Saitama

Saitama Prefecture (埼玉県) is a largely residential region located directly north of Tokyo. It is famously home to nearly one million residents who commute into the capital for work each day, earning it a reputation as Tokyo’s sprawling backyard. While its image sometimes suffers—often unfairly dismissed as a monotonous concrete extension of the metropolis—Saitama holds a diverse array of cultural treasures and natural escapes that remain hidden from those who never venture past the urban fringe.

To the west, the landscape shifts from dense train lines to timber-clad tradition. Kawagoe, known as “Little Edo,” offers a remarkably preserved glimpse into the 19th century with its distinctive kurazukuri clay-walled warehouses and the iconic “Bell of Time” tower. Further inland lies Chichibu, a mountainous sanctuary renowned for its ancient shrines, the spectacular Chichibu Night Festival, and the vibrant moss phlox carpets of Hitsujiyama Park. Whether it is the quiet artistry of the Omiya Bonsai Village or the rugged river-boating in Nagatoro, Saitama proves to be less of a suburb and more of a hidden frontier for heritage and outdoor adventure, offering a refreshing breath of air just beyond the commuter tracks.