Saitama Forest Science Museum

This is the only waterfall in Saitama Prefecture that has been selected as one of Japan's 100 best waterfalls. Along a promenade of about 1.5km, you can enjoy the changing seasons with fresh greenery and autumn leaves. The waterfall is divided by 3 large steps, and the 76 meter drop is powerful and impressive!

Enjoy the refreshing air around this beautiful waterfall originating from a mountain stream that flows from Mt. Ryokami in the Chichibu mountain range. Also, Onouchi Hyakukei Icicle, one of the three major icicles of Chichibu, can be found here from the beginning of January to the end of February every year.

The history of the temple is said to date back about 2,000 years ago, to the reign of Emperor Keiko. During the Kamakura period (1185-1333), when faith in Mt. Mitumine spread, Hatakeyama Shigetada, Nitta Yoshioki, and others worshipped here. During the Tokugawa period (1603-1867), the Kishu shogunate and the Kishu family were revered, and gifts from the Kishu family in particular are still treasured by this shrine. When autumn arrives, the “Fifteen Nights and Moon Reading Festival” is held to herald the arrival of autumn in the mountains of Chichibu.

You can enjoy a variety of gravity-based activities from suspension bridges built on the banks of the Arakawa River using the piers of the former Shirakawa Bridge. Wear a harness and walk on the suspension bridge, cross the Arakawa Valley while connected to a cable, or swing over the valley on a trapeze! You can even bungee jump! Enjoy the great outdoors of the Arakawa Valley while taking part in many thrilling activities!

Niekawa-juku was a thriving post town during the Edo period that served as a junction for routes leading to Koshu (Yamanashi Prefecture), Joshu (Gunma Prefecture), and Shinshu (Nagano Prefecture). It flourished due to heavy merchant traffic, with over 20 inns lining the streets. Palanquins carrying pilgrims to Mount Mitsumine also started their journeys from here, adding to the town's bustle. However, when the local railway station opened, fewer people used the old highway, so the town gradually declined. Around 2016, a community revitalization project began to restore the former liveliness by creating a "scarecrow village” (kakashi no sato). More than 60 unique and charming scarecrows have been placed throughout, delighting visitors. These scarecrows feature varied appearances with meticulously crafted clothing and accessories that are so lifelike, they seem ready to spring into action, bringing vibrancy back to the town. You can reach Mitsumineguchi Station, where Niekawa-juku is located, by taking the SL Paleo Express. In 2020, SL Tenshadai Park opened at Mitsumineguchi Station, where visitors can observe coal handling operations such as coal trimming and watch a turntable rotate steam locomotives up close. Kakashi: Dolls or figures placed in fields to prevent birds and other animals from damaging crops. *The figures sitting in the image are kakashi.