Sightseeing Spots

This is a tourist information center located in the Honjō Station of JR Takasaki Line. Pamphlets related to tourism and information regarding the city can be obtained, along with Honjō City’s souvenir. In addition, there are sweets and Japanese goods recommended by the Honjō City Tourism Association along with Honjō’s Kasuri.

The icicles, artificially created by sprinkling stream water on the slope of the mountain, are about 30 meters high and 200 meters wide. The magnificent and beautiful “Ashigakubo Icicles” is one of Chichibu’s three major icicles. Every year from early January to late February, you can immerse yourself in a fantasy space created by nature and the locals.

In hopes of having the role of the “Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel”, a regional flood control facility, understood at a deeper level, we have made our study tours more appealing and have started a new study tour. In addition to the popular tour of the surge tank, known as  "underground shrine" , secret passages, pump rooms, and sections for the gas turbine will be opened to the public through 4 different courses. Please experience the grandeur of the “Metropolitan Outer Area Underground Discharge Channel”. Please check the URL below for details regarding tours and facilities.

Of the total 61 kilometers of the Motoara River, 8 kilometers run through the Fukiage area. There are 17 bridges across the river, including the Shinsaga Bridge, a Civil Engineering Heritage Site selected by the Japan Society of Civil Engineers. Many of the bridges are decorated with poems and sculptures, making the exploration of them a perfect activity for some leisurely sightseeing!

Oshi Castle has been counted as one of the 7 famous castles in the Kanto region; it was built in the civilization years of the Muromachi period. It is known as an “Uki-jō (Floating Castle)” as it is said to have endured the flooding of Ishida Mitsunari during Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s suppression of Kanto. This story has been modeled for the movie “Nobō-no-Shiro (The Floating Castle)”. As of now, it has been listed as one of the 100 famous Japanese castles. The “Oshijyō Gosankaiyagura (Oshi Castle Three Story Turret)” was torn down during the Meiji period and was rebuilt in 1988, with the inside being an exhibition room of the local museum; the whole view of the city can be seen on the top floor.

The border for three prefectures lies across Tochigi Prefecture’s Tochigi City, Gunma prefecture’s Itakura Town, Saitama Prefecture’s Kazo City (around the Kitakawabe region), and comes together right at a rice field approximately 500 meters in the southeast of Roadside Station Kitakawabe. The border for the three prefectures used to be placed inside the Watarasegawa River, however, due to the restoration works of the river during the periods of Meiji and Taishō, the location has 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. From these results, an old stake made from concrete was confirmed as the definite point of intersection for the three prefectures. Brochure introducing the boundary for the three prefectures

This is one of the largest flower markets in eastern Japan. There is a guided course through the market facility, allowing anyone to easily observe the auction (Monday/Wednesday/Friday). There is also a restaurant inside the facility.

The large hot spring facility, “Seibuchichibu Ekimae Onsen Matsurinoyu”, makes Chichibu’s specialty, “festival”, its concept. Matsurinoyu has four types of open-air baths and a highly concentrated artificial carbonated hot spring, with six bathhouses in the inn (five bathhouses for men) to be enjoyed. In this area, which takes pride in its rich variety of hot springs, there is also a Japanese style food court and an area selling local products perfect as souvenirs, making this facility packed full of Chichibu areas charm.

“Tabi to Kurashi (Tabi and Life’s) Museum” was originally a factory of tabi socks delivering to tabi stores under the name Bokuya Honten (Main Branch), however, most of the factory’s appearance was kept and was reborn as a museum. At the museum, demonstrations by individuals who used to be tabi craftsmen can be seen, and your own original tabi (additional cost) can be made every second Sunday of the month.

The Kawagoe Kurazukuri Museum was built by Koyama Bunzō, a tobacco wholesaler, right after the great fire in 1893 with reference to the few houses of Kurazukuri and Tokyo’s Nihonbashi Merchant that were not exposed to the fire. The design, structure, and the inside of the Kurazukuri House of Kawagoe can be toured, and a breath of Meiji’s atmosphere can be felt to this day.

Plum planting began in 1986 at Ume Hyakkaen Garden. You can enjoy about 170 varieties of plum flowers, including rare ones such as the early blooming red plum during the winter solstice and the three famous flowers of the moon, mangetsu, tagoto, and soumei. From mid-February, about 470 plum are in full bloom, and the fragrant plum scent spreads all the way to the summit.

This roadside station is designed to resemble a strawberry castle and is aimed at families with tons of places for children to play. Processed goods such as fresh dorayaki made from strawberries grown in Yoshimi are available for purchase. It is also a popular place to take a break while enjoying delicious soft ice cream.

“Kiyasse Hanyū” is the nickname for Hanyū City Mitakaya agricultural and forest park. At the park, with an area of roughly 3.6 hectares, there is a “Shiki no Oka” with lots of flowers, a production building that boasts local vegetables taken in the morning, a beer factory that manufactures Hanyū’s local beer “Kobushi Hana Beer”, and a restaurant where you can enjoy handmade udon. Inside the park, there are playground equipment for kids to play with and events allowing you to experience harvest all year round.

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. Furthermore, the shrine appears in the animation “Lucky Star”, and in turn, Washimiya shrine uses this work to revitalize the area.

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.

Gyōdahachiman Shrine is called “Fūji-no-miya (Palace of Sealing)” due to its secret method of praying which helps children sleep, prevents nervousness, cancer, diseases, bad habits, and dementia for the elderly. In the precincts, there is a “shrine of the eyes”, Kasamori Inari Shrine, for the god of eczema and beautiful skin, along with “Okuninushi Shrine” that enshrines Oshi Castle’s 7 lucky gods. Recently, “nade momo” is said to be a place for spiritual energy, and is famous for the god of fencing off suffering from illness and misfortune.

The Sakitama Shrine holds a history of a thousand and a few hundred years and is an ancient shrine with a majestic and calm atmosphere originating from Saitama Prefecture. The main building of the shrine has a height of 8.7 meters, a circumference of about 92 meters, and is built on top of a tumulus named Sengenzuka (mound) and adjoins to Saitama Kofun Group. The deity has two pillars: Sakitamahimenomikoto and Sakitamahikonomikoto and are gods that protect individuals, brings good fortune and matrimony. Recently, there are limited edition Shuin (seal stamps) with the motif of 4 cats that reside in the shrine (every month on the 22nd including a few days before and after) and is very popular.

Centering around a permanent exhibit regarding local Asaka introduced under the 4 categories: archaeology, history, folklore, arts and crafts, it is an “environment for learning and being in peace” with events such as special exhibits, exhibits with a particular theme, lectures and trial classes taking place.

Ranzan Valley is one of the famous scenic spot in Saitama prefecture known for its Iwadatami rock terraces, clear stream of the Tsukikawa River, and a rich natural environment. Especially in the area called Hosohara, which extends from Mt. Ohira, the river channel is large and turns 180 degrees, creating a unique peninsula-like terrain. You can see the beautiful scenery of the valley and the surrounding red pine forest. The beautiful scenery of the valley is very similar to Arashiyama in Kyoto so that when Dr. Seiroku Honda, the first person in Japan to hold a Ph.D. of forestry, visited and said, "This is “Arashiyama of Musashi no kuni.”  From the fact that he muttered at the time, it is the origin of the name of the town “Ranzan-machi” which is another way to pronounce the kanji-signs for Arashiyama.   In the early summer, you can enjoy the scenery that you wouldn’t believe it's just an hour away from the centre of the city with fresh greenery, the sound of the river flowing, and the birds chirping. In autumn, please enjoy the colours reflected on the surface of the water and the fiery red maple trees. *Best time to see the autumn leaves: Mid-November to early December

Matsumoto Shoyu store has been making soy sauce at Kawagoe for 250 years. The soy brewery is established in 1831, and they are still staying true to their traditional methods. Inside, you can even find 40 cedar buckets that have been in use since the Edo period. At this brewery in Kawagoe City, designated as an important part of the city landscape, you can come in contact with the culture and traditions of one of Japan's most important ingredients.

Reopening in 2021 with the new concept of "a world wrapped in heartwarming happiness." The nostalgic cityscape of the past will be recreated with overwhelming quality, pulling you into the world both through social interactions and food experiences! You can also expect the unexpected with exciting live performances suddenly taking place, further absorbing you in this nostalgic world. In addition, a new attraction has been introduced that offers an immersive and thrilling ride!

Located in Naguri/Okumusashi of Saitama, Hakuun-san Torii Kannon is a tourist attraction selected as one of the top 100 best locations in Saitama, covering an area of about 30 hectares. The site is funded privately by Yataro Hiranuma who spent more than 30 years erecting the buildings. In addition to the Kyusei Kannon (Goddess of Salvation) by the top of the mountain, the main hall, Gyokkamon Gate, Niomon Gate, Great Bell Tower, and Heiwa Kannon (Goddess of Mercy), the Genjo Sanzo Tower is famous for enshrining the remains of Genjo Sanzo, a Buddhist priest known to appear in the famous Chinese novel "Journey to the West."

In the Oshamoji-Yama Park, located by the South entrance of the town, cherry blossoms bloom in the spring. Azalea flowers surround the entire mountain, attracting people, and creating a lively atmosphere. The origin of the name, “Oshamoji-Yama”, comes from the fact that the small shrine where the Shamoji mother goddess (god Oshamoji) is enshrined is located at its base. From the park’s observatory, the Kanto Plains and Chichibu mountains can be seen.

In 1187, the Yoshikawa clan reestablished the indigenous deity of Suwa shrine as the guardian deity of the Yoshikawa Shrine. The precincts of the shrine also include a Yasaka Shrine, Furumine Shrine, Inari Shrine, Matsuo Shrine, Yoshikawa Tenmangu Shrine, Suijingu Eight Great Dragons, and Shikatou Daimyojin. The old Shimotsuma Highway runs behind the shrine, and the large bay and camphor trees in the front and back parts of the precincts tell us that this is a shrine with a long history. Every year in July, the Yasaka Festival, which has a history of about 400 years, is held. The highlight is the "mikoshi," portable shrines that are carried and thrown high above the heads of the bearers.