Saitama

If Tokyo is New York, then Saitama is New Jersey, a bland commuter town that's half industrial, half suburban. Being composed of a bunch of towns agglomerated by bureaucratic fiat doesn't help: in Gertrude Stein's words, "there's no there there", and Tokyo wags joke about Dasai-tama ("Uncool-Tama"). But while you'd hardly plan a vacation touring Saitama, there are a number of sights of interest well worth a day trip, most notably the spectacular Railway Museum near Omiya.

Most of the attractions are within walking distance of one of the city's train stations, but there are Community Buses with routes throughout the city.

• 🌍 Saitama Museum of Modern Art (埼玉県立近代美術館 saitama-kenritsu kindaibijutsukan), ☏ +81 48-824-0111. 10:00-17:30. A museum of modern art featuring works by famous painters, such as Monet, Picasso, and Chagall. ¥200 (special exhibits have separate fees). 

• 🌍 Hikawa Shrine (氷川神社 hikawa jinja). One of the most important Shinto shrines in the Kanto area, claiming the history of more than 2000 years. Take the train to JR Omiya station, exit to the east, and keep walking until you come to the tree-lined street. This is the 2-km-long entrance path to the shrine. Turn left and walk straight north until you reach Hikawa Shrine itself. On New Year's Day, people young and old come to visit and celebrate the new year. Next to the shrine is a park, Omiya Koen. 
• 🌍 Saitama Prefectural Museum of History and Folklore (埼玉県立歴史と民俗の博物館). Exhibits artifacts from around Saitama Prefecture with information about its history and culture. 

• 🌍 Railway Museum (鉄道博物館), 3-47 Onaricho (Saitama New Shuttle Tetsudo-hakubutsukan Stn, one stop from JR Omiya). Open W-M 10:00-17:00 (closed Tu). A must of rail buffs and great for kids, the museum features 36 engines on display (including Japan's first steam locomotive), train cab simulators, Japan's largest HO-gauge miniature railway and more. You can even eat your lunch in a restored dining car. English language signage is sparse. Adult ¥1330, elementary-high school ¥620, child ¥310. (updated Jul 2023)
• 🌍 Sōji-in (総持院), ☏ +81 48-878-1545. A temple famous for its garden of hundreds of peonies which bloom from the end of April through the beginning of May. 
• 🌍 Tōgyoku Doll Museum (東玉人形の博物館 tōgyoku ningyō no hakubutsukan), 3-2-32 Hommachi, Iwatsuki-ku, ☏ +81 48-756-1111. Tōgyoku dolls are a famous local product and symbol. According to legend, a priest named Esho became sick while passing through the area. Although he recovered from the illness, it weakened him to the point that he couldn't leave the town. He began to pass the time by making dolls out of the local wood. His dolls slowly grew in popularity and the tradition of doll-making has been a part of the Iwatsuki area ever since. They were given the name 'Tōgyoku' by a local lord when he was given one of the dolls as a present. The museum has many examples of these dolls, as well as exhibits of other types of dolls. They also have workshops where you can make your own dolls for a fee. ¥300. 
• 🌍 Urawa Art Museum (うらわ美術館 urawa bijutsukan). 10:00-17:00. The museum collects and displays art of and from books. They also aim to foster local artists by featuring their works. Free, except special exhibitions. 
• 🌍 Jion-ji (慈恩寺). The 12th temple of the Bandō 33 Temple Pilgrimage. 

• 🌍 Ōmiya kōen (大宮公園). The first prefectural park in Saitama, later expanded twice to become a very big park. There is a small zoo, swimming pool, amusement park, soccer field, museum and archery ground in the park, making it enjoyable for all ages. In the spring, many people enjoy cherry-blossom viewing there. (updated Nov 2015)
  • 🌍 Omiya Park Zoo (大宮公園小動物園). 10:00-16:00. A small children's zoo, home to a variety of birds, monkeys, squirrels, reptiles, and other small animals. Free. 
• 🌍 Saitama Super Arena (さいたまスーパーアリーナ) (linked to Saitama Shintoshin station with a pedestrian walkway). A huge, multi-configuration arena that can seat up to 37,000 people. Numerous shops, restaurants and attractions can be found within. Many famous artists often give concerts there. Young residents in Saitama attend the ceremony of Coming of Age Day in the arena, held every year in January. Exterior space around the arena is a good place for a date - in the Christmas season, a lot of people come to see beautiful illuminations. 
• 🌍 Saitama Arts Theater (彩の国さいたま芸術劇場). The city's primary performing arts theater. Throughout the year, they hold orchestral concerts, piano concerts, plays, musicals, and other events. It has even been used to film dramas. There is also a cafeteria and restaurant on site. 
• Watch football at Saitama Stadium 2002, home to the Urawa Red Diamonds, with one of the best atmospheres in Asia. Or at NACK5 Stadium if you somehow have sympathy to the weaker - it's home to Omiya Ardija, another pro team based in the city.

• 🌍 Red Voltage (レッドボルテージ), ☏ +81 48-824-0290. 10:00-19:00. This is the official souvenir shop for the Urawa Red Diamonds soccer team, three time Asian champions. 
• 🌍 Aeon Mall Yono (イオンモール与野), ☏ +81 48-856-7100. 09:00-22:00. Large shopping complex. 
• 🌍 Urawa Corso (浦和コルソ), ☏ +81 48-824-5555. 10:00-20:00 (restaurants open until 21:30). A mall with a variety of shoes and clothing shops, as well as some specialty shops. 
• 🌍 Sweets Shop Ogawaya (御菓子司 小川屋), ☏ +81 48-664-2844. 09:30-18:00. Famous sweets for Bonsai Monaka (盆栽最中) and Ōmiya Poppo (大宮ぽっぽ). 

Jūmangoku Manjū (十万石まんじゅう) is a famous brand of cake from Gyōda, Saitama. Manjyū is a Japanese-style bun stuffed with red bean paste. Some department stores and souvenir stores such as Sogo department in Omiya station always sell it. One manjyū is ¥105.

• 🌍 The Three Little Lambs (３匹のひつじ), ☏ +81 48-645-4129. A delicious lamb shabu-shabu restaurant which also serves lamb sashimi or lamb yakiniku. With drinks you can have a delicious, filling meal for under ¥3000. 
• Torikukai Yakitori bar and grill (鳥空海), 6-26-9 Tozuka Kawaguchi Saitama (about 6 min walk from Tozuka angyo station off the Nanboku line in Saitama), ☏ +81 48-294-5200. During the week master Suzuki san grills up the freshest chicken and on weekends the best ramen using the freshest chicken for a wonderful broth. During the week at dinner its a Yakitori bar with a friendly lively local crowd. ¥5000 for a dinner for two depending on how much you drink and its all top quality cooking. 

• 🌍 The King George English Pub (キングジョージ大宮), 2-51 Tokai Biru B1, Omiya-ku, ☏ +81 4 8649 5040. 17:00-01:00. A few minutes walk through the seedier side of Saitama from Omiya Station's East Exit. Turn right at the exit and then left down the brightly lit strip full of touts and hostesses in evening dresses. The King George is a way down on your right. This English-style pub is often full of expat English teachers, and hosts a lot of gigs and live events. Drinks are around ¥600. 
• 🌍 HUB Omiya Higashiguchi (HUB大宮東口店). From Omiya Station (East Exit) and take your first left. Walk for about a half a KM north until you will see the bar on your right. Every gaijin loves a Hub, and this one is arguably the best in the Kanto region, thanks to its massive interior and patio, as well as a non-smoking section that actually stays smoke-free. Food also available in addition to drinks. 

• 🌍 Pioland Hotel (パイオランドホテル), ☏ +81 48-648-0010. Singles from ¥7900. 
• 🌍 Chateau Briant (シャトーブリアン). 
• 🌍 Royal Pines Hotel Urawa (ロイヤルパインズホテル浦和). 

• Koshigaya
• Kawagoe
• Kasukabe
• Ageo
• Hasuda
• Gyoda
• Chichibu
• Kumagaya
• Tokyo