Sightseeing Spots

This is the birthplace of “Kan’ichi Shimofusa”, a musician who produced famous nursery rhymes. It is said that the atmosphere of the old town of Ōtone was imagined when composing songs such as “Tanabatasama”, “Nogiku”, “Hanabi”. And the “Ōtone Koshihikari” is harvested with rich water making it one of the leading “delicious Koshihikari” of Saitama, and is sold as “Dōyō no Furusato Ōtone”.

The Iwadonokyūryō around the experience center mainly comes from the Toki River layer group, a stratum accumulated from 15 million to 10 million years ago, containing a wide range of fossils. The experience center is one of the only facilities within the prefecture in which the digging of fossils, such as 15 million-year-old shark teeth, can be experienced. Challenge yourself to dig up fossils using a sieve, hammer, and graver with a lecturer! Fossils you find, with some expectations, can be brought home. Since the digging of fossils takes place inside, this is a facility in which activities can be enjoyed even on rainy days.

The only sake brewery at Kura no Machi, Kawagoe. Though the sake brewery cannot be toured, the adjoining Matsumoto Shōyu, established 200 years ago, can be toured free of charge. Please stop by for a visit! The sake brewery is only 1 minute by foot from the Toki no Kane, the center of Kawagoe’s tourist destination.

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!

In 712, it is said that during the Heian period, Minamoto-no-Yorinobu, who was heading towards the suppression of Taira-no-Tadatsune, saw a dream in which he received an arrow and bow from a God riding on a white fox. Thanks to this, he was able to gain his victory in the battle, which led him to contribute to the establishment of this shrine. This prefectural cultural property is constructed as an incarnation of Buddha and the inside and outside of the main building of the shrine is crafted through the use of advanced techniques. Praying here is known to bring abundant harvests, prosperity in business, art proficiency, and good luck in challenges. Because it can be read as “Yakyū”, many of those involved in baseball visit to pray. The best time to see the flowers of the peony park is around mid-April as it blooms with the wisteria and azalea.

We offer tourism information and brochures for sightseeing on the first floor of Pepe Honkawagoe Station of Seibu Shinjuku Line. This is the closest visitor information center to Koedo Kawagoe and the Kurazukuri townscape. In addition, we offer wheelchair rental and baggage storage services (payment required).

The Katakura Silk Commemorative Museum is built in the cocoon warehouse of the Kumagaya Factory, the last silk manufacturing plant of Katakura Industries, and has been recognized as a Heritage of Industrial Modernization by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry. To preserve and pass on the 121-year history of the company's silk production, the museum displays the machinery used to produce silk at the Kumagaya Factory, and you can follow the entire process from cocoons to raw silk.

The Saitama Prefectural Forest Park is a recreation area that spreads northwards of the Maruyama mountain (altitude of 960m). You can enjoy the forest and wild grass of each of the four seasons, and you will be able to see flowers and trees that you’ve only seen in photos and meet animals in their natural state. It will be a heartful and refreshing experience!

This park, located on a hill overlooking the city, surrounded by lush greenery, is famous for its shibazakura (moss phlox) and cherry blossoms. This place has been a getaway for citizens needing a break from city life for many years. There is also an area with athletic facilities for children to play, and exhibition halls such as Mt. Bukou Museum and Yamato Art Museum.

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

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 Saitama Forest Science Museum is a place where citizens of the prefecture can learn about both forest and forestry, allowing for a deeper understanding of the roles that each plays. The Museum was built by Saitama Prefecture to encourage and support local forestry.

The Hachimanyama Kofun (Mount Hachiman burial mound), is the central burial mound within the group of Wakakodama burial mounds that can be found in the area. It is estimated to be built in the 7th century and has a diameter of 80 meters. It was restored in 1981. From the stone hut, the “Urushi Nuri Mokkan (lacquered wooden casket)” was found in almost perfect condition. Those buried inside are assumed to have been people of power. It is called “Kanto-no-Ishibutai (Kanto’s Ishibutai) because it is a grand stone hut that matches those of the Ishibutai Kofun (Ishibutal burial mound) of Asukamura of Nara prefecture.

Our brewery’s well “Bushūyama Jyōryūsui (water flowing underground) has been acknowledged for having some of Japan's best water of the Heisei era. If you bring a container, feel free to fill it up!

The hot spring that flows from 1,500 meters below ground, scored a maximum score of a 5 under 6 categories during the inspection by the Japan Natural Hot Spring Examining Authority! With the ingredients much like the salty, spicy seawater, it is called “Netsu-no-yu” due to the fact that it takes a lot for the water to go cold. What’s also appealing is that the natural hot spring can be enjoyed, during the warm season, without adding heat or adding water. The high-concentration carbonated spring, which even gathers the attention of the medical industry, can be enjoyed as well.

Chichibu Festival Museum exhibits materials related to the booths and kasaboko (combined umbrella and halberd carried on floats in some festivals) of the Chichibu night festival that takes place every year on the 2nd and 3rd of December. The booths, kasaboko, curtain, sculptures made by Shōwa’s master craftsmen are arranged in a design related to the Myōken belief. At noon, the lanterns are switched on to reproduce the night festival. Within the noise of the palatial Chichibu booth music, the luxurious booth and kasaboko can be seen right before your eyes.

This shrine is dedicated to the spirit of Mt. Ontake, the main mountain of the Kiso district. It is said to have great spiritual power and to protect visitors by dispelling bad spirits and bringing good fortune. The shrine garden covers an area of almost 50.000 square meters, including Togo Park located within its precincts. The shrine performs various kinds of "o-harai (a Japanese form of light exorcism)" for groundbreaking ceremonies, house exorcism, car exorcism, and you can also visit for Shichigosan (ceremony celebrating children at the age of 3, 5, and 7) or to make your first shrine visit of the year.

The date of its foundation is unknown, but it is said to have been built in the Meiō era between 1492 and 1501, as well as in 1684. It is said that when a Buddhist priest named Genkai visited Fushimi Inari, he built a sutra mound with 10,000 Lotus Sutras buried inside. In the precincts, you can also find a shrine dedicated to Shingoro Takahashi and his wife Ise who developed the warabi (bracken) textile industry of the area. Furthermore, there is a heart-shaped stone that is known to grant visitors success in their pursuit of love.

The south slope of the farm provides a good view to enjoy as you're picking and tasting. Or, how about enjoying the spectacular sight of Mount Bukō towering right in front of you? As a precaution against the new coronavirus, we ask that you wear a mask and disinfect your hands.

The Saitama Museum of Rivers is an experience-oriented comprehensive museum centering around the Arakawa river with the theme being water and the livelihood of people.

Enjoy handmade soba, udon, and other set menus that have been popular among the farmers of Ashigakubo for a long time. You can also enjoy strawberry picking. The strawberries are bright red and packed with juicy sweetness. It is located right next to Menya Kinoko Chaya. If you want to pick strawberries, stop by the Menya Kinoko Chaya first. ※ Time limit of 30 minutes per entry ※ Greatly appreciated if you contact us in advance

Established 290 years ago, Nagatorogura Sake Brewery and Boutique Store is a sake brewery that inherits the ambitions of a Hino merchant Jūichiya Sōbē Hyōe who did his best to spread Saitama’s Japanese sake to the world. September 2018, to deepen the sake brewing traditions of Jūichiya Sōbe “Polish with skill and brew with your heart”, the sake brewery moved to Nagatoro, a place of beautiful nature. We are creating a Japanese sake, “THE SAITAMA ORIGINAL” through the use of Saitama’s natural water that flows from the Fuppu area and rice grown on Saitama’s soil.

Start touring the Chichibu region and Yokoze, a place full of nature, from here! Find out more regarding tourist destinations, search out new flavors, find restaurants, lodging. An information office full of vibrant energy ♪ There is also rental cycles and goods of Bukosan, so please feel free to stop by.

Forest of Musen yama ・KDDI, is designated as number 13 in the greenery trust conservation. The area is located on the eastern edge of Ōmiya Plateau and offers a fauna centering around the Konara (pin) oak and other deciduous broad-leaved trees. Furthermore, on the west side, there is a row of Yoshino cherry blossom trees attracting many people in the spring. There used to be a station for wireless transmission belonging to a company called 'KDDI Corporation' located here. As a result, the mountain area is nicknamed "Musen yama (the wireless mountain)", by locals.