Where should I stay and what can I see in Saitama?

Kawagoe · 川越

Spend your first day in Kawagoe to see temples and old streets into the evening. An ordinary paper JR ticket from Shinjuku costs 810 yen; continuing to Omiya the next day costs 350 yen. JR Kawagoe, Hon-Kawagoe and Kawagoeshi are different stations. Choose accommodation for the railway you will use.

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

Omiya · 大宮

Stay two nights in Omiya to give the Railway Museum and the bonsai and manga museums a day each. Moving here after Kawagoe avoids returning over the same section. An ordinary paper JR single to Shinjuku costs 530 yen. For Chichibu, take JR to Kumagaya and change to Chichibu Railway.

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

Chichibu · 秩父

Compare one Chichibu night for shrine and festival displays, or two nights for Nagatoro’s riverside and Hodosan too. Omiya–Kumagaya JR at 620 yen and Kumagaya–Chichibu Railway at 950 yen are separate fares. These courses use Chichibu Railway’s Chichibu Station, different from Seibu-Chichibu.

JR weekday service 1878E from Omiya to Kumagaya2026-10-08Currently linked Chichibu Railway weekday timetable2026-10-08Chichibu Railway ordinary fares by station2026-10-08JR 2026 fare table2026-10-08Saitama railway operating distances: basis for JR fare calculations2026-10-08Chichibu Shrine official access guide2026-10-08Hotel Route-Inn Grand Chichibu access, check-in and self-service lockers2026-10-08

Kawagoe: Kitain and the old streets

Visit Kitain’s paid areas first, then continue to Kurazukuri Street and the Time Bell. For small sweet shops, consider a walk through Kashiya Yokocho too. To include the castle and City Museum, compare two-night courses that split sightseeing across days, coordinating both facilities’ opening days.

Kashiya Yokocho · 菓子屋横丁

Kawagoe Tourism Association guide to old streets and Candy Alley2026-10-09Kitain visitor information2026-10-08

Omiya: railway, bonsai and manga displays

Take the New Shuttle from Omiya to the Railway Museum. This plan walks to the bonsai and manga museums via the park and Bonsai Village. The officially recommended walk to the Bonsai Art Museum takes about 45 minutes; allow extra time for visits and breaks. To see both types of exhibitions, choose three-night course A with two nights in Omiya.

June 2026 museum and transport guide2026-10-082026 Bonsai Art Museum guide and 45-minute walk from Omiya2026-10-08Manga Museum official visitor guide2026-10-09

Chichibu: shrine and festival displays

Walk about three minutes from Chichibu Railway’s Chichibu Station to the shrine. Explore its buildings and carvings, then see floats and videos recreating the festival at the nearby Festival Museum. This is separate from attending the actual festival. If you want riverside scenery the following day, compare courses with two Chichibu nights.

Chichibu Festival Museum hours, closures and adult admission2026-10-08Chichibu Railway ordinary fares by station2026-10-08

Nagatoro: riverside scenery and Hodosan

Iwadatami is about five minutes on foot from Nagatoro Station; Hodosan Ropeway’s base station is about 20 minutes away. Rain or high water may restrict access to riverside rocks, and ropeway services depend on weather and suspensions. On the last day, travel via Kumagaya to Shinjuku without returning to Chichibu.

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

Eat in the city you are visiting that day

Your meal area changes between Kawagoe walks, Omiya exhibitions and Chichibu/Nagatoro visits. Use the Saitama restaurant list to find places near that day’s base and check opening hours.

Kawagoe Tourism Association guide to old streets and Candy Alley2026-10-09

Check routes and transfers for your travel date

Use transport information to understand the routes and direction of travel, then choose actual outward and return services in JR, New Shuttle and Chichibu Railway timetables. At Kumagaya, calculate JR and Chichibu Railway tickets separately.

JR East official station timetable search2026-10-09Currently linked Chichibu Railway weekday timetable2026-10-08

Browse cameras by their filming location

Check filming locations, original formats and update times in the Saitama camera list. Nagatoro Station-front images show the square and street; Iwadatami images show riverside rocks and the surrounding river area. View the two images separately below.

Nagatoro Tourism Association updated station-front and Iwadatami images2026-10-09

Kawagoe: sweet-potato snacks

Kawagoe has grown sweet potatoes and shipped them to Edo since the Edo period. During your walk, compare baked or filled snacks such as sweet-potato senbei and dorayaki with sweet-potato paste. Varieties, packaging and prices differ between Candy Alley and old-street shops. Choose according to whether you want a snack to eat now or a gift.

Kawagoe Tourism Association sweet-potato snacks and matcha feature2026-10-09Kawagoe Tourism Association guide to old streets and Candy Alley2026-10-09

Chichibu: battered potato with miso sauce

Miso potato · みそポテト is boiled potato, battered and fried, served with sweet-savoury miso sauce. This local Chichibu food developed as a light meal during farm work and is also eaten as a snack or side dish. Menus and portions differ between shops; choose whether to order it with a meal or as a snack.

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries: Chichibu miso potato ingredients and recipe2026-10-09

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

JR TOKYO Wide Pass

At 16,000 yen per adult for three consecutive days, the pass costs more than the transport and admission subtotals above. If you already hold one or combine this with other JR travel, check valid dates and eligibility. The official coverage includes New Shuttle Omiya–Tetsudo-Hakubutsukan, but Chichibu Railway, ropeway fares and admission cost extra. Users must be foreign nationals holding a valid passport issued outside Japan, with the original passport checked.

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

Nagatoro Station front: square and street

The station-front image shows the square, road and surrounding trees. It differs from the Iwadatami riverside image. The displayed time may be from a previous date; check the original capture time first.

Nagatoro Tourism Association updated station-front and Iwadatami images2026-10-09

Iwadatami: riverside rocks and river scenery

Iwadatami images show riverside rocks and the surrounding river area. They cannot establish access along the entire riverside or whether boats, rafting or Hodosan Ropeway are operating. Check official notices for your visit date too.

Nagatoro Tourism Association updated station-front and Iwadatami images2026-10-09