Sightseeing Spots

This flower garden, dedicated to a variety of early-blooming azalea called Rhododendron dilatatum (mitsuba tsutsuji), was born from cultivating a section of mountain forest over a span of 10 years. In early April, roughly 2500 flowers bloom creating a world of stunning floral beauty!

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

Sprawling out over the Hiki Hills, this 46-hectare site is home to popular animals such as giraffes, red pandas, and koalas, as well as an ecological park dedicated to Humboldt penguins, Penguin Hills. Also adjacent to the park are a walking trail and cross-country course. The zoo is the only place in Japan where visitors can see the small rodent, gundi, at the "Eco Houchoo" (Eco-friendly mouse house), the rabbit-like yellow-spotted rock hyrax, the world's smallest deer, pudu, and the quokka, which joined the zoo to commemorate its 40th anniversary. The Capybara Hot Springs, a winter tradition, is also very popular.

At Namegawa Farmers Market, you can find locally harvested fruits and vegetables for sale. We recommend the freshly polished-to-order white rice, cucumbers, eggplant, daikon radishes and other seasonal items alongside an endless supply of fresh vegetables, popular with many customers. We also hold special events such as corn festival, new rice festival, and agricultural festival, and sell specialties such as Polotan (chestnut variety) and Bushu Koro persimmon.

A complex where visitors can experience Scandinavian culture. Rent a private tent sauna at the Sauna Club, enjoy a Scandinavian-style Kokko BBQ, or shop for regional specialties. In the spring of 2021, a glamping field for up to 10 tents was added to the facility. Feel free to stay the night or simply enjoy a day of fun at this popular location!

Given its name after Emperor Meiji climbed to the summit, Mt. Tenran (imperial inspection) is the first scenic spot designated by the prefecture. Despite its low elevation, Hanno City can be seen below. The cherry blossoms in spring, azaleas, and autumn leaves make this mountain the beautiful starting point of the Okumusashi Long Trail.

In 1970, the “Gogaku Kenshujo Foundation” (village school training institution) was established on the site of the “Japan Agricultural Teachers' School,” founded by Dr. Masahiro Yasuoka in the early Showa period. In 2012, the foundation was officially named the “Foundation for Gogaku Training Institute and Masahiro Yasuoka Memorial Museum” to carry on the tradition of the Japan Agricultural Training School and to promote Gogaku (village schools), as well as to pass on to future generations the much needed teachings and anthropology of Dr. Masahiro Yasuoka.

Anrakuji Temple is the 11th temple of the Bandō 33 Kannon Pilgrimage (Bandō Sanjūsankasho) and has been known as Yoshimi Kannon since ancient times. The main deity is the Holy Avalokitesvara, the deity of compassion, and according to the Yoshimi Kannon dependent origination (Buddhist doctrine), the origin of the temple dates back to about 1200 years ago, when the Buddhist priest Gyoki carved a statue of Avalokitesvara and placed in the rock cave. Every year on June 18th, the Kannon is unveiled in the early morning to the public to ward off evil spirits. Special "Yakuwake Dango" (dumplings to ward off evil) have been sold on this day since long ago, and the long road to Anrakuji Temple continues to be lined with stalls every June 18th, with the area very crowded from around 2 am to early morning.

You can feel the warmth of the trees in this energetic store brimming with fresh vegetables, eggs and readymade side dishes (souzai) supplied by over 130 local farmers. Outside are stalls run by meat suppliers selling yakitori, and junmai dango (pure rice dumplings) are also available. This store is popular even with the local people. The items brought in for sale by the farmers are limited to one day only. We are committed to freshness!

Passing along a road within the mountains, you will come to a direct sales farmers market built from Japanese cypress (hinoki). The shop specializes in mountain mushrooms and wild vegetables harvested in the Ohno region. The “Chirimen Norabō-na,” only available at this shop, is popular every year for its sweetness. The building is the oldest of the town's four direct sales shops, and is said to be the model for Myōkaku Station, which has the same octagonal shape.

Hatoyama Farm Village Park is a park that is free of charge to enter, surrounded by water and greenery. The park is popular with families and used as a resting spot throughout the year.

It is said that Minamoto no Yorinobu, on his way to defeat Taira no Tadatsune in the Heian period (794-1185), had a dream that a god on a white fox gave him a bow and arrow, aiding his win in the battle, thus spurning him to establish this shrine out of gratitude. Yakyū Inari Shrine is designated as a prefectural cultural property for its gongen-zukuri style, with highly sophisticated carvings on the interior and exterior of the building. Known for the god of good harvest, prosperous business and the arts, and most notably as the god of victory, many baseball players visit the shrine to pray due to the shrine being named "Yakyū" (baseball). The peony gardens are at peak bloom alongside wisteria and azaleas during mid-April.

This is a campsite surrounded by trees located in the ravine alongside the Tokigawa River. The facility is well-equipped with a building for cooking, showers and restrooms, making it a safe place to camp and have fun. Japanese salmon and char fish swim in the shallow river, for an up-close-and-personal experience with the great outdoors.

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

At “Kinbue Syoyu Park” (Soy Sauce Theme Park) in Kawashima-machi, Saitama Prefecture, visitors can enjoy "eating," "learning," "shopping" and "playing" at the "Kinbue Soy Sauce School," a soy sauce brewery factory tour, and the "Soy Sauce Brewery Restaurant." The museum is managed by Fueki Syōyu, a long-established soy sauce brewery founded in 1789. (For more information regarding the facility, please refer to the URL below)

The shrine's beginnings trace back to when samurai warlord Hatakeyama Shigetada offered a statue of an ogre (oni) holding an iron rod as protection against ogres during the construction of Sugaya Yakata. One of the few shrines in Japan that worships "ogres" (oni), they celebrate Setsubun every year on February 3rd with an unusual chant: "Fuku wa uchi, Oni wa uchi, Akuma soto" (In with good fortune and the ogre, out with evil spirits). It is also known as the shrine of the God of Victory, and many soldiers came to pray for good fortune during the war.

Tokigawa Town, prosperous in local lumber production, is one of the largest producer of wood fixtures in the Kanto region. While our shop focuses on wood fixtures, we also sell furniture, handicrafts and agricultural products made with warmth and care by our master craftspeople. We also accept consultations for made to order wood fixtures and furniture. How about owning your own one-of-a-kind item?

Matsuyama Castle Ruins, built at the top of the Hiki Hills, is one of the most prominent flat mountain castles in the Kitamusashi region and was designated a prefectural historic site in 1925. In 2008, it was added to the Hiki Castle Site Group, alongside the already designated Sugaya Yakata ruins (Ranzan Town), Sugiyama Castle ruins (Ranzan Town) and Ogura Castle ruins (Tokigawa Town, Ranzan Town, and Ogawa Town). The castle is surrounded by a low marshy area formed by the Ichino River, creating a natural fort.

Myoonzawa springs up from a steep wooded slope located along the Kurome river in the southern part of Niiza, Saitama. It is a clear stream selected by the Ministry of Environment as one of the "Top 100 Waters of the Heisei Era." Myoonzawa covers a stretch of about 100 m before joining with the Kurome river. You can find many rare creatures and plants that only can live in the cleanest of waters in this exceptional stream.

Overlooking the Toki River to the south is the historic castle ruins site "Sugaya Yakata" (designated a national historic site), said to be where samurai warlord Hatakeyama Shigetada built his mansion in the early Kamakura period (1185-1333), and inside of which exists a museum dedicated to the historic remains of Ranzan Town. The area is also known for its native Mountain Lily (yamayuri), in peak bloom in July. There are also plum and cherry trees. Ranzan Town is home to two of Japan's 100 most famous castles, and together with "Sugiyama Castle," "Sugaya Yakata" was selected for this honor on April 6th, 2017.

Ranzan Valley is one of Saitama Prefecture's famous scenic spots known for the Iwadatami rock terraces, the clear streams of the Tsukikawa River, and the heavily wooded natural environment. The Hosokawa area has a particularly unique peninsula-like topography, where a large river channel turns at a sharp 180 degree angle. The valley and surrounding Japanese red pine forests are a stunning sight! When Dr. Seiroku Honda, the first person in Japan to hold a Ph.D. of forestry, visited the area, he noted its great similarity to the landscape of Arashiyama in Kyoto, and referring to it as the "Arashiyama of Musashi Province," provided the origin of the name "Ranzan," another way to read "Arashiyama." In the summer, one can enjoy the fresh green and sounds of babbling brooks and chirping birds, in just an unbelievable one hour distance from the metropolis. In autumn you can also enjoy the reflection of the leaves on the surface of the water emphasized by the fiery red of the momiji maple trees. *Peak season for autumn leaves is mid-November to early December.

Established in 1946, our slogan is “from farm to dining table,” and we take pride in producing healthy and delicious ham and sausages using meat from the pigs raised on our farm. The quality of our product has been recognized for its authenticity in Germany, and has won many gold awards in international food contests. Featuring a theme park revolving around pork and health, there are gourmet pork meals, a farmers market selling local fresh vegetables and a relaxing hot spring, for a day full of leisurely fun.

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 koji (rice with added fermentation culture) and lactic acid bacteria, and buy pickles and fermented foods carefully selected from all over the country. You can also experience making fermented foods yourself, such as kimchi, nukazuke (rice bran pickles) and seasonal dishes, in one of the many workshops.

Koedo Kurari is an improved facility retaining the atmosphere of the original Kyūkagamiyama brewery, established in 1875. The brewery, built through the Meiji, Taisho, and Shōwa periods, was remodeled and designated as one of Japan's registered tangible cultural properties along with the three warehouses: souvenir shop (Meijigura), Restaurant (Taishōgura), Japanese sake shop (Shōwagura), and meeting space (Tenjigura).