Saitama
Thirty minutes from Tokyo yet centuries apart — Kawagoe’s black-walled kura storehouses, Chichibu’s mountain temples and Nagatoro’s sheer river gorge offer Edo Japan in easy reach.
江戸の蔵造りの町並みが残る川越、秩父の山と札所巡礼、長瀞の川下り——埼玉は東京30分圏内の時代旅行先です。
Saitama Prefecture borders Tokyo to the north, yet contains pockets of remarkable historic and natural beauty. Kawagoe — ‘Little Edo’ (小江戸) — preserves a 500-metre stretch of dark-plastered kura storehouses identical to those of 17th-century Edo. The Chichibu mountain range offers 34 Buddhist pilgrimage temples, stunning autumn foliage and one of Japan’s most visited night festivals (December). The Arakawa River at Nagatoro flows between sheer vermilion cliffs accessible by flat-bottom boat.
川越の蔵造りの町並みと駄菓子横丁、秩父の34番札所巡礼と秩父夜祭、長瀞の岩畳とライン下り——埼玉は東京から最も近い「江戸と自然の旅」ができる県。
Recommended Omiyage
おすすめおみやげ 5選
Imo Yokan
Sweet potato yokan jelly — Kawagoe’s most iconic sweet, made from local purple and orange imo
川越名産の芋を使った素朴な甘さの芋ようかん。紫芋タイプも人気。
Kashi Yokocho
Kawagoe’s famous candy alley — 20 retro dagashi sweet shops selling nostalgic penny candy
昭和の駄菓子が20軒ならぶ川越の名物。子供も大人も懐かしい味に癒される。
Musashino Udon
Thick, firm wheat noodles served cold with a rich pork broth dipping sauce — a Saitama local staple
豚肉の旨みたっぷりのつけ汁で食べる太くてコシの強い武蔵野うどん。
Chichibu Miso
Rich, earthy mountain miso from Chichibu’s traditional breweries — aged in cedar barrels
秩父の清冽な水と大豆で仕込む、コクと旨みの深い山里の味噌。
Kawagoe Potato Chips
Artisan sweet-potato crisps from Kawagoe’s renowned imo farms — in classic and purple varieties
川越産のさつまいもを使ったカリカリのポテトチップス。紫芋タイプも人気。
Must-Visit Spots
おすすめスポット 5選
Kawagoe Old Town
‘Little Edo’ — 500m of perfectly preserved black-plastered kura storehouses from the 17th century
黒壁の蔵造り商家が続く「小江戸」川越。江戸時代の町並みが今も現役で使われている。
Chichibu 34 Pilgrimage
Japan’s most compact pilgrimage — 34 Kannon temples around the Chichibu basin, walkable in a week
秩父盆地をめぐる34か所の観音霊場。西国・坂東と並ぶ日本三大巡礼のひとつ。
Nagatoro Gorge
Flat-bottomed boat rides through red-rock gorge rapids on the Arakawa River
赤褐色の岩畳と渓流の長瀞でのライン下りは川の絶景体験。
Chichibu Night Festival
Japan’s three great float festivals — December 2–3, with enormous illuminated floats and fireworks
日本三大曳山祭のひとつ。12月2〜3日に豪華な屋台と冬花火が夜空を彩る。
Railway Museum Omiya
Comprehensive shinkansen and steam locomotive museum — Japan’s largest railway museum
D51から最新新幹線まで展示する日本最大の鉄道博物館。
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to Kawagoe from Tokyo?
Tobu Tojo Line from Ikebukuro to Kawagoe (30 min, ¥470) or JR Saikyo Line to Kawagoe (50 min). The town centre is a 15-minute walk from the station.
池袋から東武東上線で川越まで約30分（470円）。または埼京線直通で50分。駅から蔵造りの町まで徒歩15分。
What is the Chichibu Night Festival?
Held December 2–3, it’s one of Japan’s three great float festivals (日本三大曳山祭). Six massive festival floats parade through Chichibu at night, with performances and winter fireworks. Arrive early — it draws 200,000 visitors.
12月2〜3日開催。日本三大曳山祭の一つ。6台の巨大屋台・笠鉾が夜の秩父を練り歩き、冬の花火が上がる。20万人が訪れるので早めに到着を。
What are sweet potatoes from Kawagoe?
Kawagoe has grown sweet potatoes since the Edo period and is Japan’s most famous imo-producing town. The narrow streets near the Candy Alley are lined with shops selling imo-flavoured everything.
川越のさつまいも栽培は江戸時代から続く。菓子横丁周辺の店ではいもスイーツや芋菓子が軒を連ねる。
Travel Tip
Buy the ‘Kawagoe One-Day Pass’ (川越1日乗車券, ¥880 from Ikebukuro) covering round-trip train travel plus a town map. Visit the Toki-no-Kane bell tower at 12 noon when it rings — a centuries-old Kawagoe tradition.
