Sightseeing Spots

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!

This facility, located right next to the west exit of Ogose Station, is used by many people for resting, as a rendezvous point for hiking, buying souvenirs, and snacks (rice balls, pizza, coffee, juice, etc.). You can also catch a free shuttle bus to O Park Ogose from in front of this facility.

In 1970, the Gogaku Kenshujo (lit. village school training institution) Foundation was established on the site of the former Japan Farmers' School founded by Dr. Masahiro Yasuoka in the early Showa period. In 2012, the official name of the foundation was changed to "Gogaku Kenshujo / Yasuoka Masahiro Memorial Museum," and it has been working to promote Gogaku (the study of the countryside) and to pass on to future generations the teachings and anthropology of Dr. Yasuoka Masahiro, which are needed in this day and age, while continuing the tradition of the Japan Agricultural School.

The two authentic Dashis (festival cars) pulled at the Kawagoe Festival are on display along with materials related to the Kawagoe Festival. At this exhibition hall, the powerful atmosphere of the Kawagoe Festival can be experienced all year round. There is also a regular demonstration of musical accompaniment (about 20 minutes).

An old resting house for travelers, built from local cedar and cypress trees, was remodeled and opened on May 16th in 2018 as a public rest area. Local products, such as the Sōka Senbei (rice cracker), are sold, and you can find plenty of useful information, making it a great starting place for any traveler in the area.

The Old Yamazaki Family Villa was built as a retreat for Kashichi Yamazaki, the 5th generation of Kameya, a long-established confectionery store of Kawagoe. The building and other components have been recognized as having national cultural significance; the main house, tearoom, and the benches of the waiting room were designated as tangible cultural properties of the city in 2000, a portion of the building was donated to the city in 2006, the garden was registered as the national monument (place of scenic beauty) in 2011, and the main building was designated as a National Important Cultural Property in 2019. The garden of the former Yamazaki family's villa is also recognized as a valuable example of a Japanese-style garden, including a tea ceremony room designed by Katsuya Hoka along with Japanese and Western-style buildings, and is highly regarded as “a contribution to the development of landscape gardening culture."

Koedo Kurari is an improved facility of what used to be the building Kyūkagamiyama brewery established in 1875, with the atmosphere of the original brewery remaining to this day. The brewery, built through the Meiji, Taisho, and Shōwa period, has been 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).

Being rich in wood, Tokigawa Town’s local industry is prominent in the production of fixtures. Products beings sold center around fixtures, furniture, handicrafts, and agricultural products that hold warmth. You are guaranteed to encounter handicrafts made with care. Orders of fixtures and furniture, as well as consultation, can be done. How would you like an “exclusive product” only for you?

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).

Ina town has a rich history, still visible in the seemingly ordinary townscape of today, telling the tales of many hundred years ago. For example, you can find the ruins of the encampment used by the prominent leader Tadatsugu Ina, who served under the Tokugawa shogunate during the Edo period. Tadatsugu improved irrigation channels and developed rice fields, laying the foundation for the legendary Tokugawa rule that lasted 260 years. To this day, earthworks, moats, and streets remind us of the past through their names that relate to ruins of old gates, encampments, storehouses, and other historical structures. Excavations are still under process, and new finds, such as unique earth constructions made to hinder enemy troops, are being discovered, further revealing the exciting history of Ina town.

Saitama prefecture's largest rose garden blooms twice a year, once in spring and once in autumn. The best time to visit is in early May to early June or early October to mid-November. With over 400 species and more than 5000 individual roses, the beauty is simply overwhelming. There is also a garden of hydrangeas that blooms in June. Walking through the park's relaxing atmosphere, you will find various sport and recreation facilities, waterside areas, playground equipment, large sandpits, and much more, all coming together into a stimulating environment that provides something for people of every age!

Reopened in April 2021 as a tourism and souvenir center! The store has a modern Japanese atmosphere that stays true to Gyoda City, which has been recognized as a Japanese Heritage site. The center offers 150 unique products from about 50 companies, including locally produced goods such as fashionably designed tabi (split-toed socks) and Minamikawara slippers made of colorful fabrics from Africa and other foreign countries. Furthermore, you can also satisfy your appetite with "Gyoda no gyoza (dumplings)" made from local flour, Narazuke pickles, Jumangoku Manju (steamed bun), Wataboku Milk, and more. You can even rent bicycles here, so make sure to stop by when sightseeing in Gyoda City.

The plums of Ogose are said to originate from the Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine in Fukuoka before they were moved and replanted at their current location in the Umezono shrine. Ogose Bairin is known as one of Kanto's three great plum groves. The park covers an area of about 2 hectares and is home to about 1,000 plum trees such as Shirakaga, Ko-ume, and Koseno-ume. Furthermore, the unusually old plum tree called Kaiyuki, estimated to be 650 years old, can be seen here. Including the surrounding area, about 20,000 plum trees are in full bloom during peak season.

From mid-June to early August, 12,000 stocks of 42 different types of lotus flowers bloom on the surface of the lotus pond. The Gyōda lotus (ancient lotus) takes a primitive form with the number of petals being few; it is said to be a lotus from about 1,400 to 3,000 years ago. Lotus flowers are best-viewed midmorning. There are botanical gardens for aquatic plants, lakes for aquatic birds, peony gardens, ume gardens, and a hanami place with sakura trees, making it a place where one can feel the beauty of nature all year round. In addition, from mid-July to mid-October, rice paddy art is at its prime and can be viewed from the Ancient Lotus Hall’s Observation Room. The rice paddy art of Gyōda City started in 2008, with rice transplanting taking place yearly due to several volunteers and participants; not only are the designs original, but some have been collaborations with movies, TV shows, games. In 2015 it has been recorded in the Guinness World Records due to the area of the art being “the world’s largest (rice paddy art)”.

This is the core facility for the SKIP City Project. The goal of the project is to introduce and accumulate information regarding video as a next-generation industry. It is composed of 6 facilities (video museum, video hall, a library of publicized videos, post-production, HD studio, incubation). The facility is known for being able to complete everything from filming, editing, producing, and displaying the finished product. ※ For more information regarding the facility, please refer to the URL below.

Within the park, there is an open lawn space and a large wooden play equipment, with families crowding the area throughout the year. Flowers of each of the seasons are planted within the park, the sakura season as might be expected, moss phlox (April to May) and Iris (early June) warms the heart and is enjoyed. Additionally, there are kitchen spaces for barbecue and fishing can be done at Koaitamei (within the designated area).

The seventh temple and sacred place is called Ushibushi-do, and the main deity is the eleven-faced Kannon. The eleven-faced Kannon was originally located at Ushibushi in the third ward of Negoya. Due to a disaster in 1782, it was moved to the main hall of Hocho-ji temple, where it has been enshrined ever since. Hocho-ji temple is called Mt. Seitai and follows the Sōtō school of Buddhism. The temple was founded by Ryodo Kansei, who passed away in 1606. The founder of the Buddhist sect here was Shigekata Uchida, the second head of the Uchida family, and the Uchida family is said to be of the Fujita lineage, which Hōjō Ujikuni adopted as his son-in-law.

Surrounded by splendid nature, this is a factory where you can build canoes with the local Nishikawa timber. You can also rent canoes so feel free to try them out before building your own. If you're simply looking to have some fun in the river, of course, that is totally fine as well!

Kuroyamataki is a general term for the three waterfalls: greater waterfall, smaller waterfall, and tengu (an imaginary red-faced human figure with a protruding long nose, who flies through the air with two angel-like wings) waterfall. It is a scenic spot that was selected as one of Japan’s 100 best sightseeing destinations. Here you can enjoy fresh green leaves in the spring, cool temperature in the summer, and the changing color of the leaves in spring is remarkable.

Anraku-ji Temple is the 11th temple in Bando and has been known as Yoshimi Kannon since ancient times. The main deity of the temple is the Holy Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, the deity of compassion, and according to the Yoshimi Kannon Enki, it all started about 1200 years ago when a statue of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva was carved and placed in the rock cave. Every year on June 18, the Kannon is unveiled in the early morning to the public to ward off evil spirits. As a tradition, they also sell special "Yakuwake Dango (literally dumplings to ward off evil)" on this day. Even to this day, on June 18th, the long approach to Anraku-ji Temple is lined with stalls, and the area becomes very crowded from around 2 am to early morning.

The hot spring contains no sodium, classifying it as a "simple" alkalinity hot spring, making it rare in the Kanto region. The color of the water is dark brown but becomes sparkling gold when hit by sunlight. Soaking in the hot spring will make your skin smooth, and you are guaranteed to have a relaxing time.

Strawberry picking is available from January to May. Grape picking from August to October. Sweet potato digging from September to October. You can also enjoy a set menu of seasonal fruit picking and barbecue with reservation. For larger groups, please contact us at least seven days in advance for reservations. When making a reservation, please note that harvest conditions may vary depending on weather and other factors. Please contact us in advance to inquire about harvest conditions.

This is a campsite surrounded by trees alongside the ravine of the Tokigawa River. The facility is well-equipped with a building for cooking, showering, restroom, making it a safe environment to have fun at. In the river with shallow water, Japanese salmon and char fish swim, allowing for a great experience in nature.

This is a long-established rice cracker shop known for its large signboard. The cute "namazu sembei (rice cracker)" in the shape of a catfish symbolize Yoshikawa, the home of the catfish, and is a popular souvenir. Another favorite, with many repeat customers, is the Yoshikawa Chips, made with 100% Yoshikawa-grown rice flour and deep-fried in a secret recipe of soy sauce and vegetable oil. Both products have been certified as premium brands by Yoshikawa City.