Location: Saitama Prefecture
Top Things to do in Saitama Prefecture
Top Hotels in Saitama Prefecture
- 1. King Ambassador Hotel Kumagaya
- 2. Hotel Grantia Hanyu
- 3. Toyoko Inn Saitama Shintoshin
- 4. COCO STAY Nishikawaguchi Ekimae
- 5. Hotel Route Inn Fukaya Ekimae
- 6. Toyoko Inn Wakoshi Ekimae
- 7. HOTEL WILL Urawa
- 8. Toyoko Inn Kumagaya-eki Kita-guchi
- 9. Hotel Metropolitan Saitama-Shintoshin
- 10. Palace Hotel Omiya
Top 10 Things to do Good for a Rainy Day in Saitama Prefecture, Kanto
Saitama Prefecture (埼玉県, Saitama-ken) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region. The capital is the city of Saitama.
Restaurants in Saitama Prefecture
1. The Railway Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 733 reviews
The Railway Museum will re-open on 10:00 Wednesday June 10. Advance reservation is required. Ticket can not be purchased at the museum. Advance reservation is required to enter the museum. Please purchase your ticket in advance at 7-Eleven, Lawson, or MINISTOP convenience stores. Some exhibits and hands-on programs are closed/ canceled. The Railway Museum will be operating on shortened hours from 10:00-17:00 (Last entry 16:30).
Reviewed By lyndallb2017 - Brisbane, Australia
This museum is easy to reach - we got a limited express train from Shinjuku, and then the New Shuttle for the short distance from Omiya station to the museum, using our Suica cards for both legs of the journey. We could also have used our Suica cards to enter the museum, but we chose to buy separate tickets, which, sadly, we had to hand back when we left. The museum is well laid out and has many innovative displays as well as plenty of ordinary static ones - the locos and carriages are the real thing, though there are also small models on display. There are interactive scientific displays for children, a mini bullet-train ride and other hands-on activities. We each bought a very nice lunchbox, though we could have chosen to eat at a cafe with a choice of dishes. There was some English information available, but it would be better with more. I gather the museum is trying to attract more foreign tourists, so perhaps the availability of English will be considered. Overall, an excellent museum with exhibits of interest to everyone, not just railway fans.
2. Mitsumine Shrine
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 421 reviews
Reviewed By Retron - Leysdown-on-Sea, United Kingdom
I visited Mitsumine at the end of 2016 with a friend and we both thoroughly enjoyed our time there. This year we were back in Tokyo and we both wanted to go back - not least because we missed part of the shrine (the old part of it) and the shops and museum were closed in December. In the intervening months it seems that Mitsumine has been featured on a TV programme in Japan, as a "power spot". As a result, visitor numbers have gone up - which means you have to be quick off the mark if you're taking the rickety old bus to the shrine. As with last year, we went from Ikebukuro to Chichibu on the Seibu-Chichibu line. The tourist office has closed at Ikebukuro (they helped last year with filling in the train ticket forms), but luckily said forms are now in English as well as Japanese. The bus still leaves from the Chichibu train station, but this time there was a long queue awaiting us - unlike last time where we were the only ones heading for the shrine as we got off the train. Luckily, we were able to get seats on the bus (it's a 75-minute ride), but there were several people who had to stand throughout. More people got on as the bus stopped en route to the shrine. This time upon arrival at the shrine we both went straight past everything and headed west - for beyond the hotel, there's a path leading to the original old shrine. Unlike the new shrine (which is very fancy, colourful and dedicated to the founders of Japan), the old shrine is much more modest - and is the shrine which is dedicated to the wolf said to have guided the prince through the forest nearly 2000 years ago. The old shrine has plenty of wolf statues around it (and plenty more inside), along with offerings of sake and such placed there by worshippers. It was well worth the visit! The new shrine itself was just as before - splendid in every way and clearly fondly looked after. The guardian wolf statues had new bibs and there were different votive tablets (ema) for sale at the shrine shop. This time I picked up some of the new year ceremonial arrows, as well as some ema, another ofuda and some little wooden wolf charms (with bells). Unlike last time, the museum and main wolf gift shop was open. The museum is fascinating. It contains several pelts of wolves (including a Honshu wolf from Chichibu), as well as all sorts of things from the shrine in years gone by. There's also a story board explaining how the shrine was founded. It's all in Japanese, with pretty much no English whatsoever, but it's still well worth a visit. The only downside is that photography isn't allowed, so you'll have to make do with the museum's pamphlet. The wolf shop was well worth visiting. It's the only place in Japan that stocks so much wolf merchandise, as far as I'm aware, and aside from some rather overpriced soft toy wolves the rest of it was unique. I've been to wolf centres across the States, Canada, France, Spain and the UK - and most of the items on sale at Mitsumine were unique. They had laser-etched crystal replicas of the shrine (and wolf guardians), little glass wolves and pawprints, lots of types of sake - and glasses - a Japanese-style pen set, enamel badges and lots more besides. I spent a small fortune there, something not lost on the lady who served me - she disappeared for a bit, then came back with a carrier bag full of small square bits of paper. "Origami, tanabata", she said. She gave the bag to me, as a gift, meaning I've now got enough bits of paper to make a whole mass of origami wolves! Having seen how busy the bus was on the way out, we decided to get to the bus queue 25 minutes early for the way back. There was already quite a queue and we were lucky to get seats. It seems that Mitsumine has become more popular than before, so if you plan to visit there are a few things to bear in mind: * The museum and wolf shop are closed for the winter period - December to March. * They're also closed every Tuesday. * The shrine is more popular than ever, so be prepared to get to the bus stop at least 20 minutes before the bus is due to arrive. This is much harder to do on the way out if you're coming from Tokyo! * Weekdays are quieter than weekends, but there are fewer buses running. * Avoid the 1st of the month unless you really like queueing - special talismans/charms are given away and the queues are astronomical these days! 3km or more of queues aren't unheard of, meaning it'll take you hours and hours just to get to the shrine.
3. The Omiya Bonsai Art Museum Saitama
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 183 reviews
Omiya Bonsai Art Museum is the most historical public museum of Bonsai in the world. Bonsai is one of the most aesthetic Japanese traditional arts and one of the must-see attractions in Japan! Here you can appreciate our collection of more than 120 Bonsai masterpieces and bonsai-related artifacts such as bonsai pots, miniature landscape stones called Suiseki, literature, woodblock prints, etc. In addition, about 70 pots of bonsai varying with the seasons are displayed in the garden. Taken care of delicately and continuously by Bonsai masters, Bonsai exudes its fascinating glamour. We are looking forward to seeing you explore the elegance and the secrets of this unique living art at Omiya Bonsai Art Museum! ** 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM March-October/ 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM November-February/ Closed December 29 – January 3./ **The opening hours are subject to change due to the COVID-19 state of emergency.
Reviewed By Eric_Greeney
This bonsai museum gives you a thorough introduction to the art of the bonsai. Different species and styles of the trees and aspects in their nursing and display are presented throughout the museum that has several sections. The tour ends in a courtyard with most impressive collection of large bonsai trees that are at least 200 years old, the oldest ones even 1000 years old! Taking photos is not allowed in all areas, but permitted at least in parts of the open air collection. Saitama is a bit far away from the central Tokyo, but reasonably easy to reach by train. If you have several days to spend in Tokyo and have interest in the art of the bonsai, Saitama has also several bonsai nurseries you might be interested in. All in all, this museum is a heaven for any bonsai tree enthusiast!
4. Kawagoe History Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 33 reviews
Reviewed By setweb0709 - Tokyo, Japan
This museum is very unique, "all you can take photos" on Azuchi-Momoya-Edo Samurai, Ninjya Katana, Yoroi, tools, paintings and etc., more than a couple hundred of things are displayed. I have never seen in such museum in Japan, most of places are protected by "NO PHOTO", but this place is permitted and it is all real, not replicas.
5. Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine
6. Kawagoejyo Honmaru Palace
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 176 reviews
7. Kawagoe Matsuri Kaikan
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 105 reviews
Reviewed By 255vickyb - Edmonton, Canada
This is a definite must see, the staff are very friendly and happy to share their knowledge. There is a video about the festival and floats as well as a lecture. The floats are beyond amazing! The detail and the work is incredible. Lots of places to sit down, modern bathrooms and very nice people. My wallet was happy that the gift shop did not have mall replicas as I would have bought them all. Photography is allowed everywhere except not video taping the videos.
8. MetLife Dome
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 214 reviews
Reviewed By Raiderbankk - Penarth, United Kingdom
A couple of train stops from Nishi Tokorozawa you really must visit this dome in the baseball season. It is the home of the Seibu Lions in the Pacific Baseball League (which incidentally they won this year). The atmosphere in this dome is electric. The Japanese sports enthusiasts really take their baseball very seriously. There are plentiful for and beverage outlets and also mobile waitresses who can serve you beer or whisky highballs at your seat. Highly recommended and close to Seibu amusement park. You can get your tickets from the Seibu store near Tokorozawa station. Expect to pay Yen 2500 to 3000 9 (about $25).
9. Chichibu Shrine
10. AEON Lake Town
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 353 reviews
Japan's largest shopping mall that can be enjoyed all day. Urban urban mall. A shopping mall full of Sigma and overseas brands. > AEON LakeTown kaze Specialty Stores9:00 - 22:00 Food Court9:00 - 22:00 Restaurant Area11:00 - 23:00 Maruetsu9:00 - 23:00 ※Some stores have different operating hours. > AEON LakeTown kaze Specialty Stores9:00 - 22:00 Food Court9:00 - 22:00 Restaurant Area11:00 - 23:00 Maruetsu9:00 - 23:00 ※Some stores have different operating hours. > Outlet10:00 - 20:00 Restaurants10:00 - 20:00 ※Some stores have different operating hours. > AEON LakeTown mori Specialty Stores9:00 - 22:00 Food Court9:00 - 22:00 Restaurant Area11:00 - 23:00 AEON STYLE Food Section7:00 - 23:00 AEON STYLE Other Sections9:00 - 22:00 ※Some stores have different operating hours.
Reviewed By goic - Taito, Japan
AEON LAKE TOWN OUTLET MALL Aeon Lake Town is a commercial facility with one of Japan's largest outlet malls and shopping centers. It is more efficient to pick up the target shop and go. 平日は空いているので、ゆっくり買い物が出来ます。 規模が大きいので、お気に入りのショップにターゲットを狙って行った方が良さそうです。 アウトレットなので型落ちが安いですが… 中には掘り出し物、サイズがあったらお買い得!! みたいな、時間を費やしても欲しい物が見つからない時もあるので時の運ですかねぇ…????
