Saitama. Honestly, most travelers just look at it as a giant suburban sprawl that keeps Tokyo running. They see the train maps, notice the "Saitama" heading north, and then immediately look back toward Shinjuku or Shibuya.
That's a mistake.
If you're looking for things to do in Saitama, you've gotta stop thinking of it as Tokyo's backyard and start seeing it as the place where Japan actually kept its soul while the capital went full neon. It’s kinda funny—Saitama is where you find 1,000-year-old trees, 1960s time capsules, and a literal cathedral made of books, all within a 40-minute train ride of the Yamanote line.
Why You Shouldn't Skip the Omiya Bonsai Village
People think bonsai is just a hobby for retirees. It's not. In Omiya, it’s high-stakes art. After the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, Tokyo’s bonsai masters basically packed their bags and headed north to find better soil and cleaner air. They landed in Omiya and never left.
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The Omiya Bonsai Art Museum is the heavy hitter here. You’ll see trees that have been alive since the Kamakura period. We’re talking $10$-century-old living organisms. Just walking through the village—which is a collection of private nurseries—is a trip. Some gardens don’t allow photos, and the vibe is super quiet, so keep your voice down. It’s less of a tourist trap and more of a neighborhood that just happens to house millions of dollars worth of greenery.
The Hidden Giant of Omiya
Right near the bonsai gardens is the Musashi Ichinomiya Hikawa Shrine. This place has been around for about 2,400 years. Yeah, you read that right. The approach to the shrine (the sando) is two kilometers long, lined with massive trees that make the city noise just... disappear.
- Pro Tip: Look for the Ni-no-Torii gate. It was actually donated by Meiji Jingu in Tokyo back in the 70s. It stands 13 meters tall and is made of ancient cypress.
Little Edo: The Kawagoe Time Machine
If you want the "Old Japan" vibe without the crushing crowds of Kyoto, you go to Kawagoe. Locals call it "Koedo" or Little Edo. The main street is full of kurazukuri—these thick-walled, black-plastered warehouses that used to protect goods from fires back in the day.
The symbol of the town is the Toki no Kane (Bell of Time). It still rings four times a day (6am, noon, 3pm, and 6pm). But honestly? Most people go for the sweet potatoes. Back in the Edo period, Kawagoe was the main supplier of sweet potatoes to Tokyo. Now, they put them in everything.
- Imo-koi: A steamed bun with sweet potato and red bean.
- Imo-soft: Sweet potato soft-serve ice cream.
- Coedo Beer: Specifically the "Beniaka" version, which is brewed with—you guessed it—sweet potatoes.
It’s a bit touristy on weekends, sure. But if you duck into the side alleys like Kashiya Yokocho (Candy Alley), you’ll find shops selling traditional snacks that haven't changed in fifty years.
The Kadokawa Culture Museum: A Modern Labyrinth
Moving from 1820 to 2026, we have the Kadokawa Culture Museum in Tokorozawa. This building doesn't even look real. It’s this massive, jagged granite monolith designed by Kengo Kuma. It looks like it just burst out of the ground.
Inside, the "Bookshelf Theater" is the star. It's a room with 8-meter-high bookshelves holding about 50,000 volumes. They do projection mapping shows on the books themselves every half hour. It feels like a mix between a library and a movie set from Interstellar.
Beyond the Books
The whole area is part of "Tokorozawa Sakura Town." You’ve got:
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- Musashino Reiwa Shrine: A super modern shrine also designed by Kengo Kuma.
- EJ Anime Hotel: Where the rooms are themed after different series.
- TeamLab: There’s a permanent outdoor installation in the nearby woods called "Resonating Life in the Acorn Forest." Go at night. The glowing ovoids react to your touch and change color.
The Chichibu Adventure (If You Have a Full Day)
Chichibu is way out in western Saitama. It takes about 80 minutes on the Laview express train from Ikebukuro. It’s mountainous, rugged, and feels completely different from the rest of the prefecture.
If you’re lucky enough to be there on December 2 or 3, you’ll witness the Chichibu Night Festival. It’s one of Japan’s top three "float festivals." These 10-ton wooden floats are pulled up a steep hill while fireworks explode for hours in the freezing winter air. It’s chaotic and incredible.
Nagatoro River Boating
A bit further north is Nagatoro. You jump in a traditional wooden boat and a guy with a long pole navigates you down the Arakawa River. The rock formations along the bank, called Iwadatami, look like layers of tatami mats. It’s a National Scenic Spot, and in the fall, the colors are unreal.
Things to do in Saitama for the Retro Enthusiast
Seibuen Amusement Park recently did something gutsy. They stripped away the generic modern rides and leaned hard into 1960s nostalgia. When you walk in, you’re in a "Showa-era" shopping street. There are actors playing police officers and street vendors, and you even have to exchange your yen for "Seibuen currency" to buy snacks.
The highlight? The Godzilla ride. It’s a motion theater experience that actually has a decent plot and some of the best CGI I’ve seen in a theme park. It’s weirdly emotional for a ride about a giant lizard.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Trip
Don't try to see all of Saitama in one day. It's too big. Instead, pick a "vibe" and stick to it:
- For the History Buff: Take the JR line to Omiya. Spend the morning at the Bonsai Village, have lunch near Hikawa Shrine, and spend the afternoon at the Railway Museum (it’s one of the best in the world, even if you aren't a train geek).
- For the "Instagram" Traveler: Go to Kawagoe. Rent a kimono, eat a giant sweet potato chip, and catch the bell ringing at 3pm.
- For the Modernist: Head to Tokorozawa. Hit the Kadokawa Culture Museum in the afternoon and stay for the teamLab forest after sunset.
- For the Nature Seeker: Take the Seibu Red Arrow or Laview train to Chichibu. Do the river cruise in Nagatoro and visit Mitsumine Shrine at the top of the mountain.
Saitama isn't just a place people live so they can work in Tokyo. It's where the old traditions actually have room to breathe. Grab a Pasmo card, hop on the Saikyo Line, and just get off at Omiya. You'll see what I mean.