Saitama Living Guide: Best Cities & Popular Tourist Spots

Saitama Prefecture is located to the north of Tokyo, and is a landlocked prefecture, which is not surrounded by the sea. In addition to Tokyo, it also borders six prefectures: Nagano, Chiba, Ibaraki, Yamanashi, Gunma and Tochigi. The prefectural capital is Saitama. The majority of the population is concentrated in the southeastern area of the prefecture, which has easy access to Tokyo and where bedroom communities are formed.

The northern region of the prefecture is prospering with agriculture, and the Chichibu area in the west is surrounded by mountains and hills with rich nature. In the southeast, there are several large shopping malls, which are particularly popular among families. Nagatoro, located in the northwest, is a popular tourist destination where you can enjoy natural activities such as rafting and canoeing on the Arakawa River.

In this article, we will introduce Saitama Prefecture, including some of the best cities to live and popular tourist spots to visit. This information would be useful for anyone considering relocating to or traveling to Saitama.

Why People Love Saitama

Access to Tokyo

Saitama offers a great transportation access to Tokyo, making it a very convenient place to live for those who work or study in the capital of Japan.

Rich Nature

With its mountains, rivers, and more, Saitama boasts rich nature. From Hitsujiyama Park, where more than 400,000 shibazakura bloom in spring, to Nagatoro, where rafting can be enjoyed, there are many spots full of nature. Among all prefectures in Japan, Saitama has the second largest ratio of rivers to the total area of the prefecture. Furthermore, the river width of Arakawa River between Yoshimi and Konosu is 2,537 meters, which is the largest river width in Japan.

Wide Variety of Tourist Spots

In addition to its rich nature, Saitama offers a wide variety of tourist spots such as a a city with an Edo atmosphere, shrines with a long history, a hybrid leisure land with a zoo and an amusement park, and more.

Best Cities to Live in Saitama

Below, we will introduce some of the best cities in Saitama Prefecture to consider when looking for a relocation destination.

Saitama - The Prefectural Capital and Transportation Hub

Formed from merging 3 cities of Urawa, Yono, and Omiya in 2001, Saitama is the prefectural capital and one of the cities designated by government ordinance of Japan. Furthermore, it is the most populated city in Saitama Prefecture and a transportation hub offering fantastic access to Tokyo. From Omiya Station in Saitama, it would take around 25 minutes to reach Ikebukuro Station in Tokyo. Furthermore, Omiya Station also serves 6 Shinkansen lines connecting Saitama with various destinations in Japan. With its transportation access, various commercial facilities, parks, and more, Saitama is a convenient city for living.

Key attractions: Omiya Park, Musashi Ichinomiya Hikawa Shrine, The Railway Museum

Chichibu - Rich Nature and Culture

Covering approximately 15 percent of Saitama Prefecture, Chichibu is the largest city by area in Saitama Prefecture. With 87 percent of Chichibu being covered by forests, it boasts plenty of nature. It is also home to shrines with a long history, including Chichibu Shrine, which is one of the oldest shrines in the whole of Japan. Registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, Chichibu Night Festival is held in December attracting many visitors. Furthermore, it also offers an easy access to Ikebukuro in Tokyo by Seibu Railway. It is a fantastic place to live for those who would like to be surrounded by rich nature without losing easy access to the capital of Japan.

Key attractions: Hitsujiyama Park, Chichibu Shrine, Mitsumine Shrine

Kawagoe - A City with Edo Atmosphere

Kawagoe, also known as "Koedo" or "Little Edo," is famous for its townscape with warehouse-style buildings called "kurazukuri" and an iconic bell tower. It is a fantastic place to take a stroll while immersing yourself in the atmosphere of Edo. Kawagoe is also a convenient place to live with easy access to Tokyo.

Key attractions: Toki no Kane, Kashiya Yokocho, Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine

Wako - A City Bordering Tokyo

Wako borders Itabashi and Nerima Wards in Tokyo. With various commercial facilities, parks, and access to the capital of Japan, Wako has everything for a comfortable living. From Wakoshi Station, you can reach Ikebukuro Station in just 14 minutes.

Key attractions: Wako Jurin Park, Niikura Furusato Minkaen

Koshigaya - Home to the Largest Shopping Mall in Japan

Koshigaya is the 4th most populated city in Saitama (as of 2024). In the past, the city flourished as a post town on Nikko Kaido and now it is known as the home to the largest shopping mall in the whole of Japan: Aeon LakeTown. Koshigaya also offers a great balance of nature and convenience of living.

Key attractions: AEON LakeTown, Hisaizu Shrine, Cambelltown Forest of Wild Birds

Access to Tokyo and Other Areas

While there is no airport in Saitama, you can reach Haneda Airport in Tokyo and Narita Airport in Chiba.

Trains

Saitama has 3 shinkansen stations: Omiya, Kumagaya, and Honjo Waseda Stations, making various areas in Japan easily accessible. For commuting to Tokyo, there are many trains available including Seibu Railway, JR, and more.

Highway Buses

There are many highway buses connecting Saitama with other areas throughout Japan.

Popular Tourist Spots in Saitama

Hitsujiyama Park

Hitsujiyama Park features more than 400,000 shibazakura plants of 10 varieties, also known as moss phlox, making it a breathtakingly beautiful place to visit during the blooming season in spring. With around 1000 sakura trees, it is also a popular cherry blossom viewing spot.
>> Hitsujiyama Park

Toki no Kane

Toki no Kane is a popular tourist spot and a symbol of Kawagoe. While its history spans around 400 years, the original structure has not survived to the present day. The current bell tower dates back to Meiji Period as it was rebuilt after the Great Fire of Kawagoe, which happened in 1893.
>> Koedo Kawagoe Web: Toki no kane (Time Bell Tower)

Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine

Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine has a history of around 1500 years. It boasts a large wooden Torii gate standing at 15 meters tall. It enshrines 5 deities from three generations of one family, among which are two married couples. The shrine is a popular place to visit for those wishing for marital happiness and luck in matchmaking.
>> Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine

The Railway Museum

With its display of 42 rolling stocks, simulators, and more, The Railway Museum is a fantastic place to learn about railway.
>> The Railway Museum

Tobu Zoo

With a zoo featuring around 120 species of animals, amusement park with around 30 types of attractions, a garden with around 410 sorts of plants, and pools to enjoy in the summer, Tobu Zoo is a popular "hybrid leisure land". Among various animals, it also has rare white tigers.
>> Hybrid Leisure Land Tobu Zoo

Moominvalley Park

Surrounded by nature, Moominvalley Park is a great place to explore the Moomin world and spend time in a relaxed manner.
>> Moominvalley Park

Conclusion

With a great access to Tokyo, rich nature, popular tourist spots, and convenient cities, Saitama is a great prefecture for both tourism and relocation. Whether it is a bigger city a short train ride away from Tokyo or a place surrounded by beautiful nature, Saitama is home to a variety of cities that would suit different lifestyles and needs.