Sightseeing Spots

Ancient trees, said to have been planted more than 350 years ago, line either side of the stone steps of Godaison, where the five statues of Myo-o, the gods of wisdom, are enshrined. The adjacent Azalea park is one of the best Azalea viewing spots in the Kanto region, with about 10,000 azalea plants in bloom.

A temple for safe childbirth and child-rearing, and protection from evil. The main deity of the temple, Nyoirin Kannon, or Cintamanicakra, is said to be the God of Mercy and Wisdom, who holds a wish-fulfilling jewel that removes evil and purifies the clouded mind, relieves suffering, and bestows prosperity by giving gold and silver treasures. In the precincts of the temple are three Muromachi period (1336-1573) blue stone pagodas of the three Amitabha images and a mound of letters from the first year of the Hoei era, in which women wrote down their wishes and deposited them.

Selected as one the top 100 locations in Saitama, the Mt. Hakuun (Hakuun-san) Torii Kannon temple covers an area of around 30 hectares (the size of 6.5 Tokyo Domes) in Okumusashi/Naguri, where founder Yataro Hiranuma spent over 30 years erecting buildings in various places on the mountain. In addition to the symbolic Kusei Kannon (Goddess of Salvation) on the mountain summit, there is also the main hall, Gyokkamon Gate, Niomon Gate, Great Bell Tower, Heiwa Kannon (Goddess of Mercy), and notably the Genjo Sanzo Tower, famous for enshrining the remains of Genjo Sanzo, a Buddhist priest who appears in the famous Chinese novel "Journey to the West."

Ageo Maruyama Park was opened in 1978 with the theme "a harmony of greenery and water." It has a small animal corner, a children's amusement park, a barbecue area, a nature learning center, and a large pond, making it a popular place to visit.

The date of its establishment is unknown, but it is said to have been built either in the Meiō period (1492-1501) or in the first year of Jokyo (1684). It is said that when a Buddhist priest named Genkai visited the 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 Warabi's textile industry, and a heart-shaped stone known to grant visitors success in their pursuit of love.

Jōshinin Hyakutai Kannon-dō, commonly called “Sazaedō,” was built to mourn the victims of the great volcanic eruption of Mt. Asama in 1783. The architecture has a rare helical structure with two exterior layers and a three-layer interior spiral corridor, enabling worshippers to practice the Buddhist etiquette of walking around a corridor three times in a clockwise direction (unyosanso). The first layer enshrines the Kannon of the Chichibu Sacred Site No. 34, the second layer enshrines the Kannon of the Bando Sacred Site No. 33, and the third layer enshrines the Kannon of the Saikoku Sacred Site No. 33. The reception desk is located at the Honjo City Tourism and Agriculture Center.

Your tour of the Chichibu region and nature-filled Yokoze starts here! Find out more about tourist destinations, seek out new flavors, and find all the information you need for restaurants and lodging. It's an information office full of vibrant energy ♪ There are also rental cycles and Mt. Buko goods for sale, so please feel free to stop by!

Chichibu Shrine has long been an important presence in the town and remains a popular spot for Chichibu residents. Many structures dating from the early 1900s line Banba Street, the cobblestone road that leads to the shrine, providing a nostalgic atmosphere that recalls times gone by. Many shops still operate in buildings designated Registered Tangible Cultural Properties by the national government, allowing visitors to travel back in time to an earlier Japan.

You can buy souvenirs recommended by the Ageo City Tourism Association here! They also sell tickets for Saitama Ageo Medics and commuter passes for the Tobu and Asahi Buses.

Okegawajuku, home to cultural properties such as Takemura Ryokan (former Hatago) and the residences of the Shimamura and Kobayashi families, is reminiscent of the past Nakasendo post town. The safflower, Okegawa's specialty, brought wealth and culture to Okegawajuku, and can be seen at the Okegawa Inari Shrine on the stone lanterns donated by safflower merchants.

This field of spider lilies was planted on the banks of the Karasu River by local volunteers. The carpet of red flowers blooms along the Karasu River in autumn, with Mt. Haruna and the clear blue sky providing the backdrop for a spectacular view.

The Museum of Modern Art Saitama (MOMAS) was opened in the rich greenery of Kitaurawa Park in 1982. A collection of superb art pieces is on display, with works from artistic masters such as Monet, Chagall, Picasso and modern Japanese artists. Special exhibitions with unique themes are frequently held, and there are many "good design" chairs that can be used freely. In addition, there are museum concerts, lectures, and workshops for both parents and children to enjoy. There are also museum shops with select art books and goods, along with a restaurant serving authentic Italian food, making the museum an ideal place for both fun and comfort. (For more information regarding the facility, please check the URL below.)

This is a newly developed park in Hatoyama Town, with two large fir trees designated as “Hatoyama Town Scenic Trees." There is also the Midoyama near the entrance, the adjoining 88 temples of Takanokura and the yew oak of Hachiman Shrine, designated as a natural treasure by the town, allowing visitors to enjoy the “four seasons” of Hatoyama.

Hikawakuwa Shrine has been a local favorite since its establishment during the Edo period. In addition to the main shrine, the grounds include two halls dedicated to the god of learning, Tenjin, and Chinese philosopher, Zhu Xi. There is also a shrine monument to the life of Unmuro, the Hall of Prince Shotoku, and the Sengen Shrine.

As sung in the "Sayama tea picking song," "Shizuoka is for color, Uji is for scent, but Sayama's flavor is victorious." Sayama tea is one of Japan's three great tea varieties together with Shizuoka and Uji. At Miyanoen, you can experience Sayama tea hands-on 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.

Myoonzawa springs up from a steep wooded slope located along the Kurome river in the southern part of Niiza, Saitama. It is a clear stream selected by the Ministry of Environment as one of the "Top 100 Waters of the Heisei Era." Myoonzawa covers a stretch of about 100 m before joining with the Kurome river. You can find many rare creatures and plants that only can live in the cleanest of waters in this exceptional stream.

Our rice crackers (senbei) are available from a purchase of one cracker. We have more than 30 flavors available. Our senbei are individually wrapped to make them easier to eat, and gifts and seasonal Japanese sweets are also available. There is an “Inauguration Festival” in mid-April, a “Thanksgiving Festival” in mid-October, and a “Thank You Fair” at the end of June and November.

Opened on November 11th, 1995 (the same day and month of Shibusawa Eiichi's passing). In the museum's materials room there is a recording of Eiichi's actual voice and many other ink and photograph materials on display. There is also a bronze statue of Eiichi overlooking his hometown landscape on the north side of the museum.

This dairy farm allows visitors to experience farm life and enjoy freshly made gelato ice cream and yogurt. In addition to dairy cows, the farm is home to a variety of animals, including chickens, Japanese Bantam (ornamental chickens), mini pigs, rabbits, guinea pigs, and more. Kids can also play with toy cars and tricycles donated to the farm by locals. Enjoy the view of the Arakawa River and its surrounding nature while tasting some of the best fresh gelato ice cream you've ever had. Enoboku, a miniature Hokkaido, hidden in the beautiful Ageo!

"Musenyama, KDDI Forest" is number thirteen of the fourteen designated Green Trust Conservation sites in Saitama. Located on the eastern edge of Ōmiya Plateau, the area consists mainly of jolcham oak and other deciduous broad-leaved trees. On the west side, there is also a row of Yoshino cherry blossom trees that attract many people in the spring. There was once a station for wireless transmission belonging to KDDI Corporation located here. As a result, the mountain area was nicknamed "Musenyama" (the wireless mountain), by locals.

This campsite is surrounded by trees and located in the ravine alongside the Tokigawa River. The facility is well-equipped with a building for cooking, showers and restrooms, making it a safe place to have fun camping. Japanese salmon and char fish swim in the nearby shallow river, giving visitors an up-close-and-personal experience with the great outdoors.

The main theme of the Iruma City Museum ALIT is tea! This museum is filled with resources for learning extensively about Sayama Tea, the history and culture of tea and Iruma City's nature and history. In the spacious museum garden there is a tea room, a pond and wooded area, a restaurant, and a square with lawns. It is an ideal place to take a rest.

Our tea factory holds tours, and we lead tea picking experiences during the new tea season (around May 20th, end of June). There is also a direct sales office where you can buy our products cheaper than in regular stores (10% off bags of tea leaves, some products are excluded).

The shrine's beginnings trace back to when samurai warlord Hatakeyama Shigetada offered a statue of an ogre (oni) holding an iron rod as protection against ogres during the construction of Sugaya Yakata. One of the few shrines in Japan that worships "ogres" (oni), they celebrate Setsubun every year on February 3rd with an unusual chant: "Fuku wa uchi, Oni wa uchi, Akuma soto" (In with good fortune and the ogre, out with evil spirits). It is also known as the shrine of the God of Victory, and many soldiers came to pray for good fortune during the war.