Sightseeing Spots

The garden is located on a vast site of about 10000 square meters in the back of the Nagatoro Town Folk Museum. The Japanese naming of the golden poppy "Hanabishisou" comes from its shape, which is said to resemble a rhomb ("hishi" in Japanese). In early summer, golden poppies, also known as California poppies, bloom all over the hill. From May to June, the contrast between the deep blue of the sky and the vivid orange color of the poppy is completely mesmerizing.

Kita-zakura Street is a tunnel of cherry blossoms, with about 400 cherry blossoms lined up for about 2.5 kilometers, that goes along the Arakawa river from Nagatoro Station to Takasago Bridge. The Sakura Passage is located at the foot of Mt. Hodo in Nagatoro Town. Here you can see more than 30 varieties of double-flowered cherry blossoms, measuring up to a total of about 500 cherry blossom trees. During the flowering season, they are lit up with beautiful illuminations. The best time to see the flowers is from early April to mid-April on Kita-zakura Street and from mid-April to late April on the Sakura Passage.

The Arakawa Line downstream boating in Chichibu Nagatoro lets you ride upon the beautifully layered stone riverbed, which is designated as a natural monument. It is a relaxing course with a couple of thrills along the way, but perfectly safe for children or seniors to enjoy as well. While listening to the boatman's entertaining guiding, you can enjoy the cherry blossoms in the spring, the cool breeze in the summer, the beautiful colors of autumn, and the warmth of the kotatsu (heated table) boat in the winter. In other words, a perfect outdoor activity regardless of the season!

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.

The Yoshimi Hundred Caves is a horizontal hole tomb built at the end of the Kofun period (late 6th to late 7th century) and was designated as a national historic site in 1918. It is a historic site that represents Yoshimi Town, and there are currently 219 horizontal holes that have been confirmed. Each hole consists of two parts, a narrow passage, and a burial chamber. In some of the holes, you can also find the natural monument luminous moss growing.

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

The Kinchakuda park was formed by the zigzagging flow of the Koma River that runs through Hidaka City. Because its shape resembles a money pouch, it has come to be called Kinchakuda (= money pouch). Kichakuda park is a flatland surrounded by a river with a diameter of about 500 meters and a size 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 in crimson colors every autumn.

Located on the Nakagawa Riverbed of about 13,000 square meters, the contrast between the 120 pink peach blossoms and yellow rape blossoms is beautiful to see from March to April every year. In autumn, you can enjoy red spider lily and cosmos. In late March every year, the Hanamomo Festival is held, attracting many tourists.

This is a unique factory tour facility where you can have a fun time while 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, watch the museum zone where 1500 toys are exhibited, and you can even take part in a workshop to make your own sweets! This is a spot that not only children but also adults can enjoy through a wide variety of experiences!

Okegawa-shuku, a post town along Nakasendo that retains its old atmosphere and is home to cultural properties such as the Takemura Ryokan (former Hatago) and the residences of the Shimamura and Kobayashi families. Furthermore, Okegawa is famous for Safflower, which has brought wealth and culture to the post town. As proof of this, stone lanterns donated by safflower merchants can be seen at Okegawa Inari Shrine.

Miyoonzawa springs up in a wooded area on a steep slope along the Kurome river in the southern part of the city. It is a clear stream that has been selected by the Ministry of Environment as some of the most famous water in Japan. Miyoonzawa covers a stretch of about 100 m before it connects to and becomes part of the Kurome river. In this limited environment, you can find many rare creatures and plants that only can live in the cleanest of waters.

12 million cosmos flowers bloom on the fields along the Arakawa riverbank. Enjoy the impressive view of the Chichibu mountain range and Mt. Fuji, all while surrounded by a sea of cosmos flowers. The best time to see the cosmos flower is in mid-October, but poppies can also be enjoyed in May. At the Cosmos Festival in mid-October, the area becomes lively with stage events, refreshment stalls, and cosmos picking events.

A poppy flower field that initially was planted as a campaign to prevent illegal dumping. With about 12.5 hectares, it is the largest in Japan. At the Poppy Festival in mid-May, you can enjoy refreshments, regional vegetables, and of course, flower picking! The view of Mt. Fuji from under the Onari bridge by the Arakawa river, where the field can be found, is known as one of the best views of Mt. Fuji. A truly spectacular and scenic view of red, pink, and orange poppies blooming all around you.

As said in the "Sayama tea picking song", "Shizuoka is color, Uji is the scent, but flavor, that is limited to Sayama". Sayama tea is one of Japan's three great tea sorts together with Shizuoka and Uji. It is considered to be one of the "large teas". At Miyanoen, you can familiarize yourself with Sayama tea through different workshops. In the tea picking experience, you can don the typical red apron (paid rental), pick and drink tea, try tea leaf tempura, and enjoy matcha art. This is a place to truly enjoy Sayama tea and Japanese tea culture.

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 rice bran and lactic acid bacteria, buy pickles and fermented foods carefully selected from all over the country. You can also experience fermentation directly with any of the workshops to make kimchi, pickled bran, and seasonal dishes.

This is a combined facility to experience the 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 will be added to the facility. Feel free to stay the night or simply enjoy a fulfilling day at this popular location!

This artificial lake straddles the boundary between Tokorozawa City and Iruma City, located in the south-central part of Saitama Prefecture. It was completed in 1934 as a water tank for Tokyo, and the official name is "Yamaguchi Reservoir". The lake is surrounded by Saitama Prefectural Nature Park, where you can enjoy 20,000 cherry blossom trees in spring, vividly colored leaves in autumn, the symbolic Mt. Fuji reflected on the lake's surface, and bird watching. The stunning seasonal scenery of this area has been selected as one of Saitama's 100 Selected Nature Spots and 100 Selected Dam Lakes.

Sakitama Kofun Park is home to 9 large "kofuns", megalithic tombs where, among other things, the national treasure "Inariyama burial-mound sword" was excavated. You can also see the largest kofun in Japan, "Maruhaka yama kofun" here, which also serves as a great cherry blossom spot. Gyoda City, where the park is located, is also known as the origin of Saitama prefecture's name, and you can see the stone monument celebrating this in the park.

This park built on the ruins of Iwatsuki Castle is a lush natural space with trails to explore and open areas to relax. Mingled in with the green, you can find a tennis court, baseball field, playground equipment, a picnic area with a fountain, and a pond with a vermillion-lacquered zigzag bridge. There is even an aged train, oozing with retro atmosphere, on display! In other words, this is a place for people of all ages! Not to mention, in spring, 600 cherry blossom trees bloom here, making it a "sakura"-hotspot during the vernal season.

The Sennen no Sono Lavender Field spans approximately 6.5 hectares and boasts around 22,000 lavender plants, including more than 10 different varieties such as Grosso, Hidcote, and Avonview (16 types in 2023). 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." 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.

Atarashii Mura, or The New Village, is a tourist facility with "agriculture" as its theme. The facility has a market called "Mori no Ichiba Yui" that sells fresh vegetables produced by the local farmers of Atarashii Mura. Furthermore, there is a cafe called Mori no Cafe, where visitors can enjoy a light meal or a drink. Lastly, At the facility called "Noh no Ie," they have a herb garden that contains more than 100 different species. Among other things, they offer hands-on experiences of harvesting lavender and mint, programs and lectures on agriculture and food, and rent out their facilities. If that isn't enough, they even grow their own rice, a popular product that many visitors buy and bring home.

From the observation deck located at an altitude of 370 meters, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Yorii Town and the glittering night view of the skyline. In September, this place turns into a hotspot for observing the seasonal migration of the hawks.

The Edo-higan zakura tree located in Hachigata Castle Park is a natural monument of the town. This cherry blossom is estimated to be over 150 years old, and every year around the end of March, its branches spread out in the shape of an umbrella to display the flowers as they bloom magnificently! In the evening during peak season, you can even enjoy it illuminated!

This location is the site of the battle of Kanagawa, the largest field battle to have taken place in the Kanto region. The battle was between Takigawa Kazumasu, lord of Ueno's Maebashi (or Mayabashi) Castle, and Hojo Ujikuni, lord of Musashi's Hachigata Castle, and Hojo Ujinao, lord of Odawara Castle. It took place between the 18th and 19th of June in the year 1582 at the Kanagawa River on the border between Musashi (Currently part of Tokyo, Saitama, and Kanagawa Prefecture) and Ueno (Currently Gunma Prefecture). The battle is also known as the "Battle of Kanakubo-hara" due to that the fierce battle was fought in and around Kanakubo and Bisado areas of Kamisato-town.