Riverside and Hodosan the day after Chichibu culture?
After the Railway Museum or bonsai/cartoons in Omiya, move to Chichibu for two nights. Give shrine/festival exhibitions and Nagatoro riverside/Hodosan separate days, returning to Shinjuku via Kumagaya on the final day.
Choose a 5 days, 4 nights itinerary
From the Railway Museum to Chichibu and Nagatoro
Stay one night in Kawagoe, one in Omiya and two in Chichibu. After the Railway Museum, move to Chichibu that afternoon, then give shrine/festival exhibitions and Nagatoro riverside/Hodosan a day each. This longer route chooses railway exhibitions instead of bonsai and cartoons.
From the Railway Museum to Chichibu and Nagatoro →5 days, 4 nights BFrom bonsai and cartoons to Chichibu and Nagatoro
Stay one night in Kawagoe, one in Omiya and two in Chichibu. After bonsai and cartoon visits together, move to Chichibu that afternoon. This adds one Chichibu night to three-night route B, visiting Nagatoro riverside and Hodosan the day after shrine and festival exhibitions.
From bonsai and cartoons to Chichibu and Nagatoro →From the Railway Museum to Chichibu and Nagatoro
Stay one night in Kawagoe, one in Omiya and two in Chichibu. After the Railway Museum, move to Chichibu that afternoon, then give shrine/festival exhibitions and Nagatoro riverside/Hodosan a day each. This longer route chooses railway exhibitions instead of bonsai and cartoons.
Day 1 — Kitain and historic streets
Visit the temple first, then continue to meals and walks in the historic streets.
- Shinjuku Station → JR Kawagoe Station
From Shinjuku, take a Kawagoe-bound JR Saikyo/Kawagoe Line train. Get off at Kawagoe and use the east exit. The ordinary paper fare is JPY 810 one way. Hon-Kawagoe and Kawagoeshi are different stations.
Official JR East station timetable searchJR 2026 fare tableSaitama railway 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 a 20-minute walk from Kawagoe Station; adult admission is JPY 400. Weekday hours from March 1 to November 23 are 09:00–16:30, with reception until 16:00. Winter closing is earlier. Follow on-site detours during temple gate repairs.
Official English guideKitain visitTemple gate construction notice
- Kitain Temple → Kurazukuri streets and Toki no Kane
After visiting, go to the historic streets for a meal, warehouse-style buildings and shops. Toki no Kane rings at 06:00, 12:00, 15:00 and 18:00. You cannot climb inside the bell tower; shops have individual hours. After your walk and meal, return to your booked Kawagoe hotel. Choose directions from the streets according to the hotel's address.
Check the day's facility closures and reception deadlines before deciding your historic-street walking order.
Day 2 — castle and museum, then move hotels to Omiya
See Kawagoe's history exhibitions, then change hotels to Omiya. Tomorrow starts with Omiya exhibitions.
- Kawagoe historic streets → Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Palace
Choose Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Palace for a surviving castle building. Walk to Fudanotsuji north of the Kurazukuri streets, then east towards city hall to the palace. The official walk from Fudanotsuji takes about 10 minutes. Adults pay JPY 100; hours are 09:00–17:00, with admission until 16:30. Avoid closures including Mondays and the fourth Friday. This is not a castle keep to climb.
Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Palace visitor guideCity Museum/Honmaru Palace 2026 opening calendarWalking map showing the hotel
- Honmaru Palace → Kawagoe City Museum
See local history and warehouse-style architecture at nearby Kawagoe City Museum. Adult permanent-exhibition admission is JPY 200; hours are 09:00–17:00, with admission until 16:30. Separate palace and museum tickets total JPY 300; distinguish them from the museum/art museum combined ticket.
Kawagoe City Museum fees and closuresKawagoe city's combined ticket coverage
- JR Kawagoe Station → Omiya Station
After Kawagoe sightseeing, take a JR Kawagoe/Saikyo Line train towards Omiya. The paper one-way fare is JPY 350. On arrival, go to your booked hotel for the night. Tomorrow's sightseeing starts in Omiya.
Official JR East station timetable searchJR 2026 fare tableSaitama railway operating distances: basis for JR fare calculations
The castle and City Museum close on Mondays, the fourth Friday and other listed dates. Check the official calendars to see that both open on the same day.
Railway Museum day — then Chichibu in the afternoon
See railway exhibitions, then move to Chichibu. Compare three-night route A staying in Omiya if you want a longer museum visit.
- New Shuttle Omiya Station → Tetsudo-Hakubutsukan Station
For railway vehicle exhibitions, take a New Shuttle towards Uchijuku and get off at the first station, Tetsudo-Hakubutsukan. The paper one-way fare is JPY 190; the museum is about a one-minute walk from the station.
- Railway Museum entrance → Exhibition visit
See vehicle, science and history exhibitions at the Railway Museum, allowing meals and rests. Hours are 10:00–17:00, with admission until 16:30. Adult same-day admission is JPY 1,600, or JPY 1,500 with an advance ticket bought by the previous day. Individual experiences, including driving activities, have separate reservations and extra fees.
- Tetsudo-Hakubutsukan Station → Omiya Station
After visiting, return on an Omiya-bound New Shuttle for JPY 190 one way by paper ticket. On a Chichibu move day, shorten exhibition time and check your Kumagaya connection first.
New Shuttle faresOmiya-bound timetable from Tetsudo-Hakubutsukan
- Omiya Station → Chichibu Station via Kumagaya
From Omiya, take a JR Takasaki Line train towards Kumagaya and get off there. Change to Chichibu Railway for Chichibu Station. Calculate ordinary fares separately: JR JPY 620 and Chichibu Railway JPY 950. This is a different station from Seibu-Chichibu. Use both operators' travel-date timetables to arrange the transfer and Chichibu arrival. On arrival, go to your booked Chichibu hotel.
Official JR East station timetable searchJR 2026 fare tableSaitama railway operating distances: basis for JR fare calculationsCurrently linked Chichibu Railway weekday timetableChichibu Railway ordinary fares by station
Tuesdays and New Year are the usual closures; check exceptions in the official opening calendar. Check separate reservation conditions for activities.
Chichibu Shrine and festival exhibitions
See the nearby shrine and festival exhibitions, then spend a second night at the same Chichibu hotel. Tomorrow is Nagatoro.
- Chichibu Station → Chichibu Shrine
Start at Chichibu Shrine for shrine buildings and carvings. It is about a three-minute walk from Chichibu Railway's Chichibu Station. This covers ordinary worship and exteriors; prayers and shrine items are separate. Tourism information gives gate hours of 05:00–20:00, starting at 06:00 in winter.
Official Chichibu Shrine transport guideSaitama tourism body's Chichibu Shrine gate hours
- Chichibu Shrine area → Chichibu Festival Hall
See festival floats, materials and videos recreating the festival at Chichibu Festival Hall. Adults pay JPY 500. April–November hours are 09:00–17:00; December–March hours are 10:00–17:00, with admission until 16:30. This differs from attending the festival itself. After visiting, eat nearby and explore the streets, then return to the same Chichibu hotel for your second night.
The Festival Hall closes on the fourth and fifth Tuesdays from March to November, Tuesdays from December to February, New Year and other listed dates. Check official holiday and festival exceptions.
Final day — Nagatoro riverside and Hodosan, then Shinjuku
See the riverside and mountain views, then return to Shinjuku. Check out of your Chichibu hotel and bring luggage to Nagatoro Tourist Information Center. It opens 09:00–17:00; storage starts at JPY 100 per item. Check size, price and same-day acceptance. It is unavailable December 29–31 and during temporary severe-weather closures; collect luggage before 17:00. If storage is refused, skip Nagatoro sightseeing and return with luggage via Kumagaya to Shinjuku. Reduce sightseeing if weather or services do not fit.
- Chichibu Station → Nagatoro Station
For riverside and mountain views, take a Kumagaya-bound Chichibu Railway train to Nagatoro. The ordinary one-way fare is JPY 550. On this final day, continue towards Kumagaya and Shinjuku after sightseeing, without returning to Chichibu.
Currently linked Chichibu Railway weekday timetableChichibu Railway ordinary fares by stationNagatoro Tourist Information Center hours and luggage storage
- Nagatoro Station → Iwadatami
Iwadatami is about a five-minute walk from the station. See the riverside rocks and scenery, then return near the station for a meal. Skip the river walk if rain or high water makes rocks slippery or access restricted. Paid boats and rafting are excluded.
- Nagatoro Station area → Hodosan Ropeway lower station
The lower ropeway station is about a 20-minute walk from Nagatoro Station. The free shuttle operates on specified days, so it is excluded from the basic journey.
- Lower station → Mountain visit, then Nagatoro Station
Ride up and down for mountain scenery with the adult JPY 1,200 return ticket. Basic hours are 09:40–17:00, varying with season, crowds and weather. Check the day's seasonal timetable and suspension notices. After descending, walk back to the Nagatoro Station area.
Hodosan Ropeway fares and basic timetableHodosan Ropeway walking access from Nagatoro Station
- Nagatoro Station → Shinjuku Station via Kumagaya
Collect luggage at the tourist information centre and go to Nagatoro Station. Take a Kumagaya-bound Chichibu Railway train and change to JR. Chichibu Railway costs JPY 850 one way; the Kumagaya–Shinjuku JR paper through fare is JPY 1,230. Choose a Shonan-Shinjuku Line train stopping at Shinjuku via Omiya. Distinguish this from leaving the gates at Omiya and buying two separate fares. Check actual connections using both travel-date timetables.
Official JR East station timetable searchJR 2026 fare tableSaitama railway operating distances: basis for JR fare calculationsCurrently linked Chichibu Railway weekday timetableChichibu Railway ordinary fares by stationNagatoro Tourist Information Center hours and luggage storage
Reduce riverside and mountain sightseeing according to weather and services. Match return ropeway travel and both railway timetables so you can collect luggage before 17:00 and continue to Kumagaya and Shinjuku.
Included items: Shinjuku–Kawagoe JPY 810 + Kawagoe–Omiya JPY 350 + Omiya–Kumagaya JPY 620 + Kumagaya–Chichibu JPY 950 + Chichibu–Nagatoro JPY 550 + Nagatoro–Kumagaya JPY 850 + Kumagaya–Shinjuku JPY 1,230 + Kitain JPY 400 + Honmaru Palace JPY 100 + City Museum JPY 200 + New Shuttle return JPY 380 + Railway Museum same-day ticket JPY 1,600 + Festival Hall JPY 500 + Hodosan return JPY 1,200 = JPY 9,740.
Extra costs and conditions: Accommodation, meals, transport to Shinjuku and beyond it, extra facilities, paid activities and luggage storage at lockers or tourist information centres are separate. Shrine prayers and items, riverboats and rafting are excluded. These use ordinary paper tickets; recalculate if routes, seats or discounts change.
An advance Railway Museum ticket bought by the previous day costs JPY 1,500, reducing the same-day-ticket subtotal above by JPY 100. Activity reservations and paid experiences are separate.
JR 2026 fare tableSaitama railway operating distances: basis for JR fare calculationsKitain visitKawagoe Castle Honmaru Palace visitor guideKawagoe City Museum fees and closuresMuseum feesNew Shuttle faresChichibu Festival Hall hours, closures and adult admissionChichibu Railway ordinary fares by stationHodosan Ropeway fares and basic timetable
From bonsai and cartoons to Chichibu and Nagatoro
Stay one night in Kawagoe, one in Omiya and two in Chichibu. After bonsai and cartoon visits together, move to Chichibu that afternoon. This adds one Chichibu night to three-night route B, visiting Nagatoro riverside and Hodosan the day after shrine and festival exhibitions.
Day 1 — Kitain and historic streets
Visit the temple first, then continue to meals and walks in the historic streets.
- Shinjuku Station → JR Kawagoe Station
From Shinjuku, take a Kawagoe-bound JR Saikyo/Kawagoe Line train. Get off at Kawagoe and use the east exit. The ordinary paper fare is JPY 810 one way. Hon-Kawagoe and Kawagoeshi are different stations.
Official JR East station timetable searchJR 2026 fare tableSaitama railway 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 a 20-minute walk from Kawagoe Station; adult admission is JPY 400. Weekday hours from March 1 to November 23 are 09:00–16:30, with reception until 16:00. Winter closing is earlier. Follow on-site detours during temple gate repairs.
Official English guideKitain visitTemple gate construction notice
- Kitain Temple → Kurazukuri streets and Toki no Kane
After visiting, go to the historic streets for a meal, warehouse-style buildings and shops. Toki no Kane rings at 06:00, 12:00, 15:00 and 18:00. You cannot climb inside the bell tower; shops have individual hours. After your walk and meal, return to your booked Kawagoe hotel. Choose directions from the streets according to the hotel's address.
Check the day's facility closures and reception deadlines before deciding your historic-street walking order.
Day 2 — castle and museum, then move hotels to Omiya
See Kawagoe's history exhibitions, then change hotels to Omiya. Tomorrow starts with Omiya exhibitions.
- Kawagoe historic streets → Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Palace
Choose Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Palace for a surviving castle building. Walk to Fudanotsuji north of the Kurazukuri streets, then east towards city hall to the palace. The official walk from Fudanotsuji takes about 10 minutes. Adults pay JPY 100; hours are 09:00–17:00, with admission until 16:30. Avoid closures including Mondays and the fourth Friday. This is not a castle keep to climb.
Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Palace visitor guideCity Museum/Honmaru Palace 2026 opening calendarWalking map showing the hotel
- Honmaru Palace → Kawagoe City Museum
See local history and warehouse-style architecture at nearby Kawagoe City Museum. Adult permanent-exhibition admission is JPY 200; hours are 09:00–17:00, with admission until 16:30. Separate palace and museum tickets total JPY 300; distinguish them from the museum/art museum combined ticket.
Kawagoe City Museum fees and closuresKawagoe city's combined ticket coverage
- JR Kawagoe Station → Omiya Station
After Kawagoe sightseeing, take a JR Kawagoe/Saikyo Line train towards Omiya. The paper one-way fare is JPY 350. On arrival, go to your booked hotel for the night. Tomorrow's sightseeing starts in Omiya.
Official JR East station timetable searchJR 2026 fare tableSaitama railway operating distances: basis for JR fare calculations
The castle and City Museum close on Mondays, the fourth Friday and other listed dates. Check the official calendars to see that both open on the same day.
Bonsai, cartoons and the park together — then Chichibu in the afternoon
See bonsai and cartoons together, then move to Chichibu. Choose extra nights in Omiya if you want more time for walking and exhibitions.
- Omiya Station east exit → The Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, Saitama
For bonsai and art exhibitions, walk via Hikawa Shrine, Omiya Park and the bonsai village to the museum. The official recommended walking route takes about 45 minutes; visits and rests are separate.
- Bonsai museum → Cartoon museum
See indoor exhibitions and the garden at The Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, Saitama. Adults pay JPY 310. March–October hours are 09:00–16:30, with admission until 16:00; November–February hours are 09:00–16:00, with admission until 15:30. Afterwards, use the official map to find the cartoon museum on Kaede-dori and walk there.
Bonsai museum fees, seasonal hours and Thursday holiday exceptions2026 bonsai museum guide and 45-minute Omiya walk
- Cartoon museum → Cartoon exhibitions
See materials about Kitazawa Rakuten and the current special exhibition at Saitama Municipal Cartoon Art Museum. Admission is free; hours are 09:00–16:30. Talks and activities follow separate schedules.
Cartoon museum visits, access and closures2026 Rakuten Collection II free exhibition
- Bonsai village → Omiya Station
After visiting, eat nearby and return to Omiya Station via the same park and Hikawa Shrine route. The free Japanese garden opens 08:30–17:30; stop briefly if time allows. Shorten the park walk on a day when you must catch trains to Chichibu.
2026 bonsai museum guide and 45-minute Omiya walkOmiya Park Japanese garden: hours and free admission
- Omiya Station → Chichibu Station via Kumagaya
From Omiya, take a JR Takasaki Line train towards Kumagaya and get off there. Change to Chichibu Railway for Chichibu Station. Calculate ordinary fares separately: JR JPY 620 and Chichibu Railway JPY 950. This is a different station from Seibu-Chichibu. Use both operators' travel-date timetables to arrange the transfer and Chichibu arrival. On arrival, go to your booked Chichibu hotel.
Official JR East station timetable searchJR 2026 fare tableSaitama railway operating distances: basis for JR fare calculationsCurrently linked Chichibu Railway weekday timetableChichibu Railway ordinary fares by station
The bonsai museum usually closes Thursdays; the cartoon museum closes Mondays, the weekday after a public holiday and other listed dates. Choose a day when both open.
Chichibu Shrine and festival exhibitions
See the nearby shrine and festival exhibitions, then spend a second night at the same Chichibu hotel. Tomorrow is Nagatoro.
- Chichibu Station → Chichibu Shrine
Start at Chichibu Shrine for shrine buildings and carvings. It is about a three-minute walk from Chichibu Railway's Chichibu Station. This covers ordinary worship and exteriors; prayers and shrine items are separate. Tourism information gives gate hours of 05:00–20:00, starting at 06:00 in winter.
Official Chichibu Shrine transport guideSaitama tourism body's Chichibu Shrine gate hours
- Chichibu Shrine area → Chichibu Festival Hall
See festival floats, materials and videos recreating the festival at Chichibu Festival Hall. Adults pay JPY 500. April–November hours are 09:00–17:00; December–March hours are 10:00–17:00, with admission until 16:30. This differs from attending the festival itself. After visiting, eat nearby and explore the streets, then return to the same Chichibu hotel for your second night.
The Festival Hall closes on the fourth and fifth Tuesdays from March to November, Tuesdays from December to February, New Year and other listed dates. Check official holiday and festival exceptions.
Final day — Nagatoro riverside and Hodosan, then Shinjuku
See the riverside and mountain views, then return to Shinjuku. Check out of your Chichibu hotel and bring luggage to Nagatoro Tourist Information Center. It opens 09:00–17:00; storage starts at JPY 100 per item. Check size, price and same-day acceptance. It is unavailable December 29–31 and during temporary severe-weather closures; collect luggage before 17:00. If storage is refused, skip Nagatoro sightseeing and return with luggage via Kumagaya to Shinjuku. Reduce sightseeing if weather or services do not fit.
- Chichibu Station → Nagatoro Station
For riverside and mountain views, take a Kumagaya-bound Chichibu Railway train to Nagatoro. The ordinary one-way fare is JPY 550. On this final day, continue towards Kumagaya and Shinjuku after sightseeing, without returning to Chichibu.
Currently linked Chichibu Railway weekday timetableChichibu Railway ordinary fares by stationNagatoro Tourist Information Center hours and luggage storage
- Nagatoro Station → Iwadatami
Iwadatami is about a five-minute walk from the station. See the riverside rocks and scenery, then return near the station for a meal. Skip the river walk if rain or high water makes rocks slippery or access restricted. Paid boats and rafting are excluded.
- Nagatoro Station area → Hodosan Ropeway lower station
The lower ropeway station is about a 20-minute walk from Nagatoro Station. The free shuttle operates on specified days, so it is excluded from the basic journey.
- Lower station → Mountain visit, then Nagatoro Station
Ride up and down for mountain scenery with the adult JPY 1,200 return ticket. Basic hours are 09:40–17:00, varying with season, crowds and weather. Check the day's seasonal timetable and suspension notices. After descending, walk back to the Nagatoro Station area.
Hodosan Ropeway fares and basic timetableHodosan Ropeway walking access from Nagatoro Station
- Nagatoro Station → Shinjuku Station via Kumagaya
Collect luggage at the tourist information centre and go to Nagatoro Station. Take a Kumagaya-bound Chichibu Railway train and change to JR. Chichibu Railway costs JPY 850 one way; the Kumagaya–Shinjuku JR paper through fare is JPY 1,230. Choose a Shonan-Shinjuku Line train stopping at Shinjuku via Omiya. Distinguish this from leaving the gates at Omiya and buying two separate fares. Check actual connections using both travel-date timetables.
Official JR East station timetable searchJR 2026 fare tableSaitama railway operating distances: basis for JR fare calculationsCurrently linked Chichibu Railway weekday timetableChichibu Railway ordinary fares by stationNagatoro Tourist Information Center hours and luggage storage
Reduce riverside and mountain sightseeing according to weather and services. Match return ropeway travel and both railway timetables so you can collect luggage before 17:00 and continue to Kumagaya and Shinjuku.
Included items: Shinjuku–Kawagoe JPY 810 + Kawagoe–Omiya JPY 350 + Omiya–Kumagaya JPY 620 + Kumagaya–Chichibu JPY 950 + Chichibu–Nagatoro JPY 550 + Nagatoro–Kumagaya JPY 850 + Kumagaya–Shinjuku JPY 1,230 + Kitain JPY 400 + Honmaru Palace JPY 100 + City Museum JPY 200 + bonsai museum JPY 310 + Festival Hall JPY 500 + Hodosan return JPY 1,200 = JPY 8,070.
Extra costs and conditions: Accommodation, meals, transport to Shinjuku and beyond it, extra facilities, paid activities and luggage storage at lockers or tourist information centres are separate. Shrine prayers and items, riverboats and rafting are excluded. These use ordinary paper tickets; recalculate if routes, seats or discounts change.
JR 2026 fare tableSaitama railway operating distances: basis for JR fare calculationsKitain visitKawagoe Castle Honmaru Palace visitor guideKawagoe City Museum fees and closuresBonsai museum fees, seasonal hours and Thursday holiday exceptionsChichibu Festival Hall hours, closures and adult admissionChichibu Railway ordinary fares by stationHodosan Ropeway fares and basic timetable
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the same itinerary when Hodosan Ropeway is closed?
Leave out mountain-top sightseeing if the ropeway is suspended. The operator announces scheduled inspection closure December 7–26, 2026. On other dates too, check actual services and weather, reducing final-day sightseeing according to riverside access and return trains.
Hodosan December 2026 inspection suspensionHodosan Ropeway ordinary fares and timetable
How do I return to Shinjuku after Nagatoro?
From Nagatoro Station, take Chichibu Railway towards Kumagaya, then change there to JR towards Shinjuku. Choose a Shonan-Shinjuku Line train that stops at Shinjuku via Omiya. Chichibu Railway's JPY 850 one-way fare and JR's JPY 1,230 Kumagaya–Shinjuku paper through fare are calculated separately. Check connections using both travel-date timetables; if descent is running late, shorten mountain sightseeing and prioritize the return.
Chichibu Railway ordinary fares by stationCurrently linked Chichibu Railway weekday timetableJR 2026 fare tableSaitama railway operating distances: basis for JR fare calculationsOfficial JR East station timetable search
Official sources and check dates
- Walking map showing the hotel ·
- Kitain visit ·
- Temple gate construction notice ·
- Omiya-bound timetable from Tetsudo-Hakubutsukan ·
- Museum 2026 opening calendar ·
- June 2026 museum and transport guide ·
- JR 2026 fare table ·
- New Shuttle fares ·
- Museum fees ·
- Tourism association guide ·
- Official English guide ·
- Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Palace visitor guide ·
- Kawagoe City Museum fees and closures ·
- City Museum/Honmaru Palace 2026 opening calendar ·
- Kawagoe city's combined ticket coverage ·
- 2026 bonsai museum guide and 45-minute Omiya walk ·
- Cartoon museum visits, access and closures ·
- 2026 Rakuten Collection II free exhibition ·
- Omiya Park Japanese garden: hours and free admission ·
- Bonsai museum fees, seasonal hours and Thursday holiday exceptions ·
- Saitama railway operating distances: basis for JR fare calculations ·
- Currently linked Chichibu Railway weekday timetable ·
- Chichibu Railway ordinary fares by station ·
- Nagatoro Tourist Information Center hours and luggage storage ·
- Official Chichibu Shrine transport guide ·
- Saitama tourism body's Chichibu Shrine gate hours ·
- Chichibu Festival Hall hours, closures and adult admission ·
- Hodosan Ropeway fares and basic timetable ·
- Hodosan Ropeway walking access from Nagatoro Station ·
- Nagatoro tourism association Iwadatami access ·
- Hodosan Ropeway ordinary fares and timetable ·
- Hodosan December 2026 inspection suspension ·
- Official JR TOKYO Wide Pass price, three consecutive days and covered operators ·
- Official JR East station timetable search ·