6 Things to do in Saitama, Japan this Autumn Season

As with many Prefectures in Japan, its capital city is the same as its name. Saitama (Saitama-shi) is a city found in the Saitama Prefecture.

The Prefecture itself sits in the middle of Japan and is considered a part of the Greater Tokyo Area. Located in Honshu island’s Kantō region, it is home to forty cities and eight districts, which are further divided into towns. It is easily accessible from Tokyo – around a 15 to a 12-minute train ride, and is great for those who are tired of the bustle of the inner city of Tokyo. If you’re in Tokyo and a change of scenery, breath of fresh air, or some exciting, outdoorsy activities, Saitama is the place to go to.

The History of Saitama, Japan

Names and places change throughout the course of time, and Saitama is no stranger to this phenomenon. It was made up of ancient provinces, one of them being Chichibu Province (the western area of present-day Saitama), the other, old Musashi Province. Emperor Sujin ruled over the province of Chichibu for 67 years, along with 136 other provinces.

By the 8th century – also known as the Keiun era in Japan - discoveries of abundant copper deposits in the district of Chichibu were being made. As the centuries would pass by, the area of Saitama would be known for its agriculture production, thanks to the fertility of the land. As with the rest of Japan throughout the Edo period, areas in Saitama would be segregated and ruled by different Daimyo, or Japanese feudal warlords.

Facts about Saitama

In terms of geography, the prefecture of Saitama is landlocked, which means that land encloses it. It has many cities, two examples of which are Saitama-shi, another being Urawa. The prefectures that bound it are namely Yamanashi, Gunma, Gagano, Tochigi, Chiba, Ibaraki, and Tokyo. Along Chiba, the Edo River marks the border between both Prefectures; other rivers Tone, Kanagawa, Arakawa, and Tama all mark different borders around Saitama. Mountains, hills, plateaus, and lowlands make up several parts of the region.

It measures 3,798.08 square km, while its capital Saitama-shi scores at 217.43 square km, its population at 1,266,656. The prefecture’s current governor is Kiyoshi Ueda. It has 63 municipalities under its 8 districts. It is symbolized by a flower (Primrose), tree (Keyaki), and bird (Eurasian collared dove). Its current mascot is Kobaton, who is a Eurasian collared dove himself. He was inaugurated as such in 2005, complete with a ceremony and the governor’s letter of appointment.

Back to Saitamashi – did you know that when the name of this city is written down, it is done so in Hiragana? Most cities in Japan use Kanji when they’re written down. In fact, it’s the only city that has the same name as its Prefecture (called a prefectural capital) in all of Japan that is written in Hiragana. It also has 10 wards (one of them being Omiya), each ward set with its own color for identification.

Things To Do in Saitama this Autumn

1. Watch the Rugby World Cup Match
Saitama City, just a 40-minute train ride from Kumagaya Stadium, will host three Rugby World Cup matches, including Russia vs. Samoa (Sept 24), Georgia vs. Uruguay (Sept 29) and Argentina vs the USA (Oct 9).

Saitama City is just 25 minutes traveling from Tokyo by train.

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2. Experience the Japanese sake sample tasting while riding at The SL Paleo Express
Rugby World Cup host city Kumagaya is offering international rugby fans the chance to sample Japanese sake while riding on its scenic mountain train.

The SL Paleo Express is a steam locomotive that runs through Chichibu between Kumagaya City and Chichibu City in Saitama Prefecture. From September 1 through October 14, the retro train will be decked out in rugby paraphernalia and feature a bar offering a selection of locally brewed rice wine. Passengers can try different types of sake while enjoying the scenery of the Arakawa gorge and the Chichibu mountains.

The SL Paleo Express

Date: The train will operate every Saturday, Sunday, public holiday, and on the days of matches at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium between September 1 and October 14.

Time: The SL Paleo Express makes one return journey in a day, departing from Kumagaya Station at 10:10 a.m.

Price: Tickets for a seat on the SL Paleo Express cost JPY720 (for a reserved seat) and JPY510 (regular seat), plus the regular train fare between your chosen stops. Sake on the train will be priced at JPY500 per glass. The ticket price will increase from October. Book online (Japanese) or on the day at Kumagaya Station.

3. Check the amazing rice paddy art

Locals are keen to welcome visitors from overseas and join in on the rugby celebrations. Gyoda City is showing its support for the Japanese national rugby team with its impressive rugby-themed rice paddy art.

Rice paddy art

4. Visit the famous Omiya Bonsai Art Museum
To better understand the culture, visitors can head to the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum. Here, visitors will learn all about the traditional Japanese art of using cultivation techniques to craft shrubs into beautiful, miniature trees. And if you are a devoted green thumb looking to further knowledge on this traditional art-form, the bonsai class is a good choice. Visitors can hire a free yukata (traditional Japanese robe) to gain deeper cultural immersion.

Omiya Bonsai Garden

5. Saitama City is a must-see destination for sports lovers.
Many significant competitions will be held here: the 2020 Olympic Games: Saitama Super Arena will hold all Olympic basketball matches for Tokyo 2020, while Saitama Stadium 2002 will hold all Olympic soccer matches. This city loves soccer. It's one of the only cities in Japan with two J.League teams: the Urawa Red Diamonds and the Omiya Ardijya.

As visitors check the sightseeing list off between rugby matches, Tour de France Saitama Criterium on Oct 27 will be much helpful. It's a great opportunity to see the cycling superstars of the famous French bike race competing and to feel the real tour atmosphere at Saitama Shintoshin.

Those in town for the Olympics next summer should take note of the Saitama International Marathon. It runs on Dec 8, 2019, and approximately 16,000 runners will participate. It is the same course for the Marathon Grand Championship Final Challenge -- the final selection race for female 2020 Olympians.

6. Enjoy the special shaved iced dessert Yukikuma
Kumagaya City, the host of three rugby matches for the upcoming tournament in September and October, is celebrating the occasion with a special variety of a famous shaved ice dessert known as Yukikuma.

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Yukikuma is made by shaving clear ice with special techniques. Some vendors serve it with fresh fruit while other variations include chocolate, strawberry Fromage (cream cheese), green tea and caramel, and coffee, just to name a few.

Yukikuma shaved iced dessert, called TRY

It is available in 32 stores across Kumagaya City, including a limited-edition, rugby-themed version called the "TRY." Available at a store called Mikawaya, this special shaved ice dessert has been created to commemorate Kumagaya's role as a host city.

To check the all-year-round activities, you can download the Saitama City Visitors Guide here