Sightseeing Spots

Established during the late Edo Kaei era (1850), Japanese sake, ume liqueur and sake lees are sold at this old-fashioned sake brewery and Taishō period store. Visitors can enjoy a cozy experience that can only be had at a small brewery. If touring the brewery, you will also get a small sake cup as a present. You can taste and compare various alcohols kept at different temperatures, and sake tasting games are also on the menu. Please consult with us regarding the content experience and pricing. Tours are held regardless of the season, but sake is prepared during the winter. There are times when it is difficult to hold tours during the sake preparation season.

Hachigata Castle is a quintessential castle from the Warring States period and was selected as one of the 100 famous castles of Japan. The castle is said to have been built in 1476 by Nagao Kageharu, a retainer of the Yamanouchi Uesugi clan and leader of the Kanto region, and the castle was later expanded to its current size by the Odawara clan. When the feudal lord Toyotomi Hideyoshi attacked and besieged the castle in 1590, the soldiers inside held out for one month before giving up, surrendering the castle in exchange for their lives. The castle was later 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.

Here you can see the only castanet-playing haniwa (clay figurine) and dancing female haniwa (clay figurine) ever found in Japan! In addition to the many earthenware and stone tools on display, you'll get an introduction to the life of Kiku Nishizaki, the first Japanese female seaplane pilot and great historical figure of Kamisato, who was the model for the heroine of an NHK TV series.

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.

This is the site of Hatakeyama Shigetada's mansion, which is maintained as a park. In the park there is a five-story pagoda, said to be the grave of Shigetada and his vassals, a well said to be where Shigetada had his first bath after birth, and a bronze statue of Shigetada himself.

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

Menuma Shodenzan Kangiin Temple is known as one of Japan’s three holy temples and is said to bring blessings for matrimony, family health, fortune, and scholarly achievements. In 2012, the main sanctuary, “Kangiin Shotendo,” was designated as a national treasure due to its highly skilled carvings, modern decorative architecture and public funding of its construction. Events take place throughout the year, such as the annual grand festival and Setsubun festivals during the spring and autumn.

A famous cherry blossom spot since the Edo period (1603-1868) and one of Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots chosen by the Japan Cherry Blossom Association. Around 500 Yoshino Cherry Blossom trees bloom in great splendor on a 2 meter stretch of the Arakawa riverbank. During the Kumagaya Cherry Blossom Festival held from late March to early April, revelers can also enjoy nighttime illuminated cherry blossoms.

With a height of 305 meters, this charming little mountain is a familiar symbol of Hidaka City. There are hiking courses with a variety of terrains, including a gentle slope for beginners and a rocky slope for the veteran climber. At the top of the mountain is a Japanese Hokyointo Pagoda and the entire area of Hidaka City is visible from here. On a clear day, you can even see the skyscrapers of Shinjuku and the Tokyo Sky Tree towering in the distance.

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.

This facility provides a place for interaction among those in and outside of the region. 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.

Yoshimi Town is dotted with man-made swamps, which are reservoirs built for rice paddy cultivation. Lake Hatcho is one such man-made swamp with an area of about 52,000 square meters. The kanji character for "Ha" can mean both "eight" and "many." Since several "eights" together has a catchy sound, there are historical expressions in the Japanese language which repeat the number eight to mean "many," such as "happyaku yacho" (many towns in Edo) or "happyaku yabashi" (many bridges in Osaka). Lake Hatcho used to be called "Hatcho Hattan no Numa" (one town block and 8,000 sq.meters) as a play on these expressions, but since the surface area of the lake isn't technically that big, this name isn't in use anymore.

The observatory at Mt. Ninomiya is located at the town's highest location, at an elevation of 131.8 meters. From this observatory, you can enjoy the far-off Mt. Asama, Mt. Tanigawa, Nikko Mountain range, Mt. Tsukuba, and Chichibu mountains, and from the top floor you can get a view overlooking the skyscrapers of Shinjuku using a free telescope. If you're lucky, you can even see Tokyo Skytree! When flowers such as azaleas are bloom, this area is perfect for a lovely stroll.

This farmers market sells mainly local agricultural products and specialty goods and functions as a hub for agricultural promotion and regional revitalization. In addition to local agricultural products, handicrafts and processed goods from both in and outside of the prefecture are available. The store has an dine-in space where you can enjoy food and drink, and there is also a spacious lawn. In the future, they plan to offer a rental kitchen where anyone can make sweets and side dishes to sell.

Said to be one of the oldest artifacts in Saitama Prefecture, the ruins of this kiln date back to the 7th century. It has been designated a historical spot of Saitama Prefecture. It was once thought to be a tile kiln created for the establishment of Musashi Kokubunji Temple, however after careful inspection of an excavated tile, it was discovered that the kiln was created for the establishment of Saguro Temple in Sakado.

Ranked 16th in the 1988 Japan Big Trees Ranking, this giant camphor tree is certified 1st in the prefecture. The tree has a trunk circumference of 15m, a height of 30m, and is over 1,000 years old. The tree canopy is also a magnificent sight to see. It is designated a natural monument of the prefecture.

As the 10th sacred site on the Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, this temple has been worshipped since ancient times. During the Sengoku period, the temple was used as the main camp for the Takeda forces during their siege of Matsuyama Castle. After passing through the rows of houses which once hid throngs of visitors, you will arrive at Niomon Gate. Climbing up the stone steps, you can see the city’s oldest bell tower and a wooden temple dedicated to Kannon, as well as a large Ginkgo tree. ※ Seasonal Info: The leaves of the giant ginkgo tree, estimated to be over 700 years old, turn a spectacular yellow color in early December every year.

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 raise their banners in unison to signify that many sweet potato varieties are now available for purchase, 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 charming attraction.

In the rural moutain village satoyama of Ishizaka no Mori, you'll be surrounded by lush nature. Visited by many as a place for finding health and purpose, one can gain a deeper understanding of ecosystems and nature conservation. Be the first to experience the new face of rural Japan, in the satoyama of Ishizaka no Mori.

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!

JA Saitama Chuo's Higashi Matsuyama direct sales center "Inahoterasu" is an open building constructed from local wood and natural materials. The name was chosen by the locals with a contest. 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 snacks!

Mizuko Kaizuka Park covers roughly 40,000 square meters and was built to protect and utilize a historically designated site of midden (ancient waste collection spots) significant to the first half of the Jomon period (approximately 5500 to 6500 years ago). The size of the site represents the original ancient village, a path spanning 582 meters encircles the park, and 5 pit-houses (shelter houses built into the ground) and the Jomon era forest which surrounded the village have been restored. At the exhibition hall, excavated dwelling sites have been replicated, demonstrating how the ancient people lived at that time utilizing the midden. There is also an adjoining archive museum displaying artifacts unearthed from the city's ruins, with stone tools from the Paleolithic era roughly 30,000 years ago, designated cultural property Jomon pottery (nicknamed “flying squirrel-shaped pottery” ) unearthed from the ruins of Hazawa, an iron sword and a glass bead from the beginning of the Kofun period, and numerous other artifacts representing the primitive and ancient times of Fujimi City.

Surrounded by splendid nature, this is a factory where you can build canoes with the local Nishikawa timber. You can also rent canoes and try them out before building your own. Or just stop by if you're simply looking to have some fun in the river!

This fishing pond is very accessible, located approximately 9 kilometers (about 15 minutes) from the Higashi Matsuyama Interchange of the Kan-Etsu Expressway and roughly 5 kilometers (about 10 minutes) from the Ranzan-Ogawa Interchange. The pond is encircled by beautiful nature and has a surface area of roughly 11,600 square meters. On Saturday and Sunday, you can enjoy handmade udon made with local flour and buy locally grown vegetables at the farmer’s restaurant.