After Kawagoe, choose rail or bonsai and cartoon exhibits
Visit Kitain and old streets before a day at the Railway Museum, or see Kawagoe's history exhibits followed by bonsai and cartoons together. With either option, stay one night in Kawagoe and return to Shinjuku after visiting Omiya the next day.
Choose an itinerary for 2 days / 1 night
One Kawagoe night, then the Railway Museum and Shinjuku
Choose this for Kitain and old streets, followed by time at the Railway Museum the next day. Stay one night in Kawagoe and return to Shinjuku after Omiya.
One Kawagoe night, then the Railway Museum and Shinjuku →2 days / 1 night BKawagoe history, bonsai and cartoons in two days
Visit Kawagoe Castle and the city museum first, then Omiya's bonsai and cartoon museums together the next day. Stay one night in Kawagoe, choosing history and art exhibits instead of paid temple visits and the Railway Museum.
Kawagoe history, bonsai and cartoons in two days →One Kawagoe night, then the Railway Museum and Shinjuku
Choose this for Kitain and old streets, followed by time at the Railway Museum the next day. Stay one night in Kawagoe and return to Shinjuku after Omiya.
Day 1: Kitain and old streets
Visit the temple first, then continue to the old streets for food and a walk.
- Shinjuku Station → JR Kawagoe Station
Take a Kawagoe-bound JR Saikyo and Kawagoe Line service from Shinjuku. Get off at Kawagoe and use the east exit. An ordinary one-way paper ticket costs JPY 810. Hon-Kawagoe and Kawagoeshi are different stations.
JR East official station timetable searchJR 2026 fare tableSaitama rail operating distances: basis for JR fare calculations
- Kawagoe Station → Kitain Temple
Visit Kitain first for temple buildings and the Five Hundred Rakan statues. It is about 20 minutes on foot from Kawagoe Station; adult admission is JPY 400. On weekdays from 1 March to 23 November, the temple opens from 9 am to 4.30 pm, with last admission at 4 pm. Winter visits finish earlier. Follow on-site diversions during gate restoration work.
Official English guideVisiting KitainGate restoration notice
- Kitain Temple → Kurazukuri Street and Toki no Kane
After the temple, head to the old streets for a meal and a look around the kurazukuri buildings and shops. Toki no Kane rings at 6 am, noon, 3 pm and 6 pm. Visitors do not climb inside the bell tower, and shops have their own hours. After walking and eating, return to your booked Kawagoe accommodation using the route for its address.
Check the day's facility closures and admission deadlines before choosing the order of your old-street walk.
A day at the Railway Museum
Spend time with railway vehicles and exhibits before returning to Shinjuku. Store large luggage in Omiya Station lockers if available; shorten your visit if they are full.
- JR Kawagoe Station → Omiya Station
After checking out of your Kawagoe accommodation, head to JR Kawagoe Station. Take a JR Kawagoe and Saikyo Line service towards Omiya. The one-way paper fare is JPY 350. This itinerary returns to Shinjuku after the Omiya visit.
JR East official station timetable searchJR 2026 fare tableSaitama rail operating distances: basis for JR fare calculationsJR Omiya Station coin locker locations
- New Shuttle Omiya Station → Tetsudo-Hakubutsukan Station
For the railway vehicle exhibits, take a New Shuttle train towards Uchijuku and get off at the first stop, Tetsudo-Hakubutsukan. The one-way paper fare is JPY 190; the museum is about one minute on foot from the station.
- Railway Museum entrance → Visit the exhibits
Explore the Railway Museum's vehicles, science and history displays, allowing time for a meal and rest. The Railway Museum opens from 10 am to 5 pm, with last admission at 4.30 pm. Adult same-day admission is JPY 1,600, or JPY 1,500 when bought by the previous day. Activities such as driving experiences have separate booking conditions and extra fees.
- Tetsudo-Hakubutsukan Station → Omiya Station
After visiting, take the New Shuttle back towards Omiya. The one-way paper fare is JPY 190.
New Shuttle faresOmiya-bound timetable from Tetsudo-Hakubutsukan
- Omiya Station → Shinjuku Station
From Omiya, take a JR Saikyo Line or other service that stops at Shinjuku. Collect stored luggage before boarding. The ordinary one-way paper fare is JPY 530. Allow more time to leave or change trains at Shinjuku if continuing to an airport or another city.
JR East official station timetable searchJR 2026 fare tableSaitama rail operating distances: basis for JR fare calculationsJR Omiya Station coin locker locations
The Railway Museum normally closes on Tuesdays and over New Year; check exceptions in the official opening calendar. Check activity booking conditions separately.
Costs included in the calculation: Shinjuku–Kawagoe JPY 810 + Kawagoe–Omiya JPY 350 + Omiya–Shinjuku JPY 530 + Kitain JPY 400 + return New Shuttle fare JPY 380 + Railway Museum same-day ticket JPY 1,600 = JPY 4,070.
Extra costs and conditions: Accommodation, meals, travel to and beyond Shinjuku, extra facilities, paid activities and luggage storage such as coin lockers cost extra. Fares use ordinary paper tickets; recalculate if changing routes, seats or discounts.
Buying the Railway Museum's JPY 1,500 advance ticket by the previous day reduces this same-day-ticket budget by JPY 100. Activity bookings and paid experiences remain separate.
JR 2026 fare tableSaitama rail operating distances: basis for JR fare calculationsVisiting KitainMuseum admissionNew Shuttle fares
Kawagoe history, bonsai and cartoons in two days
Visit Kawagoe Castle and the city museum first, then Omiya's bonsai and cartoon museums together the next day. Stay one night in Kawagoe, choosing history and art exhibits instead of paid temple visits and the Railway Museum.
Day 1: castle, city museum and old streets
See the castle building and history exhibits before continuing to the old streets.
- Shinjuku Station → JR Kawagoe Station
Take a Kawagoe-bound JR Saikyo and Kawagoe Line service from Shinjuku. Get off at Kawagoe and use the east exit. An ordinary one-way paper ticket costs JPY 810. Hon-Kawagoe and Kawagoeshi are different stations.
JR East official station timetable searchJR 2026 fare tableSaitama rail operating distances: basis for JR fare calculations
- JR Kawagoe Station → Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Palace
Choose Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Palace to see the surviving castle building. From JR Kawagoe Station's east exit, walk along Chuo-dori and Kurazukuri Street to Satsu-no-Tsuji, then head east towards city hall to the palace. The official walk from Satsu-no-Tsuji is about 10 minutes. Adult admission is JPY 100; it opens from 9 am to 5 pm, with last admission at 4.30 pm. Avoid closures including Mondays and the fourth Friday. This is not a castle-tower climb.
Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Palace visitor guideCity museum and Honmaru Palace 2026 opening calendarWalking map showing the hotel
- Honmaru Palace → Kawagoe City Museum
At nearby Kawagoe City Museum, explore local history and kurazukuri architecture. Adult permanent-display admission is JPY 200; it opens from 9 am to 5 pm, with last admission at 4.30 pm. Separate palace and museum tickets total JPY 300, distinct from museum and art museum combined tickets.
Kawagoe City Museum prices and closuresKawagoe City's combined-ticket combinations
- Kawagoe City Museum → Kurazukuri Street and Toki no Kane
After the temple, head to the old streets for a meal and a look around the kurazukuri buildings and shops. Toki no Kane rings at 6 am, noon, 3 pm and 6 pm. Visitors do not climb inside the bell tower, and shops have their own hours. After walking and eating, return to your booked Kawagoe accommodation using the route for its address.
Check the day's facility closures and admission deadlines before choosing the order of your old-street walk.
Bonsai, cartoons and the park in one day
Visit the bonsai and cartoon museums together, adding the park on your return if time allows. Return from Omiya to Shinjuku afterwards. Store large luggage in Omiya Station lockers if available; shorten your visit if they are full.
- JR Kawagoe Station → Omiya Station
After checking out of your Kawagoe accommodation, head to JR Kawagoe Station. Take a JR Kawagoe and Saikyo Line service towards Omiya. The one-way paper fare is JPY 350. This itinerary returns to Shinjuku after the Omiya visit.
JR East official station timetable searchJR 2026 fare tableSaitama rail operating distances: basis for JR fare calculationsJR Omiya Station coin locker locations
- Omiya Station east exit → Omiya Bonsai Art Museum
For bonsai and art exhibits, walk via Hikawa Shrine, Omiya Park and the bonsai village to the museum. The officially recommended walking route takes about 45 minutes, excluding visits and rests.
- Bonsai Art Museum → Cartoon Art Museum
Explore the indoor exhibits and garden at the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, Saitama. Adult admission is JPY 310. The bonsai museum opens from 9 am to 4.30 pm from March to October, with last admission at 4 pm. From November to February, it opens from 9 am to 4 pm, with last admission at 3.30 pm. Afterwards, use the official map to find the Cartoon Art Museum on Kaede-dori and walk there.
Bonsai museum prices, seasonal hours and Thursday public holiday exception2026 bonsai museum guide and 45-minute walk from Omiya
- Cartoon Art Museum → Visit the cartoon exhibits
Explore Kitazawa Rakuten materials and the day's special exhibition at Saitama Municipal Cartoon Art Museum. Admission is free, and the museum opens from 9 am to 4.30 pm. Talks and activities follow separate schedules.
Cartoon museum visits, access and closures2026 Rakuten Collection II free exhibition
- Bonsai village → Omiya Station
After the museums, eat nearby and return to Omiya Station along the same route through the park and Hikawa Shrine. The free Japanese garden opens from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm; stop briefly if time allows.
2026 bonsai museum guide and 45-minute walk from OmiyaOmiya Park Japanese garden hours and free admission
- Omiya Station → Shinjuku Station
From Omiya, take a JR Saikyo Line or other service that stops at Shinjuku. Collect stored luggage before boarding. The ordinary one-way paper fare is JPY 530. Allow more time to leave or change trains at Shinjuku if continuing to an airport or another city.
JR East official station timetable searchJR 2026 fare tableSaitama rail operating distances: basis for JR fare calculationsJR Omiya Station coin locker locations
The bonsai museum normally closes Thursdays, while the cartoon museum closes Mondays and weekdays following public holidays, among other closures. Choose a day when both are open.
Costs included in the calculation: Shinjuku–Kawagoe JPY 810 + Kawagoe–Omiya JPY 350 + Omiya–Shinjuku JPY 530 + Honmaru Palace JPY 100 + city museum JPY 200 + bonsai museum JPY 310 = JPY 2,300.
Extra costs and conditions: Accommodation, meals, travel to and beyond Shinjuku, extra facilities, paid activities and luggage storage such as coin lockers cost extra. Fares use ordinary paper tickets; recalculate if changing routes, seats or discounts.
JR 2026 fare tableSaitama rail operating distances: basis for JR fare calculationsKawagoe Castle Honmaru Palace visitor guideKawagoe City Museum prices and closuresBonsai museum prices, seasonal hours and Thursday public holiday exception
Frequently asked questions
Does Railway Museum admission include every activity?
Admission is separate from activity bookings and extra fees. Adult tickets cost JPY 1,600 on the day or JPY 1,500 when bought by the previous day. Check booking methods and availability for your chosen activity in the official guide.
Official sources and check dates
- Walking map showing the hotel ·
- Visiting Kitain ·
- Gate restoration notice ·
- Omiya-bound timetable from Tetsudo-Hakubutsukan ·
- Museum's 2026 opening calendar ·
- June 2026 museum and transport guide ·
- JR 2026 fare table ·
- New Shuttle fares ·
- Museum admission ·
- Tourism association guide ·
- Official English guide ·
- Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Palace visitor guide ·
- Kawagoe City Museum prices and closures ·
- City museum and Honmaru Palace 2026 opening calendar ·
- Kawagoe City's combined-ticket combinations ·
- 2026 bonsai museum guide and 45-minute walk from Omiya ·
- Cartoon museum visits, access and closures ·
- 2026 Rakuten Collection II free exhibition ·
- Omiya Park Japanese garden hours and free admission ·
- Bonsai museum prices, seasonal hours and Thursday public holiday exception ·
- Saitama rail operating distances: basis for JR fare calculations ·
- JR Omiya Station coin locker locations ·
- Railway Museum admission and activities ·
- JR East official station timetable search ·