Saitama (prefecture)
Discover Saitama (prefecture)
Saitama Prefecture (埼玉県 Saitama-ken) is in the eastern Kanto region of the main Japanese island Honshu. Saitama has lots of great travel opportunities. It's the bonsai capital of the world, has one of the few remaining "Little Edo" historical towns, and has an entire ancient 34-temple pilgrimage route all within its borders. Saitama forms a sort of buffer zone between the grey sprawl of Tokyo and the mountains of Gunma prefecture. Some stuck-up Tokyoites like to refer to it as dasaitama ("uncool-Saitama"), but do not let the naysayers prevent you from visiting.
What to Experience in Saitama (prefecture)
Taste of Saitama (prefecture)...
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Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsThe nearest major airports are Narita and Tokyo's Haneda. Buses from Narita to JR Omiya leave hourly and take about two hours, while buses from Haneda take about 90 minutes. Travel from either by train will cost more, save little if any time and involve at least one transfer, unless you manage to board one of the two daily early morning direct Narita Express (N'EX) services to Omiya. Coming from Tokyo there are various train lines that run into and through Saitama prefecture: You can get buses from Kyoto and Osaka long-distance bus station to Ōmiya, Kawagoe and Tokorozawa, and from Niigata and Kanazawa to Ōmiya and Kawagoe. All the train lines listed above have extensive stops across Saitama Prefecture. Also there are many bus lines crisscrossing the prefecture as well as plenty of taxis....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
All the train lines listed above have extensive stops across Saitama Prefecture. Also there are many bus lines crisscrossing the prefecture as well as plenty of taxis.