Saitama

Located 20-30 kilometers north of Tokyo, Saitama has grown from a cluster of smaller cities into a major urban center. You can operate actual train simulators at the Railway Museum, walk among 100-year-old pine trees in Omiya Bonsai Village, or cycle through the Minuma Rice Paddies. The city's main hub at Omiya Station connects you to hiking trails in the Chichibu mountains and rafting spots in Nagatoro Valley.

Getting to Saitama

From central Tokyo, trains reach Omiya Station in about 30 minutes via JR lines from major stations like Shinagawa, Tokyo, and Ueno. The Shonan-Shinjuku and Saikyo lines run from Shibuya and Ikebukuro to Saitama's central districts. At Omiya Station, local lines intersect with high-speed Shinkansen tracks heading to northern Japan. You'll find shopping complexes and restaurants within a 10-minute walk from the station.

Inside Omiya Bonsai Village

Several bonsai nurseries relocated to Omiya from Tokyo after the 1923 Great Kanto earthquake. Today, six nurseries maintain over 1,000 trees, including century-old pines and maples. You can watch gardeners shape branches with copper wire and trim leaves with specialized tools. The Omiya Bonsai Art Museum displays trees from different seasons and teaches basic maintenance techniques in weekend workshops.

Railway Museum Activities

The Railway Museum displays 36 trains, from an 1871 steam engine to a cut-away bullet train car. You can practice driving trains in the same simulators used by JR East for conductor training. The museum's HO-gauge miniature railway recreates actual stations and rail lines across 100 square meters. Staff demonstrate train coupling procedures and explain signal systems during hourly presentations.

Green Spaces in the City

Akigase Park spans 47 hectares with 3-kilometer riverside paths and seasonal flower beds of tulips, roses, and chrysanthemums. In the eastern part of Saitama, farmers grow rice in the Minuma paddies from May to September. Besshonuma Park has 12 baseball fields, 8 tennis courts, and 800 cherry trees that bloom in early April. Walking and cycling paths connect these green spaces through residential neighborhoods.

Local Food and Markets

Rice cracker makers in Soka create senbei in wood-fired ovens, with flavors ranging from soy sauce to wasabi. After 6 PM, food stalls around Omiya Station sell yakitori, oden, and regional dishes. Local farmers sell fresh vegetables at morning markets in residential areas, bringing produce from the Minuma fields and nearby farms.

Events Through the Seasons

In April, 1,200 cherry trees bloom in Omiya Park, drawing crowds for hanami parties and evening light-ups. Summer brings neighborhood matsuri with taiko drumming and yatai food stalls. Professional cyclists race through downtown streets during the October Tour de France Saitama Criterium. The Chichibu Night Festival in December includes 6 two-story floats, a two-hour fireworks show, and kabuki performances.