Hachiman burial mound), is the central burial mound within the group of Wakakodama burial mounds that can be found in this area. It is estimated to have been 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 (Ishibutai burial mound) of Asukamura of Nara prefecture.

Atarashii Mura, or The New Village, is an agriculture-themed tourist facility. There is a market in the facility called "Mori no Ichiba Yui" that sells fresh vegetables produced by the local farmers of Atarashii Mura. There is also a cafe called "Mori no Cafe," where visitors can enjoy a drink or light meal. Lastly, at the facility, "Noh no Ie," they host hands-on experiences and lectures on agriculture and food, offer facility rentals, and have an herb garden of more than 100 different species where hands-on harvesting experiences for lavender and mint are available. They also grown their own rice, a popular product.

This brewery was established in 1805 when Omi merchant, Shoemon Yokota, traveled from Edo to Gyoda City in search of good water. The area closest to Tone River and Arakawa River was found to have plentiful groundwater and this brewery continues to produce exquisite sake made from it. Employing Nanbu-style brewing techniques, known for producing a high quality Ginjo sake, they produce sake in which one can taste the spirit of the brewer, a highly regarded "sake of excellence."

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.

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 the 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.

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

Cherry trees sprouted from the seeds of the Jindai cherry tree in Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture, traveled to space with astronaut Koichi Wakata in 2008 and were planted in Seki Park on April 6th, 2019 through the Kibou (Hope) Cherry Blossom Project, which aims to plant cherry trees in municipalities affected by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. The decision to plant the trees in Yoshikawa City was a result of (1) the children's communication with astronaut Kanai Yoshishige in space, (2) dispatching staff to Iitate Village in Fukushima Prefecture, which was evacuated after the 2011 earthquake, and (3) the desire to pass on to future generations an explanation of the damage caused by Typhoon Kathleen from 70 years ago. The Sakura Festival is held at Seki Park every March.

This aquarium centers around exhibits of the approximately 70 different types of freshwater fish that inhabit Saitama Prefecture from 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 a private museum exhibiting ’Shishimai' (traditional lion dance), featuring authentic lion masks, costumes, documentation, performance videos from all over the country and local toys related to the lion.