Saitama review
Situated North of Tokyo, Saitama prefecture is home to over 7 million people and is one of a handful of landlocked prefectures. Saitama shares borders with 6 prefectures, and depending on where you are, you may be blessed with a rare sight of Mount Fuji, “weather permitting”. Saitama’s population tripled in size after the Second World War; Tokyo grew exponentially, and people moved further outwards. As people moved away from central Tokyo, commutes became long, and the need for faster transportation became essential. Because of this, transportation links to Tokyo improved, and now visitors can reach Saitama within an hour from Haneda airport and even faster on express trains.
The prefecture has its own beloved mascot named Kobaton, a Eurasian collared dove, which is also the prefectural bird. He was officially appointed by the Governor of Saitama in 2005. He can often be seen at big events and has likely got Kumamon on speed dial. He can be found around the prefecture on posters and as cute merch.
I took a trip to Saitama to see the national Railway museum, which is the largest in Japan and pay a visit to the mega structure, the Disaster Prevention Discharge Channel or G-cans. Both places I highly recommend, the railway museum will easily eat up an entire day if you let it, as there is so much to see and do. Saitama offers lots of attractions for visitors both indoors and outdoors. It is also a prefecture closely tied to aviation, making it the best prefecture for anyone with interests in transportation and museums. This prefecture would be great for those with young children looking for an interactive and educational day out. There is also a lot to offer those with green thumbs. Omiya bonsai village makes a great place to explore a group of professional gardeners call the village home. The whole area is green with plenty of gardens to visit, and for those wanting their own plants, there are many places to buy, including bonsai. The capital, Saitama city offers endless shopping experiences and eating options. Saitama is famous for having its own tea, which is grown in the area.
My time in Saitama was fun, and I felt like a big kid again exploring its museums. At the railway museum, I had fun seeing the evolution of Japanese rail. There are many trains that you can explore, under and inside! There is even a creative lunch train for people to eat inside of, complete with places to buy an obligatory train bento! No Shinkansen trip would be complete without one. The museum looked at the past and even the future of rail, and I fully recommend it. I was awestruck on my visit to G-cans, and the pictures do not do it justice. It is hard to express how big the structure really is. At the forefront of disaster prevention, the whole system is an inspiration and a vital necessity. Tokyo and the surrounding areas are prone to flooding due to being a natural flood plain, as well as global warming and natural disasters. G-cans offers a few different tours allowing visitors to explore the mechanics of the structure and take some fun images in the channel. It is slightly out of the way, but there are tour groups that offer transportation and taxis.
I enjoyed my time in Saitama, venturing out towards the baseball stadium and nearby parks to collect some Pokémon-themed Lid stamps in Pokémon Go. And enjoyed the convenient transport options. The further from Tokyo you go, the more scenic the prefecture gets, but the southern sections are essentially a sea of smaller buildings and occasional skyscraper which connect to the metropolis that is Tokyo. For anime lovers, Saitama often features in many anime, in particular One Punchman where the titular character Saitama lives. Anime distributor Kadokawa also has a museum that can be visited, which is connected to a big manga store where fans can buy the literature for the shows the studio handles.
Saitama is a prefecture which can easily be added to any itinerary, and I fully recommend doing so. It has all the conveniences of Tokyo just with the bonus of being slightly less busy and having easier access to country areas. Saitama is scenic and modern and will reward its guests with fun experiences.
