Hanazono Forest

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.

The Edo-higan zakura tree located in Hachigata Castle Park is a natural monument of the town. This cherry blossom is estimated to be over 150 years old, and every year around the end of March, its branches spread out in the shape of an umbrella to display the flowers as they bloom magnificently! In the evening during peak season, you can even enjoy it illuminated!

Hachigata Castle is a typical castle from the Warring States period and selected as one of the 100 famous castles of Japan. The castle is said to have been built in 1476 by one of the retainers of Yamanouchi Uesugi, the leader of the Kanto region, and later expanded to its current size in 1560 by the Odawara clan. When the feudal lord Hideyoshi Toyotomi attacked and besieged the castle in 1590, the soldiers inside held out for one month before giving up, opening the castle in exchange for their lives. After this incident, the castle was demolished and abandoned, but you can still see a large number of ruins that remain largely undisturbed, reminding us of the strong fortress of the past.

This is the site of Hatakeyama Shigetada's mansion, which is maintained as a park. In the park, there is a five-ring pagoda, said to be the grave of Shigetada and his vassals. Furthermore, you can also find a well said to be where Shigetada had his first bath after being born and a bronze statue of Shigetada himself.

The dam constructed in Yorii town on the Arakawa River is called the "Tamayodo Dam," and the artificial lake created by the Tamayodo Dam is known as the “Lake Tamayodo (Tamayodoko).” It is said to have highly transparent water and offers a peaceful lake surrounded by forests. Visitors can enjoy activities such as canoeing and rafting. It is also famous as one of the famous spots for autumn leaves in Yorii town.