More Omiya exhibits or a trip to Chichibu?
Option A includes one night in Kawagoe and two in Omiya, with separate days for the Railway Museum and the bonsai and cartoon museums. B adds Chichibu's shrine and festival exhibits after bonsai and cartoons, with one night each in Kawagoe, Omiya and Chichibu. B changes to Chichibu Railway at Kumagaya and does not continue to Nagatoro.
Choose an itinerary for 4 days / 3 nights
Two Omiya nights for rail, bonsai and cartoons
This four-day trip gives rail exhibits and bonsai and cartoons separate days. Stay one night in Kawagoe, then move to Omiya for two nights. Give one day to the Railway Museum and another to the bonsai and cartoon museums. Spend time with Omiya's exhibits without continuing to Chichibu.
Two Omiya nights for rail, bonsai and cartoons →4 days / 3 nights BBonsai and cartoons, then Chichibu's shrine and festival exhibits
This four-day trip links bonsai and cartoon exhibits with Chichibu's shrine and festival floats. Stay one night each in Kawagoe, Omiya and Chichibu, then return to Shinjuku after the shrine and festival exhibits on the final day. It does not visit the Railway Museum or Nagatoro.
Bonsai and cartoons, then Chichibu's shrine and festival exhibits →Two Omiya nights for rail, bonsai and cartoons
This four-day trip gives rail exhibits and bonsai and cartoons separate days. Stay one night in Kawagoe, then move to Omiya for two nights. Give one day to the Railway Museum and another to the bonsai and cartoon museums. Spend time with Omiya's exhibits without continuing to Chichibu.
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.
Day 2: castle and museum, then move to Omiya
After Kawagoe's history exhibits, move your accommodation to Omiya for the next day's visits.
- Kawagoe old streets → Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Palace
Choose Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Palace to see the surviving castle building. Walk to Satsu-no-Tsuji north of Kurazukuri Street, 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
- JR Kawagoe Station → Omiya Station
After Kawagoe sightseeing, take a JR Kawagoe and Saikyo Line service to Omiya. The one-way paper fare is JPY 350. Move to your booked accommodation and spend the night there, starting the next day's sightseeing in Omiya.
JR East official station timetable searchJR 2026 fare tableSaitama rail operating distances: basis for JR fare calculations
The palace and city museum close on Mondays, the fourth Friday and other dates. Check the official calendars to ensure both are open that day.
A day at the Railway Museum
Make railway vehicles and exhibits the main focus of the day.
- 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. Return to the same Omiya accommodation and start the bonsai and cartoon visits the next day.
New Shuttle faresOmiya-bound timetable from Tetsudo-Hakubutsukan
The Railway Museum normally closes on Tuesdays and over New Year; check exceptions in the official opening calendar. Check activity booking conditions separately.
Bonsai, cartoons and the park in one day
After the previous day's rail exhibits, visit the bonsai and cartoon museums, 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.
- 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.
2026 bonsai museum guide and 45-minute walk from OmiyaJR Omiya Station coin locker locations
- 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 + Kitain JPY 400 + Honmaru Palace JPY 100 + city museum JPY 200 + return New Shuttle fare JPY 380 + Railway Museum same-day ticket JPY 1,600 + bonsai museum JPY 310 = JPY 4,680.
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 KitainKawagoe Castle Honmaru Palace visitor guideKawagoe City Museum prices and closuresMuseum admissionNew Shuttle faresBonsai museum prices, seasonal hours and Thursday public holiday exception
Bonsai and cartoons, then Chichibu's shrine and festival exhibits
This four-day trip links bonsai and cartoon exhibits with Chichibu's shrine and festival floats. Stay one night each in Kawagoe, Omiya and Chichibu, then return to Shinjuku after the shrine and festival exhibits on the final day. It does not visit the Railway Museum or Nagatoro.
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.
Day 2: castle and museum, then move to Omiya
After Kawagoe's history exhibits, move your accommodation to Omiya for the next day's visits.
- Kawagoe old streets → Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Palace
Choose Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Palace to see the surviving castle building. Walk to Satsu-no-Tsuji north of Kurazukuri Street, 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
- JR Kawagoe Station → Omiya Station
After Kawagoe sightseeing, take a JR Kawagoe and Saikyo Line service to Omiya. The one-way paper fare is JPY 350. Move to your booked accommodation and spend the night there, starting the next day's sightseeing in Omiya.
JR East official station timetable searchJR 2026 fare tableSaitama rail operating distances: basis for JR fare calculations
The palace and city museum close on Mondays, the fourth Friday and other dates. Check the official calendars to ensure both are open that day.
Bonsai, cartoons and the park, then Chichibu in the afternoon
Visit bonsai and cartoons together before moving to Chichibu. Choose extra nights in Omiya if you want more time for walking and exhibits.
- 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. Shorten the park walk if catching a train to Chichibu.
2026 bonsai museum guide and 45-minute walk from OmiyaOmiya Park Japanese garden hours and free admission
- Omiya Station → Chichibu Station via Kumagaya
Take a JR Takasaki Line train from Omiya towards Kumagaya and change there to Chichibu Railway for Chichibu Station. Calculate the ordinary JR fare of JPY 620 and Chichibu Railway fare of JPY 950 separately. This is a different station from Seibu-Chichibu. Use both operators' timetables for your date to plan the transfer and arrival, then head to your booked Chichibu accommodation.
JR East official station timetable searchJR 2026 fare tableSaitama rail operating distances: basis for JR fare calculationsChichibu Railway's currently linked weekday timetableChichibu Railway ordinary fare table by station
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.
Chichibu Shrine and festival exhibits, then Shinjuku
See Chichibu Shrine's buildings and carvings and the Festival Hall exhibits before returning to Shinjuku via Kumagaya. Store large luggage in Chichibu Station lockers if available; shorten your visit if they are full.
- Chichibu Station → Chichibu Shrine
Start at Chichibu Shrine for buildings and carvings, about three minutes on foot from Chichibu Railway's Chichibu Station. This is a standard worship and exterior visit; prayers and shrine items cost extra. Tourism information lists gate access from 5 am to 8 pm, starting at 6 am in winter.
Chichibu Shrine official transport guideSaitama tourism organisation's Chichibu Shrine gate hoursChichibu Railway Chichibu Station facilities and coin lockers
- Around Chichibu Shrine → Chichibu Festival Hall
See festival floats, materials and recreated footage at Chichibu Festival Hall. Adult admission is JPY 500. Festival Hall opens from 9 am to 5 pm from April to November and from 10 am to 5 pm from December to March, with last admission at 4.30 pm. This differs from attending the festival itself. Afterwards, eat nearby and explore the streets.
- Chichibu Station → Shinjuku Station via Kumagaya
Take Chichibu Railway from Chichibu to Kumagaya and change to JR. Collect stored luggage before boarding. The Chichibu Railway one-way fare is JPY 950; the through JR paper fare from Kumagaya to Shinjuku is JPY 1,230. Choose a Shonan-Shinjuku Line train via Omiya that stops at Shinjuku. This fare differs from leaving the gates at Omiya and buying two separate tickets. Check both timetables for actual connections on your date.
JR East official station timetable searchJR 2026 fare tableSaitama rail operating distances: basis for JR fare calculationsChichibu Railway's currently linked weekday timetableChichibu Railway ordinary fare table by stationChichibu Railway Chichibu Station facilities and coin lockers
Festival Hall closures include the fourth and fifth Tuesdays from March to November, Tuesdays from December to February and the New Year period. Check official public holiday and festival exceptions.
Costs included in the calculation: Shinjuku–Kawagoe JPY 810 + Kawagoe–Omiya JPY 350 + Omiya–Kumagaya JPY 620 + Kumagaya–Chichibu JPY 950 + Chichibu–Kumagaya JPY 950 + Kumagaya–Shinjuku JPY 1,230 + Kitain JPY 400 + Honmaru Palace JPY 100 + city museum JPY 200 + bonsai museum JPY 310 + Festival Hall JPY 500 = JPY 6,420.
Extra costs and conditions: Accommodation, meals, travel to and beyond Shinjuku, extra facilities, paid activities and luggage storage at lockers or tourist offices cost extra. Shrine prayers and items, river boats and rafting are excluded. Fares use ordinary paper tickets; recalculate if changing routes, seats or discounts.
JR 2026 fare tableSaitama rail operating distances: basis for JR fare calculationsVisiting KitainKawagoe Castle Honmaru Palace visitor guideKawagoe City Museum prices and closuresBonsai museum prices, seasonal hours and Thursday public holiday exceptionChichibu Festival Hall hours, closures and adult admissionChichibu Railway ordinary fare table by station
Frequently asked questions
Is the JR TOKYO Wide Pass cheaper for this itinerary?
For four-day A or B alone, buying a new pass does not save money. The adult pass costs JPY 16,000 for three consecutive days, while the transport and admission subtotals are JPY 4,680 and JPY 6,420 respectively. The New Shuttle section between Omiya and Tetsudo-Hakubutsukan is officially covered; Chichibu Railway, admission, accommodation and meals cost extra. If using an existing pass or combining other travel, check actual JR routes, valid dates and eligibility separately.
Official JR TOKYO Wide Pass price, three consecutive days and covered operatorsJR East official pass purchase and eligibility
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 1878E weekday Omiya–Kumagaya service ·
- Chichibu Railway's currently linked weekday timetable ·
- Chichibu Railway ordinary fare table by station ·
- JR Omiya Station coin locker locations ·
- Chichibu Shrine official transport guide ·
- Saitama tourism organisation's Chichibu Shrine gate hours ·
- Chichibu Festival Hall hours, closures and adult admission ·
- Chichibu Railway Chichibu Station facilities and coin lockers ·
- Official JR TOKYO Wide Pass price, three consecutive days and covered operators ·
- JR East official pass purchase and eligibility ·
- JR East official station timetable search ·