More Omiya exhibitions, or continue to Chichibu?
In A, give railway displays and bonsai and manga a day each, spending one night in Kawagoe and two in Omiya. In B, visit Chichibu’s shrine and festival displays after bonsai and manga, spending one night each in Kawagoe, Omiya and Chichibu. For B, change to Chichibu Railway at Kumagaya; Nagatoro is excluded.
Choose a 3 nights, 4 days itinerary
Two Omiya nights for railways, bonsai and manga
This four-day route gives railways and bonsai and manga separate days. Stay one night in Kawagoe, then move to Omiya for two nights. Give the Railway Museum and bonsai and manga a day each, without travelling to Chichibu.
Two Omiya nights for railways, bonsai and manga →3 nights, 4 days BBonsai and manga, then Chichibu shrine and festival displays
This four-day route links bonsai and manga with Chichibu’s shrine and festival floats. Stay one night each in Kawagoe, Omiya and Chichibu; return to Shinjuku after shrine and festival displays on the final day. Railway Museum and Nagatoro are excluded.
Bonsai and manga, then Chichibu shrine and festival displays →Two Omiya nights for railways, bonsai and manga
This four-day route gives railways and bonsai and manga separate days. Stay one night in Kawagoe, then move to Omiya for two nights. Give the Railway Museum and bonsai and manga a day each, without travelling to Chichibu.
Day 1 · Kitain and old streets
Visit the temple first, then continue with food and old-street walks.
- Shinjuku Station → JR Kawagoe Station
From Shinjuku, take a Kawagoe-bound JR train running on the Saikyo and Kawagoe lines. Alight at Kawagoe and leave by the east exit. Ordinary paper fare is JPY 810 one way. Hon-Kawagoe and Kawagoeshi are separate stations.
JR East official station timetable searchJR fares for 2026Saitama Prefecture railway distances used to calculate JR fares
- Kawagoe Station → Kitain
Visit Kitain first for temple buildings and the 500 rakan figures. It is about 20 minutes on foot from Kawagoe Station; adult admission costs JPY 400. On weekdays from 1 March to 23 November, it opens 09:00–16:30, with admission until 16:00; winter closing is earlier. Follow local diversions during gate repairs.
Official English guideKitain visiting guidanceTemple gate construction notice
- Kitain → Kurazukuri Street and Toki no Kane
After visiting, move to the old streets for a meal, kurazukuri buildings and shops. Toki no Kane rings at 06:00, 12:00, 15:00 and 18:00. The visit excludes climbing inside the bell tower; shops have their own hours. Return to your booked Kawagoe hotel after walking and eating, choosing the route for its address.
Check first-day closures and admission deadlines before choosing the order of old-street walks.
Day 2 · Castle and museum, then move to an Omiya hotel
Explore Kawagoe history, then move to an Omiya hotel for the following day’s displays.
- Kawagoe old streets → Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Goten
Choose Honmaru Goten for surviving castle buildings. Walk to Satsunotsuji north of Kurazukuri Street, then head east towards city hall. The official walk from Satsunotsuji is about ten minutes. Adults pay JPY 100. It opens 09:00–17:00, with admission until 16:30. Avoid closures such as Mondays and fourth Fridays. This is not a castle-keep climb.
Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Goten visitor guide2026 opening calendar for the museum and Honmaru GotenWalking map showing the hotel
- Honmaru Goten → Kawagoe City Museum
Explore local history and kurazukuri architecture at nearby Kawagoe City Museum. Permanent-exhibition admission costs JPY 200 for adults. It opens 09:00–17:00, with admission until 16:30. Separately purchased museum and Honmaru Goten tickets total JPY 300; distinguish the combined museum and art museum ticket.
Kawagoe City Museum admission and closuresFacilities covered by Kawagoe City combined admission tickets
- JR Kawagoe Station → Omiya Station
After Kawagoe visits, take the JR Kawagoe and Saikyo route to Omiya, paper fare JPY 350 one way. Go to your booked Omiya hotel for tonight; tomorrow’s sightseeing starts in Omiya.
JR East official station timetable searchJR fares for 2026Saitama Prefecture railway distances used to calculate JR fares
Castle and city museum have Monday, fourth-Friday and other closures. Check the official calendar for both opening on the same day.
Railway Museum day
Make vehicles and railway displays the main focus today.
- New Shuttle Omiya Station → Tetsudo-Hakubutsukan Station
For railway vehicle displays, take the New Shuttle towards Uchijuku and alight at the first station, Tetsudo-Hakubutsukan. The paper fare is JPY 190 one way; the museum is about one minute on foot from the station.
- Railway Museum entrance → Explore the displays
Explore vehicles, science and history at the Railway Museum, allowing time for meals and rest. It opens 10:00–17:00, with admission until 16:30. Adult tickets cost JPY 1,600 on the day or JPY 1,500 when bought by the previous day. Activity reservations and extra fees, including driving experiences, are separate.
- Tetsudo-Hakubutsukan Station → Omiya Station
Take an Omiya-bound New Shuttle back for a paper fare of JPY 190 one way. Return to the same Omiya hotel, ready for bonsai and manga tomorrow.
New Shuttle faresDepartures from Tetsudo-Hakubutsukan towards Omiya
Tuesdays and New Year are normally closed; check official opening-calendar exceptions. Activity reservations have separate conditions.
Bonsai, manga and park in one day
After yesterday’s railway displays, explore bonsai and manga, adding the park on return if time allows. Return from Omiya to Shinjuku afterwards. With large luggage, use Omiya Station lockers; if none is available, shorten visits.
- Omiya Station east exit → Omiya Bonsai Art Museum
For bonsai and art displays, walk via Hikawa Shrine, Omiya Park and Bonsai Village to the museum. The official recommended route takes about 45 minutes, excluding visits and rest.
2026 bonsai museum guide and 45-minute walk from OmiyaJR Omiya Station coin lockers
- Bonsai art museum → Manga Hall
Explore indoor displays and the garden at The Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, Saitama. Adults pay JPY 310. It opens 09:00–16:30 in March–October, with admission until 16:00, or 09:00–16:00 in November–February, with admission until 15:30. Afterwards, use the official map to walk to Manga Hall on Kaede-dori.
Bonsai museum fees, seasonal hours and Thursday public holiday exception2026 bonsai museum guide and 45-minute walk from Omiya
- Manga Hall → Explore manga displays
Explore Kitazawa Rakuten materials and your date’s special displays at Saitama Municipal Manga Hall. Admission is free, and it opens 09:00–16:30. Talks and activities have separate schedules.
Manga Hall visits, access and closuresFree Rakuten Collection II exhibition for 2026
- Bonsai Village → Omiya Station
Eat nearby, then retrace the route through the park and Hikawa Shrine to Omiya Station. The free Japanese garden opens 08:30–17:30; add a short visit 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, choose a JR Saikyo Line or other train stopping at Shinjuku. Collect stored luggage before boarding. Ordinary paper fare JPY 530 one way. For onward travel to an airport or another city, allow alighting and transfers at Shinjuku separately.
JR East official station timetable searchJR fares for 2026Saitama Prefecture railway distances used to calculate JR faresJR Omiya Station coin lockers
Bonsai museum normally closes Thursdays; Manga Hall closes Mondays and weekdays following public holidays, among other dates. Choose a day both open.
Included costs: Shinjuku–Kawagoe JPY 810 + Kawagoe–Omiya JPY 350 + Omiya–Shinjuku JPY 530 + Kitain JPY 400 + Honmaru Goten JPY 100 + city museum JPY 200 + New Shuttle return 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 or beyond Shinjuku, extra facilities, paid activities and luggage storage such as coin lockers cost extra. Ordinary paper fares are used; recalculate for different routes, seats or discounts.
Buying the JPY 1,500 Railway Museum advance ticket by the previous day reduces the same-day-ticket subtotal by JPY 100. Activity reservations and paid experiences are separate.
JR fares for 2026Saitama Prefecture railway distances used to calculate JR faresKitain visiting guidanceKawagoe Castle Honmaru Goten visitor guideKawagoe City Museum admission and closuresMuseum admission feesNew Shuttle faresBonsai museum fees, seasonal hours and Thursday public holiday exception
Bonsai and manga, then Chichibu shrine and festival displays
This four-day route links bonsai and manga with Chichibu’s shrine and festival floats. Stay one night each in Kawagoe, Omiya and Chichibu; return to Shinjuku after shrine and festival displays on the final day. Railway Museum and Nagatoro are excluded.
Day 1 · Kitain and old streets
Visit the temple first, then continue with food and old-street walks.
- Shinjuku Station → JR Kawagoe Station
From Shinjuku, take a Kawagoe-bound JR train running on the Saikyo and Kawagoe lines. Alight at Kawagoe and leave by the east exit. Ordinary paper fare is JPY 810 one way. Hon-Kawagoe and Kawagoeshi are separate stations.
JR East official station timetable searchJR fares for 2026Saitama Prefecture railway distances used to calculate JR fares
- Kawagoe Station → Kitain
Visit Kitain first for temple buildings and the 500 rakan figures. It is about 20 minutes on foot from Kawagoe Station; adult admission costs JPY 400. On weekdays from 1 March to 23 November, it opens 09:00–16:30, with admission until 16:00; winter closing is earlier. Follow local diversions during gate repairs.
Official English guideKitain visiting guidanceTemple gate construction notice
- Kitain → Kurazukuri Street and Toki no Kane
After visiting, move to the old streets for a meal, kurazukuri buildings and shops. Toki no Kane rings at 06:00, 12:00, 15:00 and 18:00. The visit excludes climbing inside the bell tower; shops have their own hours. Return to your booked Kawagoe hotel after walking and eating, choosing the route for its address.
Check first-day closures and admission deadlines before choosing the order of old-street walks.
Day 2 · Castle and museum, then move to an Omiya hotel
Explore Kawagoe history, then move to an Omiya hotel for the following day’s displays.
- Kawagoe old streets → Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Goten
Choose Honmaru Goten for surviving castle buildings. Walk to Satsunotsuji north of Kurazukuri Street, then head east towards city hall. The official walk from Satsunotsuji is about ten minutes. Adults pay JPY 100. It opens 09:00–17:00, with admission until 16:30. Avoid closures such as Mondays and fourth Fridays. This is not a castle-keep climb.
Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Goten visitor guide2026 opening calendar for the museum and Honmaru GotenWalking map showing the hotel
- Honmaru Goten → Kawagoe City Museum
Explore local history and kurazukuri architecture at nearby Kawagoe City Museum. Permanent-exhibition admission costs JPY 200 for adults. It opens 09:00–17:00, with admission until 16:30. Separately purchased museum and Honmaru Goten tickets total JPY 300; distinguish the combined museum and art museum ticket.
Kawagoe City Museum admission and closuresFacilities covered by Kawagoe City combined admission tickets
- JR Kawagoe Station → Omiya Station
After Kawagoe visits, take the JR Kawagoe and Saikyo route to Omiya, paper fare JPY 350 one way. Go to your booked Omiya hotel for tonight; tomorrow’s sightseeing starts in Omiya.
JR East official station timetable searchJR fares for 2026Saitama Prefecture railway distances used to calculate JR fares
Castle and city museum have Monday, fourth-Friday and other closures. Check the official calendar for both opening on the same day.
Bonsai, manga and park today · move to Chichibu in the afternoon
Visit bonsai and manga, then move to Chichibu. Choose a longer Omiya stay if you want more walking and exhibition time.
- Omiya Station east exit → Omiya Bonsai Art Museum
For bonsai and art displays, walk via Hikawa Shrine, Omiya Park and Bonsai Village to the museum. The official recommended route takes about 45 minutes, excluding visits and rest.
- Bonsai art museum → Manga Hall
Explore indoor displays and the garden at The Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, Saitama. Adults pay JPY 310. It opens 09:00–16:30 in March–October, with admission until 16:00, or 09:00–16:00 in November–February, with admission until 15:30. Afterwards, use the official map to walk to Manga Hall on Kaede-dori.
Bonsai museum fees, seasonal hours and Thursday public holiday exception2026 bonsai museum guide and 45-minute walk from Omiya
- Manga Hall → Explore manga displays
Explore Kitazawa Rakuten materials and your date’s special displays at Saitama Municipal Manga Hall. Admission is free, and it opens 09:00–16:30. Talks and activities have separate schedules.
Manga Hall visits, access and closuresFree Rakuten Collection II exhibition for 2026
- Bonsai Village → Omiya Station
Eat nearby and retrace the route through the park and Hikawa Shrine to Omiya. The free Japanese garden opens 08:30–17:30; visit briefly if time allows. Shorten the park walk on your Chichibu travel day if needed.
2026 bonsai museum guide and 45-minute walk from OmiyaOmiya Park Japanese Garden: hours and free admission
- Omiya Station → Chichibu Station via Kumagaya
Take the JR Takasaki Line from Omiya towards Kumagaya and change there to Chichibu Railway for Chichibu Station. Ordinary fares are separate: JR JPY 620 and Chichibu Railway JPY 950. Distinguish Seibu-Chichibu Station. Use both operators’ date-specific timetables for transfers and arrival, then go to your booked Chichibu hotel.
JR East official station timetable searchJR fares for 2026Saitama Prefecture railway distances used to calculate JR faresChichibu Railway’s currently linked weekday timetableChichibu Railway ordinary fares by station
Bonsai museum normally closes Thursdays; Manga Hall closes Mondays and weekdays following public holidays, among other dates. Choose a day both open.
Chichibu shrine and festival displays · return to Shinjuku
Explore Chichibu Shrine’s buildings and carvings and Matsuri Hall displays, then return via Kumagaya to Shinjuku. With large luggage, use Chichibu Station lockers; if none is available, shorten visits.
- Chichibu Station → Chichibu Shrine
Start at Chichibu Shrine for buildings and carvings, about three minutes from Chichibu Railway’s Chichibu Station. Ordinary worship and exterior viewing exclude requested prayer services and charms. Tourism guidance lists gate opening 05:00–20:00, starting 06:00 in winter.
Chichibu Shrine official access guideSaitama tourism body’s Chichibu Shrine gate opening hoursChichibu Railway Chichibu Station facilities and coin lockers
- Around Chichibu Shrine → Chichibu Matsuri Hall
Explore festival floats, materials and re-creation films at Chichibu Matsuri Hall. Adults pay JPY 500. It opens 09:00–17:00 in April–November or 10:00–17:00 in December–March, with admission until 16:30. This differs from attending the actual festival. Eat and explore nearby streets afterwards.
Chichibu Matsuri Kaikan: hours, closures and adult admission
- Chichibu Station → Shinjuku Station via Kumagaya
Take Chichibu Railway from Chichibu to Kumagaya and change to JR. Collect stored luggage before boarding. Chichibu fare JPY 950; Kumagaya–Shinjuku JR paper through fare JPY 1,230. Choose a Shonan-Shinjuku Line train via Omiya stopping at Shinjuku. This differs from leaving Omiya’s gates and splitting the JR fare into two tickets. Check both travel-date timetables for connections.
JR East official station timetable searchJR fares for 2026Saitama Prefecture railway distances used to calculate JR faresChichibu Railway’s currently linked weekday timetableChichibu Railway ordinary fares by stationChichibu Railway Chichibu Station facilities and coin lockers
Matsuri Hall closes fourth and fifth Tuesdays March–November, Tuesdays December–February and around New Year. Check official public holiday and festival exceptions too.
Included costs: 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 Goten JPY 100 + city museum JPY 200 + bonsai museum JPY 310 + Matsuri Hall JPY 500 = JPY 6,420.
Extra costs and conditions: Accommodation, meals, travel to or beyond Shinjuku, extra facilities, paid activities and luggage storage such as lockers or tourist information centres cost extra. Requested shrine prayer services and charms, river boats and rafting are excluded. Ordinary paper fares are used; recalculate for different routes, seats or discounts.
JR fares for 2026Saitama Prefecture railway distances used to calculate JR faresKitain visiting guidanceKawagoe Castle Honmaru Goten visitor guideKawagoe City Museum admission and closuresBonsai museum fees, seasonal hours and Thursday public holiday exceptionChichibu Matsuri Kaikan: hours, closures and adult admissionChichibu Railway ordinary fares by station
Frequently asked questions
Is buying a JR TOKYO Wide Pass cheaper for these routes?
For four days A or B alone, a new pass offers no saving. The adult pass costs JPY 16,000 for three consecutive days; transport and admission subtotals for A and B are JPY 4,680 and JPY 6,420 respectively. The New Shuttle between Omiya and Tetsudo-Hakubutsukan is officially covered, but Chichibu Railway, attraction admission, hotels and meals cost extra. If you already have a pass or combine this with another trip, check the JR sections you will use, validity dates and eligibility.
JR TOKYO Wide Pass official price, three consecutive days and covered operatorsJR East official pass purchase and eligibility conditions
Official sources and confirmation dates
- Walking map showing the hotel ·
- Kitain visiting guidance ·
- Temple gate construction notice ·
- Departures from Tetsudo-Hakubutsukan towards Omiya ·
- Museum opening calendar for 2026 ·
- June 2026 museum and transport guide ·
- JR fares for 2026 ·
- New Shuttle fares ·
- Museum admission fees ·
- Tourism association guide ·
- Official English guide ·
- Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Goten visitor guide ·
- Kawagoe City Museum admission and closures ·
- 2026 opening calendar for the museum and Honmaru Goten ·
- Facilities covered by Kawagoe City combined admission tickets ·
- 2026 bonsai museum guide and 45-minute walk from Omiya ·
- Manga Hall visits, access and closures ·
- Free Rakuten Collection II exhibition for 2026 ·
- Omiya Park Japanese Garden: hours and free admission ·
- Bonsai museum fees, seasonal hours and Thursday public holiday exception ·
- Saitama Prefecture railway distances used to calculate JR fares ·
- JR service 1878E: weekday Omiya to Kumagaya ·
- Chichibu Railway’s currently linked weekday timetable ·
- Chichibu Railway ordinary fares by station ·
- JR Omiya Station coin lockers ·
- Chichibu Shrine official access guide ·
- Saitama tourism body’s Chichibu Shrine gate opening hours ·
- Chichibu Matsuri Kaikan: hours, closures and adult admission ·
- Chichibu Railway Chichibu Station facilities and coin lockers ·
- JR TOKYO Wide Pass official price, three consecutive days and covered operators ·
- JR East official pass purchase and eligibility conditions ·
- JR East official station timetable search ·