Saitama Prefecture borders the north of Tokyo, and the southern plains closer to Tokyo are more densely populated, while the northern part has more farmland scenery and is naturally rich. Not only are the streets of the former ancient town left behind, but you can also enjoy the beautiful natural beauty, and there are many attractions waiting for everyone to discover and explore.
In recent years, saitama prefecture attractions have attracted worldwide attention, such as the coniferous sky blue hydrangeas (Japanese Shibaka) in Yosan Park in Chichibu City, and the area around chichibu Bridge in Chichibu City, which is known as an anime shrine. In addition, saitama city's bonsai village is famous as a bonsai shrine, and many visitors to Japan come to the "さいたま市大宮 Bonsai Art Museum" (Saitama City Omiya Bonsai Art Museum) to enjoy the art of bonsai that showcases traditional Japanese culture.
So today we will introduce the sightseeing spots in Saitama Prefecture from the perspective of "seeing"!
Saitama City Omiya Bonsai Art Museum
An art museum where you can enjoy bonsai all year round, it is located in Bonsai Village, Saitama City. The Saitama City Omiya Bonsai Museum of Art not only has ornamental bonsai, but also works of art such as ukiyo-e with a potted theme, and also exhibits various historical materials about bonsai.
When admiring potted plants, imagining the natural scenery condensed in the pots is regarded as the main point of viewing. The overall feeling of the potted plant is also very important, but it is even more important to be good at discovering the beauty of small parts such as roots, stems, branches, leaves, etc.
Located on the 2nd floor of the Saitama City Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, there is a small coffee shop offering specialty drinks and a potted bento box as shown. ※Weekends only
There is also a shop on the first floor where you can buy potted souvenirs and gifts. The photo above is a potted hand towel, and there are other potted postcards, potted fans and other characteristic small objects.
With easy access to the Saitama Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, get off at the JR Utsunomiya Line "Toroku" and walk for about 5 minutes from the East Exit. Although it costs 300 yen to see, it is always necessary to visit once in a lifetime, and there may be only one art museum in the world!
<h3>Information</h3>
Location: 2-24-3 Toro-cho, Kita-ku, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (March to October) / 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (November to February)
Closed: Thursdays (if it is a national holiday), year-end and New Year holidays, and temporary closures
Official website: http://www.bonsai-art-museum.jp
Kawagoe Kurakuma-style street scene, the clock of time
Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture, also known as "Oedo Kawagoe", is loved by people. Koedo is used to denote "a bustling city like Edo" or "a city with a beautiful scenery in Edo". Kawagoe, a city with the scenery of the ancient city, can feel the strong Edo style.
A short walk from Kawagoe Station reveals a kurasaki-style streetscape. Kurasaki style is one of the traditional Japanese architectural styles, a house constructed of a wooden skeleton and mud wall (an earthen wall made by coating the outer wall with mortar). This type of building is strong, has good fire resistance, and is said to have been saved from major fires in the Meiji era. In this way, you can feel the traditional Japanese style of the crooked nuts
The picture above can be said to be the "clock of time" symbolized by Kawagoe. It is said to have been built 400 years ago by Sakai Tadatsu, the then lord of the Kawagoe Domain.
Even in modern times, it announces the passage of time in the warehouse-style streets of the past. And its bell sound is good, and in 1996 it was recognized as "preserved!" Japanese Oto no Kōkyō 100 selection "". The wooden time clock is 16 meters high, and at 6:00 a.m., noon, 3:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m., the bell rings four times a day.
Kawagoe not only has kurasaki-style buildings, but also many Western-style buildings from the Meiji and Taisho periods. The representative building is the current Saitama りそな Bank Kawagoe Branch. This building was originally established as a bank in Saitama Prefecture and was registered as a tangible cultural property of Japan in 1918. You can also enjoy the Edo style architecture and the Foreign style architecture of the Meiji and Taisho era, which is a symbol of Japan's modernization, which is also a major charm of Kawagoe!
The Clock of Time
Location: 15-7 Saiwaicho, Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture
Official website: http://www.koedo.or.jp/miru-asobu/99/
Yoshimi Hyakujo
"Yoshimi Hyaku caves" is an incredible spot in Saitama Prefecture. There are many caves on The Camellia Hill, the remains of which were built between 501 and 700 AD. It is said that there are 219 caves, which is the largest cave remains in Japan. It's incredible that a landscape like Cappadocia, Turkey, can be seen in Saitama!
Recognized as a historical site by the state, it is now open to the people and can also enter the cave to see.
The entrance to the cave is like the entrance to the other-dimensional world.
Although the entrance is relatively narrow, it can still be turned around inside.
Below the rocky mountain, a lush cave mouth with a glowing moss. It is rare to see light moss that grow naturally in the Kanto Plain, and the "Yoshimi Hyaku cave light moss occurrence site" is also included in the national natural monument.
In recent years, as the cave has become drier, the light moss has decreased significantly, so a bowl filled with water is put into the cave to maintain the humidity of the cave. And in order to protect the light moss, although tourists are forbidden to enter the depths of the cave, you can still enjoy the light moss that shines with emerald brilliance.
100 Holes in Yoshimi
Location: 324 Kitakichimi, Yoshimi-cho, Hiki-gun, Saitama
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m
Closed: 无
Official website: http://www.town.yoshimi.saitama.jp/guide_hyakuana.html
Speeding on Chichibu's SL train
To date, there is a sl row running, Chichibu Ryodo (The Immediate General Of The Empress, The Duke of Chichibu Sheepshan, recently located). SL Commander-in-chief "Paleo Express". Paleo Minamoto's survival 20 million years ago, The Chichibu District-like Paleoparadoxia, his metastical last name.
Paleoparadoxia has the Latin meaning of "formerly unthinkable animal" (an incredible animal of the past). In the Chichibu region, several fossils have been found, proving that once upon a time it was an underwater world. Among them, the fossils of Paleoparadoxia are rare and precious, and there are only a few pieces in the world.
In addition to the rare cultural culture "Paleo", it is called "Express" (express) and "Paleo express" formation.
Paleo express walks between Chichibu Railway Station and Kumagaya Station and Mie-noguchi. Nagasawa Station on the way was selected as one of the top 100 kanto stations. Reserved at the time of opening. A wooden station with a strong sense of history.
By the way, around Nagatori Station, "Nagasaki", is famous for its activities of "Nagasaki", which is famous for enjoying the magnificent beauty of nature while riding a large wooden boat down the Arakawa River.
Chichibu Railway Nagatoro Station
Location: 529-2 Nagatoro, Nagatoro Town, Chichibu-gun, Saitama
Official website: http://www.chichibu-railway.co.jp/slpaleo/
Chichibu Yoyama Park
Chichibu Yosan Park, planted with 350,000 coniferous sky blue hydrangeas (Japanese shiba tree), pink, white, purple coniferous sky blue hydrangeas, a cluster of bright colors, intertwined with natural gorgeous color carpets, people breathtaking, let people forget time and space to focus on appreciation.
Located at the foot of Mt. Wujia, a symbol of rank, Yangshan Park is set against the backdrop of the majestic Mt. Wujia and offers a wonderful spot of coniferous sky blue hydrangeas. In addition, during the coniferous sky blue hydrangea flowering period (mid-April to early May every year), an exchange market will be held in the square near the park, and Chichibu's souvenirs and local cuisine will be included.
By the way, the origin of the Japanese Shibazaku is because the shape of the flower is very similar to that of the cherry blossom (Japanese: 桜), and the second is because the flower blooms on the ground like a carpet (Japanese: Shiba), which is called Shiba. In Yangshan Park, the cherry blossom season is from mid-April to early May. Looking at Shibazakura up close, the heart-shaped petals bloom with charm.
During the flowering period, Yangshan Park is even more popular, and many overseas tourists come to see Shibazakura. It is a proud spot in Saitama!
Shibazakura Hill (Yangshan Park)
Location: 6360 Omiya, Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during the flower season Official website: http://navi.city.chichibu.lg.jp/p_flower/1808/
Festivals in Saitama Prefecture
Saitama Prefecture holds various festivals throughout the year. Among them, the Chichibu Night Festival, the Kyoto Gion Festival, and the Hida Takayama Festival are known as the three major mtsoon festivals (float festivals) in Japan. By the way, the Trailing Mountain Festival (float festival) refers to the festival of pulling a roller coaster (yeちなみに, a mountain cart (a cart that can be pulled by a color ornament during the festival) in the street.
The floats pulled by Chichibu in winter and the fireworks that bloom under the clear air on winter nights are the Saitama representative festivals that you must see at least once in your life.
The photo above is of the Kawagoe Festival held in Kawagoe. Luxury floats decorated with lions, masks, and harlequin masks drive through the kurasaki-style streets that symbolize Kawagoe. Don't miss the sight of several floats passing by in the ensemble of instruments.
This is another highlight of the Kawagoe Festival, which is "曳っかわせ(ひっかわせ)". In the face of several oncoming floats, people compete to play performances (flutes, taiko drums, dances, etc.), hold up high lanterns, and make loud shouts. The night "曳っかわせ" brings the festival to its climax.
epilogue
What do you think? Saitama Prefecture, located in the north of Tokyo, has many popular attractions. It is easily accessible from Tokyo and has a unique saitama spot that is also rare in Japan. If you have the opportunity, go to Saitama Prefecture and feel the culture and charm of Saitama Prefecture, so why not enjoy it!