Saitama

Travel Guide
Saitama
Explore glorious parks, attend a J-League soccer match, watch a J-pop concert in this busy commuter city and find museums dedicated to bonsai, manga and trains.

Created from the merger of three cities, Saitama is an exciting city that is perfectly situated for a daytrip from Tokyo. Enjoy the city’s parks, museums, family-friendly entertainment attractions and delicious cuisine. Saitama is the capital of Saitama prefecture. Venture deeper to discover a region teeming with ancient shrines and outdoor adventures amid multicolored landscapes.

The 168-acre (68-hectare) Omiya Park, famous for its cherry blossom trees and red pine forest, is a great place to start. Visit the 2,000-year-old Hikawa Shrine and meet varied wildlife at the free Omiya Park Zoo. Get active at the sports fields of riverside Akigase Park and swim at the summer pool of Shirakobatosuijo Park. Yono Park dazzles with its cherry blossoms and roses.

Delve into the evolution of Japan’s railroads via interactive exhibits at the Railway Museum. Learn about manga comics at the Saitama Manga Museum. Saitama Prefectural Museum of History and Folklore showcases the city’s artists, cultures and lifestyles. The Omiya Bonsai Art Museum and Omiya Bonsai Village provide an excellent introduction to the art of bonsai tree cultivation.

If you are in the mood for shopping, the AEON LakeTown mall offers national and international fashion labels such as Uniqlo and Zara. Cocoon City has additional global retails and a cinema. Join 37,000 adoring fans at the Saitama Super Arena for performances by popular J-pop bands. Paint your face red for a Urawa Red Diamonds soccer match at Saitama Stadium.

Like everywhere in Japan, the people of Saitama take their cuisine seriously. Sample unagi kabayaki (grilled eel), which originated on the rivers and swamps of the Urawa Ward during the Edo era. The Iwatsuki Ward is the birthplace of tofu ramen.

Trains depart regularly for the 25-minute journey from Tokyo Station to Saitama’s Omiya Station. Use the city as a base for touring fascinating sights, such as the Chichibu Kannon Pilgrimage, Kita-in Temple and Nagatoro Iwadatami Rocks in Saitama prefecture.

Where to stay in Saitama

Omiya Park which includes a lake or waterhole and a garden

Omiya

You'll enjoy the museums and monuments in Omiya. You might want to make time for a stop at Hikawa Shrine or Nack5 Stadium Omiya.

Omiya
Saitama which includes a sunset and a city

Urawa Ward

If you're spending some time in Urawa Ward, The Museum of Modern Art, Saitama and Urawa Art Museum are top sights worth seeing.

Urawa Ward
Saitama Super Arena showing a city and a high rise building

Chuo Ward

If you're spending some time in Chuo Ward, Saitama Super Arena and Keyaki Hiroba are top sights worth seeing.

Chuo Ward
Saitama Super Arena showing a city and a high rise building

Shintoshin

If you're spending some time in Shintoshin, Saitama Super Arena and Keyaki Hiroba are top sights worth seeing.

Shintoshin
Numakage Park showing signage and a sunset

Minami Ward

While visiting Minami Ward, you might make a stop by sights like Numakage Park and Besshonuma Park.

Minami Ward
Omiya Bonsai Art Museum which includes a park

Kita Ward

If you're spending some time in Kita Ward, Omiya Bonsai Art Museum and Manga Hall are top sights worth seeing.

Kita Ward
Candeo Hotels Omiya
Candeo Hotels Omiya
3 out of 5
1-401-1 Sakuragi-cho, Omiya-ku, Saitama, Saitama
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is P5,353 per night from 8 Apr to 9 Apr
P5,353
per night
8 Apr - 9 Apr
Stay at this 3-star spa hotel in Saitama. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and breakfast. Our guests praise the breakfast and the clean rooms in our reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (794 reviews)
"Close to the major train station, just a short walk away from shopping area, yet quiet. Staff is nice."

Reviewed on Mar 8, 2024

Candeo Hotels Omiya
eeGee STAY Omiya
eeGee STAY Omiya
2.5 out of 5
1-83 Miya-cho, Omiya-ku, Saitama, Saitama
Stay at this hotel in Saitama. Enjoy free WiFi, a 24-hour front desk, and daily housekeeping. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the bathrooms in our reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (407 reviews)
"Eegee stay was a nice hotel next to a number of restaurants next to the train station. With a town like Omiya, that already has plenty to see and do, getting to anywhere else in the Tokyo area is a breeze. This is definitely a good choice if you want to travel around the Tokyo area. If you're looking ..."

Reviewed on Jan 9, 2024

eeGee STAY Omiya
Hotel Gracery Shinjuku
Hotel Gracery Shinjuku
4 out of 5
1-19-1 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Tokyo-to
The price is P9,578 per night from 16 Apr to 17 Apr
P9,578
per night
16 Apr - 17 Apr
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Tokyo. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and in-room massages. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,283 reviews)
a little small but nice.
"nice location (LOTS of activity around the hotel) the rooms are pretty small, or at least the one we had was. best to pick a different place (or get a larger room) if you have lots of luggage. otherwise you have to get pretty creative where you put it."

Reviewed on Mar 26, 2024

Hotel Gracery Shinjuku
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Rhodes Kagurazaka Hotel
Rhodes Kagurazaka Hotel
3 out of 5
1-17 Saikumachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Tokyo
Stay at this 3-star apartment in Tokyo. Enjoy free WiFi, laundry facilities, and a hair dryer. Popular attractions Nippon Budokan and Tokyo Dome are located ...
6.8/10 (51 reviews)
"Great stay."

Reviewed on Mar 18, 2024

Rhodes Kagurazaka Hotel
MONday Apart Premium NIHONBASHI(Former:GATE STAY PREMIUM NIHONBASHI)
MONday Apart Premium NIHONBASHI(Former:GATE STAY PREMIUM NIHONBASHI)
4 out of 5
4-1-5 Nihonbashi Honmachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Tokyo
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Tokyo. Enjoy free WiFi, onsite parking, and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (192 reviews)
"Excellent week-long stay at this property-- the front desk reception staff was very helpful. The access to multiple train/metro stations was ideal for our family."

Reviewed on Mar 27, 2024

MONday Apart Premium NIHONBASHI(Former:GATE STAY PREMIUM NIHONBASHI)
MONday Apart Premium Ueno
MONday Apart Premium Ueno
4 out of 5
1-7-6 Kitaueno, Tokyo, Tokyo
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Tokyo. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and onsite parking. Popular attractions Ueno Park and Sensō-ji Temple are located nearby. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (130 reviews)
"Tiny comfort hotel, love it!"

Reviewed on Mar 26, 2024

MONday Apart Premium Ueno
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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