Sightseeing Spots

This is the oldest grand shrine in Kanto. It is said to have been founded by descendants of the Izumo family because of its old nickname, Hazenomiya; another theory is that it was established by Yamato Takeru 1900 years ago in the time of Emperor Keikō. The Washimiya Saibara Kagura music and dance is a tradition in the shrine and is designated as an important intangible folk cultural property of the country. The shrine also appears in the animation “Lucky Star,” and Washimiya shrine uses this connection to the work to revitalize the area.

Newly reopened in 2021 with the concept: "A heart-warming world nestled in happiness." Find yourself in a world of wonder with high-quality replicas of retro townscapes, interactions with townspeople and spontaneous live performances, and delicious nostalgic foods. There are also new and exciting immersive light-up attractions for you to enjoy!

At our hot spring you can enjoy low mineral content water typical of the top hot springs in Japan in a traditional Japanese-style outdoor bath. You can also use the ganban`yoku hot stone bath, reclining chairs, massage machines and the popular free relaxation area. There is even a high-concentration carbonated spring, which garners attention from the medical industry, making our facility the ideal place for a full day of relaxation.

The Kinchakuda Park was formed by the zigzagging flow of the Koma River that runs through Hidaka City, and is called Kinchakuda because its shape resembles a kinchaku (traditional drawstring money pouch). The park is a 500 meter diameter flatland surrounded by a river with a surface area of about 22 hectares. Flowers such as rape blossoms and cosmos bloom every season, but the highlight is the 5 million red spider lilies that dye the park crimson every autumn, like a giant, beautiful red carpet.

On May 23, 1868 (Keio 4), Heikuro Shibusawa, a member of the old shogunate army who was defeated in a battle with new government forces at Hanno, fled alone towards Kuroyama Village via the Kaoburi Pass. He encountered a patrolling scouting party and fought them alone, but was badly wounded and committed suicide (harakiri) while sitting on a rock on the river bank. Heikuro was a cousin, brother-in-law, and adopted son of Shibusawa Eiichi, the man known as the "father of Japanese capitalism," whose face appears on the 10,000 yen bill.

Centered around a permanent exhibition about Asaka's local heritage under the 4 categories: archaeology, history, folklore and arts and crafts; there are also special and themed exhibitions, and a variety of lectures and workshops which are held in this “space for learning and relaxation.”

This garden is located on a vast field of about 10,000 square meters behind the Nagatoro Town Folk Museum. The Japanese name "Hanabishisou" comes from the shape of the California golden poppy, which is said to resemble a rhombus ("hishi" in Japanese, read "bishi" in the name). In early summer, California golden poppies bloom all over the entire hill, and from May to June, the contrast between the deep blue sky and the vivid orange flowers is mesmerizing.

Enjoy the all-you-can-eat package at the farm, or pick and take the strawberries home instead! It's possible the all-you-can-eat will be finished depending on the season's harvest. All-you-can-eat varieties: Beni-poppe, Tochiotome, Yayoihime, Souvenir varieties: Amarin, Beni-poppe, Tochiotome, Yayoihime

This facility utilizes the nature of Sayama Hills as an opportunity for us 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.

This large park was built on the site of Japan's first airfield, Tokorozawa Airfield, and has an area of about 50 hectares. Overflowing with nature, the park is never without visitors. There are real airplanes, as well as sports facilities, an athletic field with artificial grass, a tennis court and a baseball field. There is also an outdoor stage, tearoom and a Japanese garden, making the park a center for sports and culture exchange in western Saitama. (For more information regarding the facility, please refer to the URL below.)

Located in Chichibu Muse park's "Forest of Sports," this is a facility that anyone can enjoy regardless of age! In a mix of planted and native forests, seven zip lines have been installed high above the valley, making it one of the largest parks in Japan. The park is for adults and children aged 10 years and older. The courses are set at high altitudes making this forest adventure particularly popular among adults!

Opened in 1990 as part of efforts to promote the official city flower, the peony (botan). A prominent peony park in the Kanto region, roughly 30,000 square meters of colorful peonies bloom from mid-April to early May, culminating in the Peony Festival (botan matsuri) during peak bloom. Throughout the year, visitors can also view hydrangea, Japanese maple and wintersweet, and enjoy facilities such as a large playground complex, an open lawn, and an observatory.

The Kawagoe Castle was built in the first year of Chōroku Era (1457) under the command of the vassals, Ōta Dōshin and Dōkan (father and son), for Ōgigayatsu Uesugi Mochitomo to compete against Koga Ashikaga Shigeuji. In the Edo period, it was of utmost importance to protect the north side of Edo, which is why the top vassal traditionally become the lord of the castle. The current building was constructed in the first year of Kaei era (1848). It is open to the public after a two and a half year restoration.

The Sennen no Sono Lavender Field spans approximately 6.5 hectares and boasts around 22,000 lavender plants including over 10 different lavender varieties, such as Grosso (French), Hidcote (English), and Avonview (Spanish). In late May, visitors can enjoy the enchanting sight of red, pink, and white poppies blooming alongside early-blooming lavender. By mid-June, a portion of the field transforms into a golden sea of wheat known as "Nourin 61," and towards the end of June, visitors can witness the spectacle of wheat harvesting. The annual Ranzan Lavender Festival takes place from early to late June, offering a wonderful opportunity to experience the beauty of the lavender field. *Please note that access to the fields is restricted after the festival as they undergo harvesting.

The park is named after the stone tablet on which Kyoshi Takahama wrote the haiku “Kokoniware Kuotomubeki Tsukinoishi,” and is very famous for its autumn leaves. The best time to see the autumn leaves is around November, with the illumination of around 50 acer amoenums Japanese maples. The area is very crowded during this time, especially with photography aficionados. You can enjoy the autumn leaves at the adjacent prefectural nature museum as well.

A long-established candy and confectionary manufacturer and distributor founded in 1864. “Chichibu Ame" (candy) is meticulously handcrafted the traditional way using carefully selected ingredients while retaining their original flavor and umami. Almost all of the products are additive-free, making it safe to eat for people of all ages.

There are six farms concentrated around the east and north sides of Yokoze Station, including Mikado Farm and Komatsuzawa Leisure Farm, where you can pick strawberries, grapes, sweet potatoes and shiitake mushrooms, depending on the season.

One of the most prestigious shrines in the prefecture, it has no main shrine due to being dedicated to the scared mountain Mt. Omuro, and is one of few shrines that still practice this more ancient form of Shinto belief, the only other two shrines of which are Suwa Grand Shrine in Nagano and Omiwa Shrine in Nara. The shrine is said to have originated when the god Yamato Takeru no Mikoto hid tools for fire starting in Mt. Omuro. The shrine also enshrines the goddess of the sun, Amaterasu Omikami, and the god of sea and storms, Susanoo no Mikoto.

The history of the temple is said to date back about 2,000 years ago, to the reign of Emperor Keiko. During the Kamakura period (1185-1333), when faith in Mt. Mitumine spread, Hatakeyama Shigetada, Nitta Yoshioki, and others worshipped here. During the Tokugawa period (1603-1867), the Kishu shogunate and the Kishu family were revered, and gifts from the Kishu family in particular are still treasured by this shrine. When autumn arrives, the “Fifteen Nights and Moon Reading Festival” is held to herald the arrival of autumn in the mountains of Chichibu.

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).

The railway museum opened on October 14th, 2007 in Ōmiya, Saitama as part of Japan Railways (JR) Group’s 20th-anniversary commemorative project. The South Building was newly opened in July of 2018, with the permanent exhibition of the main building renewed extensively. Through this renewal, the inside of the building has been divided into stations of 5 categories: rolling stock, history, job, science, and future, updating the museum to tell the rich story of the relationship between humans and railways from a unique and diverse perspective.

This museum was jointly established by Honjo City and Waseda University. The museum holds archaeological materials from the Paleolithic period through which visitors can trace the history of Honjo City. In addition to artifacts rarely found in Japan, such as the laughing human haniwa (terra-cotta tomb figurine) holding a shield and a completed cast of a small glass ball, visitors can see a variety of valuable materials owned by Waseda University.

The entire cultural heritage of Yokoze Town is on exhibit at this museum. There are stage models of Yokoze’s puppet show (designated intangible folk cultural property by the prefecture), models of Bukōzanmitake Shrine Palace, specimen displays of animals and plants collected from Mt. Bukō, and historical documents that portray the transitions of Yokoze Town. In the “nature” section of the permanent exhibition room, approximately 130,000 year-old fossils of the giant Japanese elk, buffalo and wolves, which were discovered in the Negoya Limestone Cave, are on display. These fossils are very rare on a national scale.

Marking 2100 years, Gochinza, a Sōja of Chichibu, has been revered since ancient times. In a forest of oak, there is an atmosphere with style and solemn beauty. The existing main building of the shrine is a contribution of Ieyasu Tokugawa in 1592 and was designated as Saitama Prefecture’s tangible cultural property due to the fact that it holds much of the Edo period’s early architectural style.