Saitama Travel Guide: Quiet Escapes Just Beyond the City
Just north of Tokyo lies a region filled with rivers, stone, forests, and quiet temples. Saitama is often overlooked — and that’s its charm. In its forgotten valleys and old merchant towns, you’ll find the kind of simple, honest beauty that defines wabi-sabi.
Nature & Slow Travel
- Nagatoro Gorge: Ride a traditional boat down the Arakawa River, surrounded by stone cliffs and seasonal colors.
- Chichibu Mountains: A sacred and wild region of forests, peaks, and hiking trails — often silent and deeply atmospheric.
- Hitsujiyama Park: A springtime dream with a carpet of shibazakura (pink moss) at the foot of the hills.
Cultural & Spiritual Highlights
- Chichibu Shrine: A beautiful wooden shrine with intricate carvings — understated yet full of life.
- Kawagoe (Little Edo): A well-preserved merchant town with clay-walled warehouses and a nostalgic bell tower.
- Traditional Washi Paper: Ogawa town still produces handmade Japanese paper — quiet, thin, and enduring.
Local Cuisine
- Miso Potato: A rustic Chichibu snack — deep-fried potatoes coated in sweet-savory miso glaze.
- Waraji Katsu: Oversized pork cutlets served on rice — bold in appearance, humble in taste.
- Kawagoe Sweet Potatoes: Used in sweets, chips, and even beer — simple, sweet, and seasonal.
Wabi-Sabi Moments in Saitama
- Watching morning mist rise over the Arakawa River in Nagatoro
- Walking silent paths between ancient cedar trees in the Chichibu forests
- Hearing the bell tower ring in Kawagoe as the sun begins to set
- Feeling the grain of handmade washi in your hands in a tiny paper shop
Saitama reminds us that the quietest places are often closest to home. If you want to escape the noise without going far, let this hidden neighbor of Tokyo show you its gentle heart.
How to Get There
- To Kawagoe: About 1 hour from Tokyo via Tobu Tojo Line or JR Kawagoe Line.
- To Chichibu: About 90 minutes from Ikebukuro via Seibu Chichibu Line.
- To Nagatoro: Continue from Chichibu via Chichibu Railway (approx. 20 minutes).