5 Photogenic Buildings and Townscapes of Saitama

Saitama Prefecture, where history and charm breathe, has many buildings and townscapes that make you want to press the shutter! This time we picked out 5 photogenic spots that are "somehow nostalgic, yet stylish." Take your camera and set off on a lovely trip

01 | Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Palace (Kawagoe City)

The iconic symbol of "Koedo" (Little Edo) Kawagoe. It is a precious building — one of the very few surviving castle main-keep palaces remaining in Japan. The heavy wooden karaha-fu (cusped gable) entrance is awe-inspiring, and on overcast days the shadow and texture of the structure stand out even more, creating a dramatic shot. In spring, the combination with cherry blossoms is spectacular — the gentle pink against the darkened wooden architecture is not to be missed. Shooting from a low angle at about 45 degrees off centre, looking up, dramatically amplifies the building's power.

Access: Take a bus from Seibu Shinjuku Line "Hon-Kawagoe Station" or Tobu Tojo Line / JR Kawagoe Line "Kawagoe Station" and alight at "Fuda no Tsuji," then walk about 10 minutes (on the Koedo Kanko Bus, alight at "Hakubutsukan / Bijutsukan Mae"). Open 9:00–17:00 / last admission 16:30; closed every Monday (or the following day if a holiday), the 4th Friday of each month (except holidays), and year-end/New Year (December 29 – January 3); admission ¥100 for adults, ¥50 for high school / university students, free for junior high school students and below

02 | Kawagoe Ichibangai (Warehouse-Style Townscape) (Kawagoe City)

One of Saitama's best Instagram-worthy spots, where rows of kura-zukuri (warehouse-style) buildings dating from the Edo period continue to line the street. The sight of heavy, orderly black-plaster storehouses is like stepping back in time. The raking light of early morning casts shadows across the contours of the storehouses, producing photos full of three-dimensionality. The time before shops open, when there are fewer people, is recommended. The classic composition is a wide-angle shot from the edge of the pavement to bring out the depth, but zooming in on the latticed windows of a storehouse also has its own charm. Ichibangai is a working street used by cars and buses, so never stand in the middle of the roadway to shoot.

Access: About 15 minutes on foot from Tobu Tojo Line "Kawagoe-shi Station" or Seibu Shinjuku Line "Hon-Kawagoe Station." Ichibangai is a working street open to cars and buses. Please avoid standing in the center of the road to shoot or setting up tripods, and be considerate of operating shops and local residents

03 | Around Chichibu Festival Hall, Chichibu's Old Townscape (Chichibu City)

The downtown area of Chichibu, with its Showa-era retro signboard architecture and traditional shops, is irresistible for lovers of nostalgia. Faded signs and tile-clad buildings create a world that needs no retro filter. The orange light of dusk warms the retro architecture and creates a dramatic atmosphere. A vertical composition cropping the streetscape produces a shot reminiscent of a scene from a Showa-era film.

Access: About 15 minutes on foot from Seibu Chichibu Line "Seibu-Chichibu Station" (please check the official Chichibu City website for Chichibu Festival Hall opening hours, closed days, and admission fees). The downtown area has heavy vehicle traffic, so please take great care when shooting near the road

04 | Musashi Ichinomiya Hikawa Shrine (Omiya Ward, Saitama City)

A power spot with a roughly two-kilometer-long approach and a great vermilion torii gate of overwhelming presence. The early-morning scene of sunlight streaming through the tunnel of trees lining the approach is fantastical and breathtaking. A symmetrical composition centered on the torii gate, making use of the depth of the approach, is recommended. During the autumn foliage season, the gradation of red and vermilion is especially beautiful — a guaranteed Instagram-worthy shot!

Access: About 15 minutes on foot from the east exit of JR / Tobu Urban Park Line "Omiya Station" (about 10 minutes to the first torii gate of the approach). Opening times and reception hours at the shrine office change by season, so please check the official website. Avoid shooting inside the main hall or during prayers; the approach is a thoroughfare for worshippers, so please be considerate when setting up tripods

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Best season and time of day: Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Goten and Ichibangai are best in the morning before the shops open, when few people are about. The Hikawa approach is best in the early morning and during the autumn foliage season. The streets of Chichibu are easiest to photograph at dusk.
• Opening hours and closed days: Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Goten is open 9:00-17:00 (last entry 16:30) and closed every Monday (the following day when Monday is a public holiday), on the fourth Friday (except public holidays) and over the New Year period (December 29-January 3). For the opening hours and closed days of the Chichibu Matsuri Kaikan, please check the Chichibu City official website. There are no opening hours for strolling the Kawagoe Ichibangai townscape or the Hikawa approach.
• Fees: Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Goten costs 100 yen for general visitors and 50 yen for high school and university students; junior high school students and younger enter free of charge, as do holders of a disability certificate and their carers (group discounts are available for 20 or more people). Strolling the streets and worshipping at Musashi Ichinomiya Hikawa Shrine are free of charge.
• Access: For Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Goten, take a bus from Hon-Kawagoe Station on the Seibu Shinjuku Line, or from Kawagoe Station on the Tobu Tojo Line or the JR Kawagoe Line, get off at "Fuda-no-tsuji" and walk about 10 minutes. If you take the Koedo Loop Bus, it is right by the "Museum and Art Museum" stop. Ichibangai is about a 15-minute walk from Hon-Kawagoe Station or Kawagoeshi Station. Musashi Ichinomiya Hikawa Shrine is about a 15-minute walk from the east exit of Omiya Station.
• Parking: Please check the official websites for the latest information on parking at each spot. The center of Kawagoe has narrow streets and is crowded at weekends, so using public transport is recommended.
• Photography rules: Ichibangai and central Chichibu are places where shops are trading and people live. Do not photograph shop interiors or private property without permission. At Hikawa Shrine, refrain from taking photographs inside the shrine buildings or during prayer rituals, and be considerate about setting up a tripod on the approach, which is a walkway for worshippers.
• Safety notes: Kawagoe Ichibangai has narrow sidewalks, and cars and buses pass along it. Standing in the middle of the road to take photographs is extremely dangerous. Some sections of the Hikawa approach are dark in the early morning because of the overhanging trees, so watch your step.

* Fees and opening hours are subject to change. Always check the official websites for the latest information before your visit.

(Sources: Kawagoe City official website, "Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Goten: Opening Hours, Admission and Closed Days")