Explore glorious parks, attend a J-League soccer match, watch a J-pop concert in this busy commuter city and find museums dedicated to bonsai, manga and trains.
Created from the merger of three cities, Saitama is an exciting city that is perfectly situated for a daytrip from Tokyo. Enjoy the city’s parks, museums, family-friendly entertainment attractions and delicious cuisine. Saitama is the capital of Saitama prefecture. Venture deeper to discover a region teeming with ancient shrines and outdoor adventures amid multicolored landscapes.
The 168-acre (68-hectare) Omiya Park, famous for its cherry blossom trees and red pine forest, is a great place to start. Visit the 2,000-year-old Hikawa Shrine and meet varied wildlife at the free Omiya Park Zoo. Get active at the sports fields of riverside Akigase Park and swim at the summer pool of Shirakobatosuijo Park. Yono Park dazzles with its cherry blossoms and roses.
Delve into the evolution of Japan’s railroads via interactive exhibits at the Railway Museum. Learn about manga comics at the Saitama Manga Museum. Saitama Prefectural Museum of History and Folklore showcases the city’s artists, cultures and lifestyles. The Omiya Bonsai Art Museum and Omiya Bonsai Village provide an excellent introduction to the art of bonsai tree cultivation.
If you are in the mood for shopping, the AEON LakeTown mall offers national and international fashion labels such as Uniqlo and Zara. Cocoon City has additional global retails and a cinema. Join 37,000 adoring fans at the Saitama Super Arena for performances by popular J-pop bands. Paint your face red for a Urawa Red Diamonds soccer match at Saitama Stadium.
Like everywhere in Japan, the people of Saitama take their cuisine seriously. Sample unagi kabayaki (grilled eel), which originated on the rivers and swamps of the Urawa Ward during the Edo era. The Iwatsuki Ward is the birthplace of tofu ramen.
Trains depart regularly for the 25-minute journey from Tokyo Station to Saitama’s Omiya Station. Use the city as a base for touring fascinating sights, such as the Chichibu Kannon Pilgrimage, Kita-in Temple and Nagatoro Iwadatami Rocks in Saitama prefecture.