5 Photogenic Gourmets and Souvenirs of Saitama

Saitama has many superb gourmets and photogenic sweets that make you want to point your camera! Why not thoroughly enjoy a photogenic trip in Saitama, with its excellent access from Tokyo too?

1. Nagatoro's Specialty, Natural Shaved Ice | Nagatoro

When it comes to Nagatoro in summer, natural-ice shaved ice savored while overlooking the clear stream of the Arakawa River is exquisite. The shaved ice of the long-established "Asami Reizo" is stunning with its fluffy, snow-like texture and the gradation of jewel-like shining syrup.

• Photogenic point: A bowl like jewelry, where the transparent syrup glitters catching the sunlight
• Best time: The time when natural light streams in from late morning to noon. Summer (June to August) is the peak season
• Shooting angle: Aiming from above at a 45-degree diagonal captures the layered syrup gradation beautifully
• Access: About a 10-minute walk from "Nagatoro Station" on the Chichibu Railway

2. Pink Strawberry Sweets That Are Too Cute, "Strawberry Sweets" | Higashimatsuyama

Saitama is actually a strawberry production area. At farm cafes in the Higashimatsuyama area, strawberry parfaits and strawberry daifuku that liberally use bright red strawberries are popular. The red-and-pink contrast that stands out against the white plate raises your spirits just by looking

• Photogenic point: The vivid red-and-white contrast, and the cute visual of the roundness of the whipped cream
• Best time: Spring (March to May), the strawberry season; shooting in the bright morning is recommended
• Shooting angle: With a top-down overhead shot from directly above, make the presence of the packed strawberries the star
• Access: About 15 minutes by bus or taxi from "Higashimatsuyama Station" on the Tobu Tojo Line

3. Colorful Candy-Craft Souvenirs | Kawagoe

What you'll want to eat-walk while strolling the warehouse-style townscape of "Little Edo" Kawagoe is handmade candy where the craftsmanship of candy-craft shines. Transparent candy shaped like goldfish and flowers raises the photogenic level all at once with the Edo townscape as a backdrop!

• Photogenic point: A transparency like glasswork that shines when light passes through. The Japanese-modern contrast with the warehouse-style architecture in the background is exquisite
• Best time: In the afternoon of a sunny day, the time when the western sun hits (2 to 4 p.m.), shooting with light passing through makes it fantastical
• Shooting angle: The trick is to hold the candy up to the light and shoot somewhat backlit. Putting the brown wall of a warehouse in the background makes the color balance perfect
• Access: About a 15-minute walk from "Kawagoe-shi Station" on the Tobu Tojo Line

4. Pure-White Cream Dorayaki | Chichibu

The cream dorayaki made by a long-established Japanese sweets shop in Chichibu is too cute, with plenty of cream overflowing from the plump dorayaki! The "cross-section shot" showing the cut surface is going hugely viral on social media.

• Photogenic point: The contrast between the overflowing cream and the fluffy baked color whets the appetite
• Best time: Enjoyable regardless of season. Using natural light on an outdoor bench makes for a warm photo
• Shooting angle: The "cross-section shot" showing the cut surface from an eye-level angle from the side is the standard. Filming the moment you split it in two as a video is also recommended
• Access: About a 5-minute walk from "Chichibu Station" on the Chichibu Railway

5. Vividly Colorful "Soka Senbei" Arranged Souvenirs | Soka

Saitama's standard souvenir "Soka senbei" has now evolved into colorful chocolate-coated and fruit-flavored versions! A photo of pastel-colored senbei lined up in a row is the new standard for souvenir photogenicity.

• Photogenic point: A visual where the alignment of pastel colors—pale pink, yellow, light blue, and so on—involuntarily makes you say "Cute!"
• Best time: Enjoyable throughout the year. Compatibility with a bright interior or white background is also excellent
• Shooting angle: A "flat lay (overhead)" shot, aligned by color and arranged in a grid, guarantees being photogenic on social media!
• Access: About a 10-minute walk from "Soka Station" on the Tobu Skytree Line

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Opening hours and closed days: Asami Reizo is generally open 10:00-16:30 and closed on Tuesdays, and it shuts down for the winter (roughly December to March). In August it may open every day. It sometimes closes early depending on the state of the ice and the syrup, so be sure to check its opening days on the official website or official social media before you visit. The closing days of the shops in Kawagoe, Chichibu and Soka also vary.
• Budget and price guide: Shaved ice made with natural ice starts from around 1,000 yen a bowl. Candies and rice crackers to eat as you walk cost a few hundred yen, and boxed souvenirs are around 1,000 yen.
• Access: Asami Reizo's Hodosando shop is about a 10-minute walk from Nagatoro Station on the Chichibu Railway, while the Kanasaki main shop is nearer Kami-Nagatoro Station; the two shops are about 15 minutes apart on foot. The kurazukuri (storehouse-style) townscape and Kashiya Yokocho in Kawagoe are about a 10-15 minute walk from Hon-Kawagoe Station on the Seibu Shinjuku Line, or about 15 minutes from Kawagoeshi Station on the Tobu Tojo Line. The Soka senbei shops are scattered around Soka Station on the Tobu Skytree Line.
• Parking: At both Nagatoro and Kawagoe, the parking lots in the area fill up early on weekends during the tourist season. Coming by rail on the Chichibu Railway or the Tobu lines is the surer option. Whether a strawberry farm has parking differs from farm to farm, so check when you make your booking.
• Photography rules: In the queues and inside shaved-ice shops, choose an angle that does not capture other customers or the staff, and do not use a tripod. Shopping streets such as Kashiya Yokocho are also everyday roads and places of business. Always ask permission before photographing products or shopfronts. At strawberry farms, follow the farm's instructions on photography inside the greenhouses.
• Points to note: Shaved ice melts, so keep your photography brief. In summer at Nagatoro the wait can run to several hours, and numbered tickets or timed entry may be used. Many strawberry-picking farms operate by reservation and in timed slots, so you may not be able to get in if you simply turn up on the day.

* The content of this article is current as of July 2026. Opening days and seasons are subject to change, so always check the latest situation in each shop's official information.

(Sources: Asami Reizo's published business information; Chichibu Railway station guides; Kawagoe City tourist information; Soka City tourist information)