Leave your luggage at the hotel and visit the latest spots in Kawagoe (nicknamed "Little Edo") and Tokorozawa ♪ Take a trip to Saitama to enjoy the vibrant local culture and cuisine

Train fans, all aboard! We’re off to one of Japan's largest railway worlds

Opened in October 2007, this museum is one of the largest railway museums in Japan. The south building was opened in 2018, and the permanent exhibition in the main building was fully renovated. The inside of the museum is divided into five stations—the Rolling Stock Station, Science Station, Job Station, Future Station, and the History Station—telling the story of railways from a variety of perspectives.

There are 36 rolling stock on display at the Rolling Stock Station, located on the first and second floors of the main building. Manufactured in England in 1871, locomotive No. 1 was the first steam locomotive to undergo a completion inspection in Japan in 1872.

In one corner of the Rolling Stock Station is the D51 Simulator, which uses the cab section of the D51-426. You can experience operating the train with the controls at your hands. The cost is 510 yen per session (you need to be selected in the Railway Museum Raffle App).

The C57 steam locomotive sits on the central turntable. Since its manufacture in 1940, it has been active on all major railway sections throughout the country apart from Shikoku. It was nicknamed "Lady" for its elegant appearance.

The C57 steam locomotive has boxpok driving wheels with a diameter of 1,750 mm. You can see just how big the wheels are when we stand next to them.

You can easily take a commemorative photo by scanning the QR code found in the museum with your smartphone and visiting the Machi Kame website. You can even download your photo with the train in the background (separate fee required) ♪

We also found the nostalgic 0 Series Shinkansen! This Shinkansen is known for its round nose and lights. You can even enter the car and see the seats.

Model trains running in all directions! An impressive sight to see

When we went up to the second floor, we found one of the largest railway dioramas in Japan. HO scale model trains running along tracks that total some 1,200 meters is a sight to see! There are also demonstration programs with commentary by staff nine times a day.

You can see recreations of the Shinkansen running on the central viaduct and moments like the separation and connection of the Tohoku Shinkansen Hayabusa and the Akita Shinkansen Komachi trains.

This is the Job Station on the first floor of the south building. You can learn about not only drivers, conductors, and station attendants but also other various jobs related to trains. The E514 and 411 Shinkansen cars greet visitors at the center of the floor.

Become a driver or conductor yourself! Experience your dream

The chance to experience so many things related to trains is what makes The Railway Museum so appealing. With the Conductor Simulator, you can experience the job of a conductor, who ensures the safety of trains with the driver on the Series 209. The cost is 510 yen per session (you need to be selected in the Railway Museum Raffle App).

The Miniature Driving Train is very popular among children. You can drive a small train on your own, passing through Manseibashi, Iidamachi, and Ryogoku-bashi stations. One lap takes you 300 meters around. The cost is 510 yen per ride (you need to be selected in the Railway Museum Raffle App).

Next, we stopped by the rooftop Panorama Deck. The observation space provides a spectacular panoramic view stretching about 300 degrees. From there you can also see the trains running on the Shinkansen tracks and conventional lines nearby. The Tohoku Shinkansen Hayabusa train flew by during our shoot!

Make sure to check out the stylish train merchandise

With restaurants and shops in the museum, you can take a break as well as enjoy some shopping. There are many unique items and train merchandise at the museum shop TRAINART. The cut-out Shinkansen baumkuchen (680 yen) printed with E5 Series Hayabusa and E6 Series Komachi designs are a popular choice.

Blessings for couples tying the knot! Head to the best power spot in the Kanto region

This is the head shrine for Hikawa shrines, which number about 280 in the Kanto region. One of the oldest shrines in Japan with a history of around 2,500 years, it is said that the name “Omiya ” is derived from the fact that Musashi Ichinomiya Hikawa Shrine was once worshipped as “Oinaru Miyai.”

The Hikawa Shrine Road, which extends about 2 km and leads to the main shrine, is lined with 650 beautiful zelkova trees. The tree canopy means it is like walking through a green tunnel.

This romon gate was built in 1940. The vermilion gate is beautiful against the green of the trees.

Place your wish in a colorful bag ♪ Look at the cute Fukuro Ema

You can find rare Fukuro Ema (votive tablets in colorful bags) here. Write your wish on a piece of paper in the shape of a wooden votive tablet, fold it, place it in a colorful bag, and hang it on a special stand. The crepe bags come in 10 colors (500 yen offering fee).

The main shrine is now in sight. The enshrined deities are: Susanoo-no-Mikoto, who became a hero after defeating the serpent Yamata-no-Orochi; his wife Inadahime-no-Mikoto; and Onamuchi-no-Mikoto, who appears in the White Hare of Inaba. The three main gods that appear in Izumo Mythology are enshrined here.

We pray quietly, “May we have a strong connection...”

Because Susanoo-no-Mikoto and Inadahime-no-Mikoto were happily married, it is also known as a power spot for marriage. The shrine is known for many other blessings, such as the safety of one’s household, thriving business, and your earnest prayers being answered.

There are many more highlights on the grounds, such as Munakata Shrine, which enshrines the god of water and navigation, and the Snake Pond, which was once considered a forbidden area closed to the general public. Take a leisurely stroll while feeling the power of nature and the gods.

A historic prefectural park with lots of cute animals to meet too!

Omiya Park was established in 1885 as the first prefectural park in Saitama Prefecture. At the time, it was known as Hikawa Park. In the park, you can see about 1,000 cherry trees and a red pine forest of over 100 years old. This park is a popular spot for residents to relax.

When the park opened, it was covered with pine trees and thickets, and examples of high culture such as appreciating fireflies and watching silver grass were popular. Many writers and artists are said to have visited the park as a sort of annex to Tokyo, on equal footing as Atami.

A large boating pond can be found in the park. In 2022, the pond was drained and sun-dried.

Incredibly, it is free to enter ♪ A quaint little animal zoo

The small animal zoo inside the park is a place anyone can drop by. There are 300 animals of about 60 varieties, including Japanese black bears, capybaras, and common squirrel monkeys.

Over by the pond are greater flamingos. They are resting with their long necks on their backs.

See the inviting handmade signs and mailboxes in the park

We found a handmade acorn mailbox. If you pick up an acorn in the park, put it in the bear's mouth. These acorns are recycled as food for the animals.

We found a cute bear monument near the acorn mailbox. You can take a break by using it as a chair to sit.

Every item on the menu is a true delight ♪ A specialty parfait shop by reservation only

This is a specialty parfait shop is by reservation only. You can find it in a residential area a little ways from JR Toro Station. It is hidden away—so much so that you might accidentally walk past it!

We found the cute country-style shop! The hand-painted sign gives it a great atmosphere.

This is a small parfait shop run by the fruit-loving Durian Tomoyo. In order to help guests relax, a reservation must be made by the day before! And the shop only accommodates small groups! The parfait menu changes daily to use the best fruits in season.

The gorgeous parfaits are so exciting

This is the Full-of-Fruit Parfait, available for 1,000 yen. The glass is filled with mille crepe, yogurt, and vanilla soft serve, and the melon, orange, and apple highlight the fruit cutting skills of Durian, who is also a fruit artist.

The Homemade Pudding Parfait (1,300 yen) features a traditional firm pudding. Enjoy the savory caramel, strong egg flavor, and texture of juicy fruit.

You cannot help but smile when the parfait reaches your table ♪ Now, where to begin?

Reward yourself with something from the take-out menu

You can also enjoy seasonal parfaits such as the Strawberry Parfait from winter to spring, the Peach Parfait in summer, and the Persimmon Parfait in autumn. There are wide range of combinations available, such as fruit together with French toast or the outer layer of pancake-like dorayaki.

The Cafe also serves takeout sandwiches and fruit hors d'oeuvres (reservation required). They are so much fun to see and such a delight to eat, so make sure to check out Durian's fruit desserts.

Experience exciting views of trains and the allure of the chef’s special breakfast!

Hotel Metropolitan Saitama-Shintoshin opened in June 2017 and celebrated its 6th anniversary this year. Just a one-minute walk from the station! It is also the closest hotel from Saitama Super Arena, making it a popular choice when events are held at the arena.

The ceiling at the front desk is fantastically constructed, and there is a projection mapping show from 16:00 to 24:00 every day. This video uses live-action footage of waves crashing and sunlight filtering through trees based on the theme of fluttering, inviting guests to enter a relaxing world.

There are 157 guest rooms available at the hotel. The hotel’s design is inspired by the zelkova trees found in Saitama Prefecture. The chic interiors are created using natural color tones. And all guest rooms are equipped with the highest class Luxe Series beds made by Simmons.

A must-see for train fans! Spectacular views of trains

Station-side guest rooms have an impressive view of the trains running on a huge number of tracks! You can see various rolling stock such as the Limited Express Odoriko and freight trains pass by.

A breakfast buffet with 45 different Japanese and Western dishes that will satisfy both Western and Japanese food lovers

The next morning, we had a buffet-style breakfast with a mix of Japanese and Western food at the adjacent cafe. Always striving for freshly baked, freshly made, freshly fried, and freshly cooked food, there are more than 10 types of bread alone ♪ A wide range of the chef’s best are ready to eat, including a quiche made using local Sai-Tamago eggs.

Here’s a Japanese-style breakfast. There is freshly cooked five grain rice with grated yam, rustic miso soup with plenty of vegetables, and small bowls of Japanese side dishes. The cafe works to prevent food loss using ingredients effectively.

The rustic miso soup is full of root vegetables, tofu, and other ingredients ♪ Enjoy homemade desserts such as bread pudding and pound cake.

There are also special plan rates that are perfect for couples and girls' parties, such as the Couple’s Plan, which is a great deal for two people to stay in a Superior Semi-Double room. We highly recommend staying in this elegant hotel and enjoying a relaxing breakfast.

Step into a world of books full of vitality and expand your imagination

Opened in 2020, Tokorozawa Sakura Town is one of Japan's largest pop culture centers. It is managed by Kadokawa. Today, we visited the landmark Kadokawa Culture Museum.

The Kadokawa Culture Museum is a new cultural complex that combines a library, art galleries, and museums. Designed by architect Kengo Kuma, the multi-faceted five-story building looks like a stone citadel.

Bookshelves in all directions, as far as the eye can see!

The Bookshelf Theater on the fourth floor is a space surrounded by huge bookshelves eight meters high. The collection includes book stocks of Kadokawa Genyoshi, the founder of Kadokawa Shoten, as well as books published by Kadokawa. The regularly held projection mapping based on the theme of meeting and playing with books is also a must-see!

Edit Town - Book Street, located on the same floor, is a book town where you can encounter new books and where new ideas are born. Lining the staggered shelves designed by Kengo Kuma are about 25,000 books. These can all be picked up and read freely.

The Musashino Gallery on the fifth floor is home to rotating exhibitions on Musashino and various cultural themes. Musashino Book Park was underway when we were shooting.

We took this chance in this space—designed to mimic a thicket—to read as we relaxed on a sofa and swung on a hammock.

New discoveries await you ♪ Each plate tells a story at this restaurant

The 2,000 yen Hamburg Steak "Black & White" made with Sai no Kuni Kurobuta brand pork from SACULA DINER on the 5th floor lets you compare two sauces: a black sauce made with a homemade demi-glace sauce, and a white sauce made with local miso.

The Bolognese Pasta is 1,600 yen. The parsley and lemon gremolata give this rich bolognese pasta a refreshing flavor!

This restaurant offers a modern dining room decorated with artists' artwork. Enjoy different dishes by the French chef.

We recommend trying the desserts made with sweet potatoes—an ingredient with deep ties to Tokorozawa—at the Kado Café on the second floor. This is the Sweet Potato Mont Blanc for 600 yen. You will relax into the perfect sweetness of the sweet potato paste and cream.

Special items for sale only available at the museum

Finally, stop by the Rock Museum Shop on the second floor to pick up some unique souvenirs from the museum. The Rock ARARE deep-fried crackers (950 yen) are flavored with soy sauce. Fried curry-flavored crackers and crackers wrapped in seaweed are also available.

Here are unique Eitaro candies (600 yen) made in collaboration with the veteran Eitaro Sohonpo shop in Nihonbashi. The package contains four long-selling products such as umeboshi candy, muscovado candy, black tea candy, and green tea candy.

High quality chocolate meets local Kawagoe ingredients ♪

In the afternoon of the second day, enjoy the flavors of Kawagoe as you explore the town, which retains the atmosphere of old Edo. Kawagoe Chocolate, whose wonderful aroma wafts past the shopfront, sells chocolates only available in Kawagoe and confections that are perfect for enjoying as you walk.

The Sweet Potato de Chocolat is 300 yen. Hidden in the freshly baked sweet potato dough is chocolate that melts in your mouth.

The Freshly Baked Chocolate Fondant is 300 yen. Chocolate oozes from the hot dough ♪ Customers are constantly stopping by for this bite.

Which such cute packaging, we recommend this item as a souvenir

The Candied Sweet Potato Crunch Chocolate (540 yen) lets you enjoy the savory aroma of soy sauce and the crunch of arare rice cracker. This is a collaboration with the veteran shop Fueki Shoyu.

The Infused Chocolate Strawberry is 540 yen and is made by infusing freeze-dried strawberries with white chocolate couverture. Given their light and crunchy texture, you are sure to eat them up. It is good to know they are available at such a reasonable price.

A new Kawagoe specialty: pastel colored Little Edo Koi Dango dumplings

Anko no Kimochi, located in Enmusubi Yokocho, the first-floor food court at Hatago COEDOYA, is a popular spot selling dango dumplings. Their designs have made them a hit on social media. The Little Edo Koi Dango dumplings are two skewers for 600 yen, with eight different colorful sweet bean paste toppings.

The eight different kinds of sweet bean paste include Kawagoe sweet potato paste, green tea, ramune soda, shine muscat grape, smooth sweet bean paste, and strawberry. Each offers a different color and flavor; these dango dumplings put the sweet bean paste front and center. We could not help but take photos...

If you go out the back door of Enmusubi Yokocho, the path leads to the grounds of the Kumano Shrine, where the god of luck and marriage is enshrined After enjoying your dango is a great chance to visit the shrine.

Straighten your back and transform into a Japanese beauty. Take a stroll through Kawagoe in a kimono

Traditional Japanese clothes match Kawagoe's tasteful streets so well. So, we decided to rent cute kimono at Kimono Rental Shop Vivian.

If you choose the Stroll Around Town Plan, the kimono, obi, tabi socks, sandals, bag, and hair accessories are all included, so you do not have to worry about coming unprepared ♪ Just choose your favorite kimono from the 300 available, and the staff will doing the fitting and pick out the right obi for you.

The tied obis are so cute and make for a picture-perfect look from the back. After taking a leisurely stroll for the day, head back to the shop and return your kimono at least an hour before closing time.

With discounts and gifts, kimonos are a great deal in Kawagoe!

Because of how well kimono fit the streets of Kawagoe, the 8th, 18th, and 28th of each month are designated as Kawagoe Kimono Day. You can receive deals and special offers if you wear a kimono or a yukata to a participating shop or facility on Kawagoe Kimono Day.

It is also fun talking to the driver ♪ Take a rickshaw tour around Kawagoe (“Little Edo”)

If you want to visit the highlights of Kawagoe most efficiently, we recommend taking a rickshaw. Kawagoe Jinrikiya Rickshaw was the first rickshaw business in the town of Kawagoe. This year marks 18 years for these professionals.

The cost of a ride starts at 3,000 yen per person for a 30 minute trip. And if you tell them a time and place on the phone, they will pick you up at your specified meeting place.

A rickshaw trip to take you where ever you want to go

Our driver pulling the rickshaw was Mr. Hosoda. We felt reassured when he helped us climb aboard ♪ When we asked him to take us somewhere with a view, he told us he had the perfect spot, and took us to his recommended spot while avoiding the crowds.

We were worried both us riding would make the rickshaw heavy, but we moved along at the perfect speed. Because the drivers know all about the charms of the city, it is a fun way to learn about the history and backstory wherever you go.

Mr. Hosoda was a cheerful and friendly driver, and he showed us not only the Time Bell Tower, a Kawagoe landmark, but also the perfect spots for taking photos. When you visit Kawagoe, enjoy a trip around the city in a charming rickshaw.

The site of a new Kawagoe cuisine found in a renovated historic building

Located along the Koedo Kawagoe Ichibangai Shopping Street, Kuranomachi Terrace is a spot where the new charms of Kawagoe can be seen. Renovating an important historic building, there is now a store where you can enjoy special dishes such as charcoal-grilled and pot-roasted sweet potatoes. There is an open terrace at the back of the building.

Coedo Hachi is a roasted sweet potato shop that is popular among the media. Kawagoe potatoes are grown around Kawagoe and baked in a pot for two hours to bring out the maximum sweetness. Our goal today is to eat the Roasted Sweet Potato Brûlée (600 yen).

The Roasted Sweet Potato Brûlée is a treat where a roasted sweet potato is topped with custard and broiled. The surface is caramelized after receiving your order, so the crisp candy part is deliciously fragrant ♪ The custard cream and sticky sweet potato are divine.

We enjoyed the cool evening breeze as we looked up at the historical building. This is a special spot where you can relax away from the hustle and bustle of the main street.

Visit a famous eel restaurant where there is always a line in search of traditional flavor

With its main location in Nakagawa-cho, Nasu-gun, Tochigi Prefecture, this store has been making and selling river fish such as ayu and eel caught in clear streams for more than 50 years. In 2010, they opened Unagi Hayashiya in Kawagoe in order to share their traditional flavors with more people.
The photo (above) shows the Unaju dish made with one eel for 4,400 yen.

The renovated building is over 130 years old. It was once home to a rice wholesaler. A trolley was once used to carry rice in and out, and the trolley rails still remains today in the establishment.

Grilled over high-grade charcoal to be nice and plump, you can compare and enjoy both the eel kabayaki (dipped in sauce and grilled) and eel shirayaki (grilled without seasoning over open flame)

Carefully selected eels are steamed and then grilled using high-grade charcoal. The eel, which is grilled with a secret sauce three times, is crispy on the outside and plump and juicy on the inside ♪ If you time your visit right, you can even enjoy the rare Unagi Bandotaro brand eel for 8,800 yen.

This is eel shirayaki. The thick eel is sprinkled lightly with salt and cooked carefully by the cook until plump.

Shirayaki (3,971 yen) is served with wasabi soy sauce, tare sauce, and seaweed salt. It is a great way to simply enjoy the texture and taste of eel, so it is perfect together with sake.

The Unaju comes with pickled vegetables and soup. There are many variations of eel dishes such as Sarashi Negidon, which is a dish of minced eel topped with white scallions and shiso leaves, and Una Tamadon, which is a dish with fluffy egg. Enjoy these luxurious flavors.

This specialty shop is located at the end of the tasteful Taisho Roman Yume Dori Street.