Rent a bike and ride through three rural towns filled with charming cafés, parks and museums on the way to the Kujukuri coastline on this active sightseeing adventure.

Step into a slice of history and embrace the community spirit at the Katsuura Morning Market in Chiba Prefecture. With its roots stretching back over 430 years, this vibrant market offers visitors a unique chance to experience the heart of local life.

Can you imagine a floating parking area in the middle of the sea? Umihotaru, on the Tokyo Wan Aqua-Line Expressway, is a combination of engineering skills and scenic beauty. Located on a man-made island in the middle of Tokyo Bay, it offers travelers a broad panoramic view of the bay and the Tokyo skyline, making it especially attractive for photographers and sightseers.

Discover the innovative way this store is giving new life to undiscovered clothing and accessories. Located just across from Tokyo Bay, at Kisarazu Concept Store shoppers can discover a treasure trove of discontinued fashions and unique designs.

Unwind and take a step back from daily life to enjoy a peaceful retreat in the lush forests of Chiba Prefecture. Check in to Resol no Mori to experience luxurious spa treatments and glamping in a peaceful natural setting, as well as a multitude of exciting outdoor activities.

Hidden on the historic streets of Nagareyama in Chiba, the Nagareyama Kaleidoscope Gallery & Museum offers visitors the chance to experience the unique and immersive world of kaleidoscopic art. The museum is located in a preserved storehouse that was built in 1889 and was once owned by the Terada family, one of the six pioneering families in the area. This is the only original storehouse remaining on the street, with its black plaster finish adding a touch of historical charm to the neighborhood gallery.

Inside of one imaginative Saitama building that resembles a scrambled castle lies a wonderful tribute to Japanese comics and young adult books. Come inside the Kadokawa Culture Museum, famed architect Kengo Kuma’s recent work that’s promoting the world of design inside and out.

Known for unique clay warehouses, the former castle town of Kawagoe has so much in store for visitors to Saitama. Learn about the historical area and chomp on traditional treats while wearing a kimono on this special cultural activity.

With no shortage of things to try in Saitama’s Nagatoro region, you might find yourself overwhelmed by choosing what to do first. We’re here to help you plan a trip full of fun activities and fresh food.

Learn how the art form of bonsai came to be at Omiya Bonsai Village, just a quick trip from Tokyo. (Photo: ©STIB)

Taste authentic maple syrup tapped straight from the surrounding Japanese maple trees at Chichibu Muse Park in Saitama.

Hidaka City’s Kinchakuda Manjushage Park is home to some 5 million bright red spider lilies that burst into bloom every autumn.

Explore Chichibu’s beautiful nature, ancient historical sites, and spiritual power spots along a route taken by travelers for centuries. Whether you are seeking a spiritual renewal or a quiet trek through the beauty of rural Saitama, close to Tokyo, the Chichibu Fudasho might be just what you’re looking for. The Chichibu Fudasho is a 100 kilometer long pilgrimage route connecting 34 of the area’s Kannon Buddhist temples, with a history dating back almost 800 years. The popularity of the route peaked in the Edo Period, when many of the city’s common folk traveled here to gain wisdom and clarity by participating in the pilgrimage.

Making use of Chichibu’s historical shops and houses, NIPPONIA Chichibu Shrine Town helps preserve the town’s cultural heritage while supporting responsible tourism to the area through partnerships with local businesses. Saitama’s Chichibu is nestled in a basin dotted with dozens of historical shrines, a world of serene beauty just outside Tokyo’s doorstep. The city was also home to a thriving silk textile industry in the days when wearing kimono was more common than Western-style clothing.

This picturesque location nestled in the mountains near Hanno is the only place in eastern Japan where Buddhism and Shinto beliefs are still fused together.

This 200-year-old farmhouse has been lovingly restored as a luxurious ryokan for guests who want to experience an authentic retreat in the Japanese countryside near Tokyo. For a luxurious ryokan experience just outside of Tokyo, Miyamotoke offers guests countryside hospitality in a traditional Japanese farmhouse, plus something unique.

TOGEDAMA craft gin is locally made with love by a family business that has been based in the Saitama forest since the Meiji period.

In Gyoda (Saitama Prefecture), a new tradition has been established: “Tanbo Art” (rice field art), a stunning seasonal display that transforms large rice fields into colorful canvases. Various shades of rice plants create elaborate artworks that showcase the region's agricultural tradition in a modern and impressive way. As one of Japan’s most innovative rural attractions, Gyoda’s rice paddy art combines farming techniques with contemporary creativity, drawing visitors from around the world.