The movie "Fly Bar Saitama" is currently being screened in Japan. The film is adapted from the popular manga of the same name and is a comedy film about "regional black". In the film, Saitama Prefecture is set as a place close to Tokyo, but with a world of difference from Tokyo's standard of living. In real life, Saitama is often complained that "there is nothing" and "easy to be forgotten".
Is Saitama Prefecture, which borders Tokyo, really nothing? Here's a look at saitama's top 10 attractions.
Moomin Valley Park
Moomin Valley Amusement Park (Image source: Asahi Shimbun website)
On March 16, moomin Valley Park, located around Lake Miyazawa in Hano City, Saitama Prefecture, was officially opened.
The theme park is located close to the Nordic cultural experience facility "Metsa Village", which opened last year, and covers an area of about 7.3 hectares. The main facilities include kokemus (Finnish 'experience') where you can experience the charm of Jansson's literature and art works, and the "Moomin House", which recreates the life of the Moomin family in three dimensions. All the styling in the park is guided by Yang Song's niece Sophia Yang Song.
It is reported that Moomin Valley Amusement Park is open from 10:00 a.m. to 20:00 p.m., and the ticket price for middle school students and above is 1,500 yen (about 90 yuan), and for 4-year-old elementary school students is 1,000 yen (about 60 yuan).
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Shibazakura Hill (Yangshan Park)
(Image source: Chichibu City Tourism Website)
Located on a small hill in chichibu city, Yodoyama Park is a famous spot for cherry blossom viewing in Japan. On a hilly area of about 17,600 square meters, there are nine varieties of Shibazakura planted in total, totaling more than 400,000 plants. Every year from early April to early May, during the flowering season, it becomes a beautiful sea of flowers and welcomes a steady stream of tourists. There are also many cute lambs in the park, where visitors can get up close and personal with nature.
Japan Glacier Shrine "Wind Chimes" Festival (Image source: Asahi Shimbun website)
Kawagoe Kogawa Shrine Yodoshishinya Yokocho
It takes about an hour from Tokyo to Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture. One of the most famous attractions here is the "Kawagoe Glacier Shrine". As the chief town guard of Kawagoe, the Glacier Shrine is quite adept at blessing good fortune. From July 7 to September 30 every year, the "Wind Chime Festival" is held here, where more than 2,000 brightly colored Edo wind chimes are hung.
Another well-known attraction in Kawagoe is the "Confectionery House Yokodō" where you can eat and stroll around. During the Kanei period, Kawagoe Castle Sakai Tadaokatsu built the original bell tower, the Clock of Time. The bell tower was rebuilt in Meiji 27 and is now in its fourth generation. Every day, the bell rings at four o'clock. In addition, in the "Dim Sum House Yokoding", there are about 20 small shops selling candy, rough dim sum, pickles and other foods on both sides of the stone steps. Tourists can also buy Kawagoe specialty, sweet potatoes, and eat while strolling around.
Miebo Shrine
(Image source: Miho Shrine official website)
Located in Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture, Miho Shrine was founded by Takezumi of Japan about 1900 years ago and is one of the three Chichibu Shrines. The "Three Torii" of Miho Shrine is extremely rare in Japan, and the stone statues on both sides are not dogs, but wolves.
Tobu Animal Park
(Infographic)
The famous "Tobu Zoological Park" is actually located in Minami Saitama-gun, Saitama Prefecture. Tobu Zoological Park covers a large area and is divided into three areas: a zoo, a playground, and an aquatic amusement park. There are about 120 species of animals living in the park, including the rare white tiger. In the park, you can also experience feeding the animals and get up close and personal with the animals. There are more than 30 kinds of amusement projects in the playground, and the water amusement park has a surf pool, a flow pool, a taxi pool, a children's pool and so on.
Railway Museum
(Image source: Railway Museum official website)
The Representative Railway Museum of Japan, located in Omiya, Saitama City, introduces the role of Japanese railways, the changes in railway technology, and the impact of railways on society with the themes of "Railways", "History", and "Education". In addition to exhibiting the vehicles in kind and recreating the scene at that time, you can also enjoy Japan's largest railway perspective painting and experience Japan's first "D51" simulated driving.
Nagato Valley
(Image source: Chichibu Railway official website)
Nagasaki Valley is a scenic spot bred by the clear stream of the Arakawa River, and is also a nationally designated scenic spot and nature reserve in Japan. Nagato Valley is a natural museum. There is a rock about 50 meters wide and about 600 meters long, and there is also a Chichibu chibi that is tens of meters high, which is also very rare in geology. In addition to walking on the rocks, you can also sit in the boat and listen to the gondolier while enjoying the view.
Omiya Bonsai Village・ Omiya Bonsai Museum
(Image source: Omiya Bonsai Museum of Art official website)
Many horticulturists and bonsai planters in Tokyo moved to Saitama Prefecture after the Great Kanto Earthquake. In the 14th year of Taisho, the "Omiya Bonsai Village", one of the few bonsai towns in Japan, was born here. At its peak, there were about 30 potted plantations here, and it is still famous as a potted mecca. In addition, there is the world's first public bonsai art museum, the "Omiya Bonsai Art Museum", which is committed to widely disseminating bonsai culture at home and abroad. In addition to the collection gallery, there are also bonsai gardens that are worth seeing.
Sakura Causeway Kumagaya
(Image source: Kumagaya City Tourism Bureau official website)
Kumagaya Sakura Causeway is a cherry blossom viewing spot that began in the Edo period. Along the 2km long Arakawa Causeway, about 500 Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms are planted, forming a cherry blossom tunnel that attracts many tourists. During the Kumagaya Cherry Blossom Festival from late March to early April, you can also enjoy the dreamy night cherry blossoms.
Café where you can take a bath
There is an "ofuro cafe utatane" in Omiya, Saitama City. The name "utatane" means "nap, nap" in Japanese as "うたた寝", which means "nap, nap". You can enjoy coffee or relax in the bath. The natural hot spring water of "Shirasu No Yu" is introduced in the store, which is very effective in expelling fatigue and treating cold.
(Image source: "ofuro cafe utatane" official website)
In the spring, the store also offers activities such as indoor cherry blossom viewing. There are also heaters, hammocks, etc. in the restaurant, where you can spend a relaxing day. (Planner/ Yuan Meng Yu Shuting)