Where should you stay and what should you see in Saitama?

Kawagoe · 川越

Spend the first night in Kawagoe for temples and old streets into the evening. An ordinary JR paper ticket from Shinjuku costs JPY 810, followed by JPY 350 to Omiya the next day. JR Kawagoe, Hon-Kawagoe and Kawagoeshi are separate stations, so choose accommodation for the railway you will use.

JR 2026 fare table2026-10-08Saitama rail operating distances: basis for JR fare calculations2026-10-08Walking map showing the hotel2026-10-08

Omiya · 大宮

Choose two Omiya nights to give the Railway Museum and bonsai and cartoon museums a day each. Moving here after Kawagoe avoids retracing the same journey. An ordinary JR paper ticket from Omiya to Shinjuku costs JPY 530 one way. For Chichibu, take JR to Kumagaya and change to Chichibu Railway.

JR 2026 fare table2026-10-08Saitama rail operating distances: basis for JR fare calculations2026-10-08JR Omiya Station coin locker locations2026-10-08New Shuttle departures from Omiya2026-10-082026 bonsai museum guide and 45-minute walk from Omiya2026-10-08

Chichibu · 秩父

Compare one night in Chichibu for the shrine and festival exhibits with two nights to add Nagatoro's riverside and Hodosan. Omiya–Kumagaya JR at JPY 620 and Kumagaya–Chichibu Railway at JPY 950 are separate fares. This itinerary uses Chichibu Railway's Chichibu Station, which is different from Seibu-Chichibu Station.

JR 1878E weekday Omiya–Kumagaya service2026-10-08Chichibu Railway's currently linked weekday timetable2026-10-08Chichibu Railway ordinary fare table by station2026-10-08JR 2026 fare table2026-10-08Saitama rail operating distances: basis for JR fare calculations2026-10-08Chichibu Shrine official transport guide2026-10-08Hotel Route-Inn Grand Chichibu access, check-in and self-service lockers2026-10-08

Kawagoe: Kitain and old streets

Visit Kitain's paid areas first, then Kurazukuri Street and Toki no Kane. Consider a walk through Kashiya Yokocho for small sweet shops. To include the castle and city museum, compare a three-day trip that separates visits after matching both facilities' closure days.

Kashiya Yokocho · 菓子屋横丁

Kawagoe Tourism Association old streets and Candy Alley guide2026-10-09Visiting Kitain2026-10-08

Omiya: rail exhibits, bonsai and cartoons

Take the New Shuttle from Omiya to the Railway Museum, or walk through the park and bonsai village to the bonsai and cartoon museums. The officially recommended walk to the bonsai museum takes about 45 minutes; allow extra time for visits and rests. Choose four-day A with two Omiya nights to see both types of exhibit.

June 2026 museum and transport guide2026-10-082026 bonsai museum guide and 45-minute walk from Omiya2026-10-08Cartoon museum official visitor guide2026-10-09

Chichibu: shrine and festival exhibits

Walk about three minutes from Chichibu Railway's Chichibu Station to the shrine. See buildings and carvings, then floats and recreated footage at the nearby Festival Hall. This differs from attending the festival itself. Compare two Chichibu nights if adding the riverside the next day.

Chichibu Festival Hall hours, closures and adult admission2026-10-08Chichibu Railway ordinary fare table by station2026-10-08

Nagatoro: riverside and Hodosan

Iwadatami is about five minutes on foot from Nagatoro Station; Hodosan Ropeway's lower station is about 20 minutes away. Rain and high water may restrict riverside rock access, while weather and suspensions affect the ropeway. On the final day, return to Shinjuku via Kumagaya rather than retracing the route to Chichibu.

Nagatoro Tourist Information Office hours and luggage storage2026-10-09Hodosan Ropeway ordinary fares and timetable2026-10-09

Eat in the city you are visiting that day

Meal locations differ between Kawagoe walks, Omiya exhibits and Chichibu or Nagatoro days. Choose nearby places from the Saitama restaurant list and check their hours.

Kawagoe Tourism Association old streets and Candy Alley guide2026-10-09

Check routes and connections for your dates

Browse transport routes and directions, then choose actual departures and returns from JR, New Shuttle and Chichibu Railway timetables. At Kumagaya, calculate JR and Chichibu Railway tickets separately.

JR East official station timetable search2026-10-09Chichibu Railway's currently linked weekday timetable2026-10-08

Browse cameras by location

Check shooting locations, original formats and update times in Saitama's camera list. The Nagatoro Station photo shows the square and streets; Iwadatami's photo shows riverside rocks and the river area. See the two separately below.

Nagatoro Tourism Association updated station-front and Iwadatami photos2026-10-09

Kawagoe: sweet potato sweets

Kawagoe has grown sweet potatoes and shipped them to Edo since the Edo period. Compare sweets such as sweet potato senbei and dorayaki with sweet potato filling while walking. Shops in Candy Alley and the old streets offer different products, packaging and prices; choose for eating straight away or taking as gifts.

Kawagoe Tourism Association sweet potato sweets and matcha feature2026-10-09Kawagoe Tourism Association old streets and Candy Alley guide2026-10-09

Chichibu: battered potatoes with miso sauce

Miso potato · みそポテト consists of boiled potatoes coated in batter, fried and served with sweet, savoury miso sauce. This Chichibu local dish developed as a light meal between farm tasks and is also eaten as a snack or side dish. Shop menus and portions vary, so choose whether to order it with a meal or as a snack.

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries: Chichibu miso potato ingredients and method2026-10-09

Should I buy a JR TOKYO Wide Pass just for this trip?

JR TOKYO Wide Pass

At JPY 16,000 for an adult and valid for three consecutive days, the pass costs more than the transport and admission totals above. If you already have one or combine other JR travel, compare validity dates and eligibility. New Shuttle between Omiya and Tetsudo-Hakubutsukan is officially covered, but Chichibu Railway, ropeways and admission cost extra. Users must be foreign nationals holding a valid passport issued outside Japan, with the original passport checked.

Official JR TOKYO Wide Pass price, three consecutive days and covered operators2026-10-09JR East official pass purchase and eligibility2026-10-09

Nagatoro Station: station square and streets

The station photo shows the square, road and nearby trees, separately from the Iwadatami riverside view. The displayed date may be older, so check the original capture time first.

Nagatoro Tourism Association updated station-front and Iwadatami photos2026-10-09

Iwadatami: riverside rocks and river area

Iwadatami's photo shows riverside rocks and the river area. It does not establish access along the entire riverside or the operation of boats, rafting or Hodosan Ropeway. Check official notices for your date.

Nagatoro Tourism Association updated station-front and Iwadatami photos2026-10-09