Sightseeing Spot

Izumo Iwai Shrine is the oldest shrine in the prefecture and the stage for a powerful display of horseback archery. It is designated as a national important cultural property along with the two attached building signs. According to folklore, Minamoto no Yoshiie visited the area to express his gratitude for winning an important battle in the year 1063. He also built the Hachiman shrine and prayed by performing horseback archery, which led to the present tradition. To this day, every spring and autumn, young people perform beautiful displays of archery from the back of running horses at Izumo Iwai Shrine.

This park is located in the beautiful Nagaonekyuryo mountains that extend over the border between Chichibu city and Ogano town. It covers an area of 375 hectares and has three differently themed areas. The forest of sports, the forest of music, and the forest of culture and each of the areas are connected by a three km long "sky road". This park offers one of the best vantage points to experience the breathtaking sea of clouds. The fog produced by radiative cooling lingers in the Chichibu mountain area, creating the perfect conditions for the sea of clouds to form. When the weather aligns just right, you may be lucky enough to witness the iconic Chichibu bridge seemingly floating above the sea of clouds.

At the Moominvalley Park in Saitama Prefecture, based on the popular creation, ‘Moomins,’ by Finnish author and artist Tove Jansson, you can immerse yourself in the delightful world of Moomin and its popular characters. The first theme park of its kind outside of Finland, it was opened in March 2019 in Hanno, Saitama, and is easily accessible from Tokyo via train. There are four main attraction areas, featuring a variety of theater venues, a large three-story museum, a playground with Moomin landmarks that appear in the story, delicious restaurants, a cafe, and the world’s largest Moomin store! For additional fun, outside Moominvalley Park lies the Metsä Village, where visitors can enjoy a Nordic experience with shopping and dining options, relax around Lake Miyazawako in comfortable outdoor seating viewing the lake and surrounding forest, or take part in various hands-on activities. At Moominvalley Park, there’s fun to be had for everyone!

Toki no Kane is said to be built first in the Castletown Tagachō during the Kanei era by the lord of the Kawagoe Castle, Sakai Tadakatsu. The current bell tower was rebuilt the following year of Kawagoe’s great fire that took place in 1893, and is a tower structured as a three-story with a height of about 16 meters. It is Kawagoe’s symbol and denotes that “time” is indispensable for daily life. As of today, the bell rings for times a day (6 am, noon, 3 pm, and 6 pm).

A “townscape of kura warehouses” still remain in Kawagoe. The kura warehouses have a fireproof architecture cleverly built to prevent fires and was developed as a form of house for the merchants of Edo. It retains an image of Edo that cannot be seen in today’s Tokyo. It was chosen as the country’s “important preservation district of historic buildings” in December of 1999 and was selected as “Japan’s 100 Beautiful Historical Environments” in 2007 of January.

Shingashi river, which flows behind Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, is lined with 500 meters of cherry blossom trees that transform the area into popular "sakura"-spot in spring! The "Little Edo Kawagoe Spring Sailing" is an event arranged at the end of April. Sail down the river in a small Japanese-style boat as you enjoy the tunnel of fully blooming sakura above you and the river filled with pink flower petals floating beneath you. This is a must-experience for any fan of the Japanese cherry blossom.

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.

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!

This museum is jointly established by Honjo City and Waseda University. The museum traces the history of Honjo City from the Paleolithic period through archaeological materials. In addition to the nationally rare laughing human haniwa (terra-cotta tomb figurine) holding a shield and their complete cast of a small glass ball, visitors can see a variety of valuable materials owned by Waseda University.

It greatly thrived in 1612 when Sōjō Tenkai trusted by Ieyasu Tokugawa became the chief priest. Due to Kawagoe’s great fire in 1638, most of the Kita-in Temple burnt down, but from the Edo period, the third generation Shogun Iemitsu removed and reconstructed “Iemitsu Tanjō no Ma” and “Kasuga no Tsubone Keshō no Ma” from the Edo Castle. In addition, the entire area was designated as an important cultural property. One of Japan’s three major arhat, “Gohyakurakan”, can be seen.

As a core facility for promoting the culture of bonsai, it is the world’s first public museum specializing in bonsai. In order to spread the culture of bonsai which is designated as Saitama’s traditional industry, not only bonsai, but bonki (vase), suiseki (rocks), paintings of bonsai can be enjoyed, making it a diverse exhibit. (For more information regarding the facility, please refer to the URL below.)

There are tours of the wine factory and vineyard, along with free samples and purchases of wines at the attached direct sales office, and lastly, eating at the directly managed restaurants (business days are designated).

This is a museum with the main theme being tea. Ample resources for learning are available on a range of topics starting from the Sayama tea, tea’s history and culture, Iruma City’s nature and history. Within the large garden, there is a tearoom, copse, restaurant, and a square with lawns. It is an ideal place to get some rest.

Founded in 1864. A candy and pastry manufacture and sales store with a long history. “Chichibu Ame (Candy)” is meticulously and carefully crafted, with craftsmen being particular about bringing out the umami and original flavors of each ingredient. Almost all of the products are additive-free, making it safe for individuals of all ages to eat them.

AMIGO! In Spanish, it means “friend” or “fellow”. The Iruma City Cultural Creation Atelier is commonly known as “AMIGO!”. The name was given due to the facility's success in realizing people's wishes of participation and activity. The exclamation mark refers to the transmission of information and the thought of creating new friendships. It indicates how it is important not to forget the attitude of working hard and the enthusiasm of striving towards a goal. Activities related to dyeing and textiles are taking place.

The Kuroyu hot spring, distinctive to the Kanto area, can be found alongside the bypass of the National Route 4. A wide variety of baths including, hot spring baths that flow directly from the source, jet baths, salt saunas, high-temperature saunas, medicated baths, utaseyu (striking water baths) can be enjoyed here.

Other than natural hot springs, low in alkalinity, said to have effects similar to the so-called "beauty baths", there is a large-scale Ganban’ yoku “Onnetsubō” which can be enjoyed unisex and is very popular! At the Four Seasons Buffet, “Kohansaryō”, vegetables harvested locally based on the four seasons can be tasted while enjoying the view. ※ This is a facility for those older than elementary school. Preschoolers are not allowed to enter.

The only sake brewery at Kura-no-machi, Kawagoe. Even 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.

We sell over 450 types of souvenirs that represent Saitama. Other than the regular Sōka Sembei (rice cracker), Koedo Kawagoe Imo (sweet potato) sweets, Ajino Sayamacha, local brew, there are traditional crafts and goods featuring Saitama Prefecture’s mascot “Kobaton”; we sell many popular products unique to Saitama area.

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.

Established at the end of Edo’s Kaei period (1850), Japanese sake, ume liqueur, sake lees are sold at the old-fashioned sake brewery and Taishō period’s store. A cozy experience that can only be enjoyed at a small brewery. In the case of touring the brewery, you will get a small sake cup as a present. The taste of various alcohols kept at different temperatures can be compared, with games for sake tasting on the menu. Please consult with us regarding the content of the experience along with the price range. Tours are not based on a particular season, however, the sake is prepared during the winter. It may be difficult to tour during the periods in which sake is prepared.

From handcrafting Japanese paper to seasonal experiences and workshops related to the Japanese paper, hand-making soba and udon, purchasing specialty goods of Japanese paper and agricultural products. There is also a plentiful food court full of the local village cuisine such as the salted grilled char and oyaki. Furthermore, there is a paper-making house with a thatched roof inside the Japanese garden, which makes you feel like you’ve gone back in time to the Edo period. The area is designed to allow for a relaxing time.

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.

“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.