Things to Do in Saitama
Hand-picked sights and experiences across Saitama.
When to catch the colours in Saitama?
Average red maple, golden ginkgo and cherry blossom dates for Saitama, from the Japan Meteorological Agency's 1991–2020 normals — the fortnight to aim for, not a promise for any particular year.
- Red maples
- Leaves turnDec 1
- Peak viewingDec 1 – Dec 15
- Golden ginkgo
- Leaves turnNov 28
- Peak viewingNov 28 – Dec 12
- Cherry blossom
- First flowersMar 27
- Full bloomApr 3
Where to look next?
The prefectures we've mapped so far, nearest to Saitama first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kawagoe — 'Little Edo' — with its clay-walled warehouse street and candy alley, the Chichibu mountains and their shrine festivals, and Ōmiya's bonsai village and railway museum. It's Tokyo's easiest taste of old-town Japan.
Very — it's about 30 minutes from Ikebukuro, and the warehouse district, the Toki no Kane bell tower and sweet-potato everything make a relaxed half-to-full day. Weekdays are far calmer than weekends.
The shibazakura pink-moss carpets in late April–early May, the Nagatoro river gorge with its flat-boat rides, and the spectacular Chichibu Night Festival in early December — one of Japan's top float festivals.