Sightseeing Spots

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.

The stage for a powerful display of horseback archery, Izumo Iwai Shrine is the oldest shrine in the prefecture and, together with two building signs, designated as a national important cultural property. According to legend, the origin of the tradition dates back to 1063, when Minamoto no Yoshie visited the area to express gratitude after his successful conquest of Oshu, building the Hachiman Shrine dedicated to the god of horseback archery. Every spring and autumn, young people perform beautiful displays of archery while riding on the backs of galloping horses.

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.

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.

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 raising their banners in unison to signify that many sweet potato varieties are now available for purchase is 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 popular attraction.

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!

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).

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.

From the moment you pass through the Nagaya gate, you will find yourself in an atmosphere of peace and nostalgia in this old traditional house. In the garden, roses are in full bloom, and inside the facility there is a restaurant where visitors can enjoy a meal and a local produce specialty store for buying fresh vegetables. This is the perfect place for a relaxing time.

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.

Around 200 flowers bloom here during peak season. Based on analysis, this is an ancient variety of the lotus flower, and while the exact age cannot be determined, it is estimated to be a variety from the Heian period, around 1,200 years ago. The best time to see them is around early to late July, when the flowers begin to bloom at around 5AM. Since the pond is located in the middle of a residential area, please keep quiet when visiting.

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 a beautiful starting point to the Okumusashi Long Trail.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

Saitama prefecture's largest rose garden blooms twice a year, once in spring and once in autumn. The best times to visit are from early May to early June and early October to mid-November. There are over 400 varieties and more than 5000 individual roses in this garden of overwhelming beauty. There is also a garden of hydrangeas that blooms in June. Walk through the park and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere, finding various sport and recreation facilities, waterside areas, playground equipment, large sandpits, and much more, which come together to create a stimulating environment with something for everyone!

Hana no Oasis (flower oasis) is a park located in the Teraya district, the birthplace of flower production in Konosu. In spring, a tulip festival is held among 40,000 tulips. In autumn, you can enjoy the late-blooming sunflowers.

Located only a 5-minute walk from Yoshikawaminami Station on the JR Musashino Line, this is the largest park in Yoshikawa City. From Miharashi Hill, you can see the adjacent pond and multipurpose plaza. There is also a playground with a variety of equipment which can be enjoyed by both children and adults.

The Center for Environmental Science in Saitama is a core institution of environmental sciences which combines an environmental education center and the national institute for environmental studies in one facility. We offer various exhibitions and events through which local residents can study about the environment. Renovations were completed in 2020, and a new exhibition hall, “Sai Kankan,” has been added. Please come and see the changes for yourself in this eye-catching renewal! The giant theater in Sai Kankan Dome has an enormous screen that fills your entire field of vision. There are two shows: “A Chapter on the Earth’s Environment,” which takes on global environmental issues, and “A Chapter on the Biological Environment,” which views environmental issues through the lens of a dragonfly. There are 42 seats available.

This is a unique factory tour facility where you can have fun learning about the world of sweets! You can observe the manufacturing process of Pocky and Pretz up close, learn about chocolate in a fun way, enjoy a quiz tour, see the museum zone where 1500 toys are exhibited, and even take part in a workshop to make your own sweets! This is a spot for not only children but also adults to enjoy through a wide variety of hands-on experiences!

Strawberry picking is available from January to May, grape picking from August to October, and sweet potato digging from September to October. You can also enjoy a barbeque along with seasonal fruit picking with a reservation. For larger groups, please contact us at least seven days in advance for reservations. When making a reservation, please note that harvest conditions may vary depending on weather and other factors. Please contact us in advance to inquire about harvest conditions.

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.