Choose old streets, exhibits or riverside views
Choose Kawagoe for historic buildings and streets. Omiya offers real railway vehicles at the Railway Museum plus bonsai and cartoon exhibits. For shrines and festival floats, visit Chichibu Shrine and Festival Hall together. Plan Nagatoro's river and mountain views around weather and Hodosan Ropeway services.
Attraction prices, hours and directions
Kawagoe Toki no Kane
Toki no Kane時の鐘
Use Kurazukuri Street's bell tower as a landmark for an old-street walk. Pass nearby at noon or 3 pm to hear the bell. Visitors do not climb inside the tower.
- Bell timesThe bell rings four times daily: 6 am, noon, 3 pm and 6 pm. Nearby shops have separate hours.
- DirectionsThe tower is about 15 minutes on foot from Hon-Kawagoe Station. From Kawagoe Station, take a bus via Kura-no-Machi to Ichibangai · 一番街, then walk about two minutes. Hon-Kawagoe · 本川越
- Planning tipsCheck Kitain's admission deadline first and fit the bell tower streets around it. Avoid restaurant queues at the time you want to hear the bell.
Tourism association guideKawagoe City transport guide
Kitain Temple
喜多院
Visit temple buildings moved from Edo Castle and the Five Hundred Rakan stone statues, each with a different expression. Paid areas stop admitting visitors early, so see Kitain first if arriving in Kawagoe early, then continue to the old streets.
- AdmissionAdmission costs JPY 400 for adults and JPY 200 for primary and junior high school students.
- HoursFrom 1 March to 23 November, Kitain opens from 9 am to 4.30 pm on weekdays and until 4.50 pm on Sundays and public holidays. From 24 November to the end of February, Kitain closes at 4 pm on weekdays and 4.20 pm on Sundays and public holidays. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.
- Visiting restrictionsCheck closures from 25 December to 8 January, from the afternoon of 2 February through 3 February, from 2 to 4 April, and additional event closures. For Saturday visits, check the official operating category.
- DirectionsKitain is about 15 minutes on foot from Hon-Kawagoe Station or 20 minutes from Kawagoe Station.
- Gate restoration workA notice updated in June 2026 schedules restoration until around September the following year, with restricted gate access and on-site route guidance. Follow the on-site diversions during the work.
Visiting KitainOfficial English guideGate restoration noticeKitain's historic buildings and Five Hundred Rakan
The Railway Museum
鉄道博物館
See real vehicles, from early locomotives to Shinkansen, up close and explore the development of Japanese railways. Make this the day's main visit for enough time with the vehicles. Driving and other activities may have separate bookings and extra fees beyond ordinary admission.
- AdmissionAdult admission is JPY 1,600 on the day or JPY 1,500 when bought by the previous day. Primary, junior high and high school students pay JPY 600 on the day or JPY 500 in advance.
- HoursThe Railway Museum opens from 10 am to 5 pm, with last admission at 4.30 pm. The Railway Museum normally closes on Tuesdays and over New Year; check official calendar exceptions.
- DirectionsTake the New Shuttle from Omiya to Tetsudo-Hakubutsukan Station, then walk about one minute. Tetsudo-Hakubutsukan · 鉄道博物館
- Planning tipsCheck extra fees, booking methods and availability for your chosen activities separately from admission.
Museum admissionJune 2026 museum and transport guideRailway Museum vehicle exhibits
Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Palace
川越城本丸御殿
At Kawagoe Castle's surviving Honmaru Palace, explore the entrance hall and the relocated and restored senior retainers' waiting room. Add the castle building to an old-street visit; this is not a castle-tower climb.
- AdmissionIndividual admission is JPY 100, or JPY 50 for high school and university students. Junior high school students and younger are free.
- Hours and closuresOpening hours are from 9 am to 5 pm, with last admission at 4.30 pm. It closes on Mondays, or the next day if Monday is a public holiday, on the fourth Friday unless it is a public holiday, and from 29 December to 3 January. It opens on 22 October 2026 and closes on 23 October 2026.
- DirectionsFrom Kawagoe or Hon-Kawagoe Station, take a Tobu bus via Kura-no-Machi to Satsu-no-Tsuji · 札の辻, then walk about 10 minutes. The Eagle Bus Hakubutsukan-Bijutsukan-mae · 博物館・美術館前 and Tobu or shuttle Hakubutsukan-mae · 博物館前 stops are about one minute away. These itineraries walk; buses cost extra if chosen.
Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Palace visitor guideCity museum and Honmaru Palace 2026 opening calendar
Kawagoe City Museum
川越市立博物館
Explore Kawagoe's history and kurazukuri architecture in the permanent displays. Near Honmaru Palace, it suits a same-day visit, but check exhibitions and closures separately.
- AdmissionStandard admission is JPY 200, or JPY 100 for high school and university students; junior high school students and younger are free. Separate museum and palace tickets total JPY 300 per adult. The city's two-facility combined ticket pairs the museum with the art museum.
- Hours and closuresOpening hours are from 9 am to 5 pm, with last admission at 4.30 pm. It closes on Mondays, or the next day if Monday is a public holiday, on the fourth Friday unless it is a public holiday, from 29 December to 3 January, and during fumigation. It opens on 22 October 2026 and closes on 23 October 2026.
- DirectionsFrom Kawagoe or Hon-Kawagoe Station, take a Tobu bus via Kura-no-Machi to Satsu-no-Tsuji · 札ノ辻, then walk about 10 minutes. The Eagle Bus museum and art museum stop, or Tobu and shuttle museum stop, is about one minute away.
- Visit coverageThis itinerary visits permanent displays. It excludes the 24 October–8 November 2026 sword exhibition and separate activities.
Kawagoe City Museum prices and closuresKawagoe Castle Honmaru Palace visitor guideKawagoe City's combined-ticket combinationsCity museum and Honmaru Palace 2026 opening calendarCity museum transport guideCity museum exhibition scheduleTourism association's city museum English name
The Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, Saitama
さいたま市大宮盆栽美術館
See the trunks and branches of pines and maples in small pots through indoor exhibits and the garden. Not every bonsai in the collection is always displayed, so check exhibitions for your visit date.
- AdmissionStandard adult admission is JPY 310. The JPY 200 group rate for 20 or more and JPY 150 rate for visitors aged 65 or older differ from this itinerary's ordinary adult price.
- HoursThe bonsai museum opens from 9 am to 4.30 pm from March to October, with last admission at 4 pm, and from 9 am to 4 pm from November to February, with last admission at 3.30 pm. It closes on Thursdays except public holidays, over New Year and for temporary closures. For a combined cartoon museum visit, choose a day when both are open.
- DirectionsThe officially recommended walk from Omiya via Hikawa Shrine, the park and bonsai village takes about 45 minutes. If using trains, walk five minutes from Toro Station's east side or 10 minutes from Omiya-koen Station. This itinerary walks without extra rail fares.
- Planning tipsThis itinerary covers the indoor seasonal collection and garden for 2–28 October 2026. It excludes the photo special exhibition starting on 24 October that year and bonsai activities. Check the exhibitions for other travel dates.
Bonsai museum prices, seasonal hours and Thursday public holiday exceptionBonsai museum collectionOctober 2026 seasonal bonsai exhibitionBonsai museum prices, seasonal hours and closures2026 bonsai museum guide and 45-minute walk from Omiya
Saitama Municipal Cartoon Art Museum
さいたま市立漫画会館
Explore exhibits of cartoonist Kitazawa Rakuten's works, materials and connections with other artists.
- AdmissionAdmission is free, including the 2026 Rakuten Collection II special exhibition.
- HoursThe cartoon museum opens from 9 am to 4.30 pm. It closes on Mondays, weekdays following public holidays and over New Year, but opens on public holiday Mondays. Visit alongside the bonsai museum after checking both facilities' closures.
- DirectionsThe cartoon museum is five minutes on foot from Omiya-koen Station or 15 minutes from Toro Station's east side. From Omiya, walk through the park and bonsai village to the museum on Kaede-dori.
- Planning tipsRakuten Collection II runs from 25 July to 3 November 2026. See pictures by painters and cartoonists connected with Rakuten, alongside letters and magazine materials. Check talk and activity dates separately.
Cartoon museum visits, access and closures2026 Rakuten Collection II free exhibition2026 bonsai museum guide and 45-minute walk from Omiya
Omiya Park
大宮公園
After bonsai and cartoons, return towards the station via Omiya Park's Japanese garden and scenery.
- AdmissionThe Japanese garden is free. Boats, rides and sports facilities operate separately and are excluded from this walk.
- HoursThe park opens daily. The Japanese garden opens from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm with no closure days. Stop briefly on your way back to the station after the bonsai and cartoon museums.
- DirectionsThe official walk from Omiya Station's east side to the park is about 20 minutes. Use the official layout map for the southern Japanese garden and Hakucho Pond, central open plaza and northern Funaasobi Pond.
- Planning tipsCheck temporary closures and operating changes for the small zoo separately. This itinerary covers only the Japanese garden and park walk, excluding animal observation.
Omiya Park Japanese garden hours and free admissionOmiya Park daily accessStation access to Omiya ParkOfficial park layout, Japanese garden and pondsSmall zoo website update suspension noticeSmall zoo temporary water-outage closure notice
Chichibu Shrine
秩父神社
See Chichibu's shrine buildings and carvings, then continue to nearby festival exhibits. Standard worship visits are separate from prayers and shrine items.
- Shrine gate hoursTourism information lists gate access from 5 am to 8 pm, starting at 6 am in winter. Events and on-site access restrictions are separate.
- From Chichibu StationThe shrine is about three minutes on foot from Chichibu Railway's Chichibu Station, a different station from Seibu-Chichibu.
Saitama tourism organisation's Chichibu Shrine gate hoursChichibu Shrine official transport guide
Chichibu Festival Hall
秩父まつり会館
Explore Chichibu's festival culture through floats, materials and recreated footage. This exhibition is separate from festival dates; check the day's information for live demonstrations.
- Standard admissionStandard adult admission is JPY 500.
- Hours and closuresFestival 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. It closes on the fourth and fifth Tuesdays from March to November, on Tuesdays from December to February, and from 29 December to 1 January, with public holiday and festival exceptions.
- Around the shrineVisit this exhibition hall alongside Chichibu Shrine. Its address is 2-8 Banbamachi, Chichibu.
Chichibu Festival Hall hours, closures and adult admissionSaitama tourism organisation's Chichibu Shrine gate hours
Nagatoro Iwadatami
Iwadatami岩畳
Walk by Iwadatami's riverside rocks and river views. This route is a riverside walk only; boat and rafting bookings are excluded.
- From the stationIwadatami is about five minutes on foot from Nagatoro Station.
- Luggage storageThe tourist office opens from 9 am to 5 pm; storage starts at JPY 100 per item. Storage is unavailable from 29 to 31 December and during temporary bad-weather closures. Check actual sizes, prices and whether storage is available.
Nagatoro Tourism Association's Iwadatami accessNagatoro Tourist Information Office hours and luggage storage
Hodosan Ropeway
宝登山ロープウェイ
Take Hodosan Ropeway up the mountain for views around Nagatoro. Seasonal flowers, visibility and shuttle services vary by visit date.
- Ordinary adult fareAdults aged 12 and older pay JPY 700 one way or JPY 1,200 return.
- Standard timetable and suspensionsStandard services start at 9.40 am and finish at 5 pm, varying with season and crowds. Services are suspended for regular inspections from 7 to 26 December 2026.
- To the lower stationThe lower ropeway station is about 20 minutes on foot from Nagatoro Station. Check separate operating-date notices for the free shuttle.
Hodosan Ropeway prices and standard timetableDecember 2026 Hodosan inspection suspensionHodosan Ropeway walk from Nagatoro Station
Frequently asked questions
Do the bonsai and cartoon museums have the same closure days?
No. The bonsai museum closes Thursdays but opens on public holiday Thursdays. The cartoon museum closes Mondays and weekdays following public holidays, among other dates, but opens on public holiday Mondays. Check each facility's closures and temporary changes for a same-day visit.
Bonsai museum prices, seasonal hours and closuresCartoon museum official visitor guide
Official sources and check dates
- Visiting Kitain ·
- Gate restoration notice ·
- June 2026 museum and transport guide ·
- Museum admission ·
- Tourism association guide ·
- Kawagoe City transport guide ·
- Official English guide ·
- Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Palace visitor guide ·
- Kawagoe City Museum prices and closures ·
- City museum transport guide ·
- City museum and Honmaru Palace 2026 opening calendar ·
- Kawagoe City's combined-ticket combinations ·
- Tourism association's city museum English name ·
- City museum exhibition schedule ·
- 2026 bonsai museum guide and 45-minute walk from Omiya ·
- October 2026 seasonal bonsai exhibition ·
- Cartoon museum visits, access and closures ·
- 2026 Rakuten Collection II free exhibition ·
- Omiya Park Japanese garden hours and free admission ·
- Station access to Omiya Park ·
- Small zoo website update suspension notice ·
- Small zoo temporary water-outage closure notice ·
- Official park layout, Japanese garden and ponds ·
- Bonsai museum prices, seasonal hours and Thursday public holiday exception ·
- Omiya Park daily access ·
- Nagatoro Tourist Information Office hours and luggage storage ·
- Chichibu Shrine official transport guide ·
- Saitama tourism organisation's Chichibu Shrine gate hours ·
- Chichibu Festival Hall hours, closures and adult admission ·
- Hodosan Ropeway prices and standard timetable ·
- Hodosan Ropeway walk from Nagatoro Station ·
- Nagatoro Tourism Association's Iwadatami access ·
- December 2026 Hodosan inspection suspension ·
- Bonsai museum prices, seasonal hours and closures ·
- Cartoon museum official visitor guide ·
- Kitain's historic buildings and Five Hundred Rakan ·
- Railway Museum vehicle exhibits ·
- Bonsai museum collection ·