5 Photogenic Scenic Spots in Saitama

Saitama is incredibly easy to reach from Tokyo, yet it unfolds breathtakingly beautiful scenery that takes your breath away. "I had no idea!" — that kind of pleasant surprise is surely waiting for you. Grab your camera and head out to these scenic spots right away!

① Chichibu, Hitsujiyama Park | A Pink Paradise Carpeted with Moss Phlox

The moss phlox blooms from mid-April to early May. The moss phlox that dyes the entire hill is like a carpet with a gradient of pink and white. The planting area covers approximately 17,600 square meters with more than 400,000 plants of over 10 varieties — one of the largest displays in the Kanto region. The silhouette of Mt. Buko rising in the background adds depth to the composition. Note that during the blooming period the "Shibazakura no Oka" area charges an admission fee; in 2026 it was ¥500 for adults, ¥400 for groups of 20 or more, and free for junior high school students and below (paid hours 8:00–17:00).

Photography tip: The soft light of morning is the best time. Shoot from a low angle with the moss phlox large in the foreground and Mt. Buko in the background for a painting-like composition.

Access: About 20 minutes on foot from Seibu Chichibu Station. There is no shuttle bus service within Hitsujiyama Park. If coming by car, the parking lot during the moss phlox season costs ¥700 for regular cars and ¥300 for motorcycles (paid hours 8:00–17:00)

② Nagatoro, Iwadatami | Light Reflecting on the River Surface Like Jewels

The natural rock platform carved out by the Arakawa River is a nationally designated Scenic Site and Natural Monument. In autumn the foliage is spectacular, and in winter the contrast between the crystal-clear blue water and the whiteness of the rock is exceptional.

Photography tip: After 4 PM, aim for the "diamond light" when light streams in at an angle and sparkles on the surface of the river. A portrait-style shot with someone sitting at the edge of the rock is also Instagram-worthy.

Access: 5 minutes on foot from Chichibu Railway / Nagatoro Station

③ Hodosan Ropeway Observation Deck | A Sea-of-Clouds Spot Overlooking the Chichibu Mountains

From the 497-meter summit, the Chichibu basin can produce a sea of clouds in early mornings from autumn through winter. The white sea of cloud spreading below and the ridgeline of distant mountains create a fantastical scene.

Photography tip: Cold mornings from October to December are the best time to aim for a sea of clouds. However, since the Hodosan Ropeway's first car departs at 9:40, it is not possible to reach the summit at sunrise. Take the first car up and aim for clouds that linger late or mist in the valleys.

Access: About 20 minutes on foot from Chichibu Railway / Nagatoro Station to the base station (a free shuttle bus from Nagatoro Station to the Hodosan ropeway base parking lot operates on certain days), then about 5 minutes by ropeway. Fares: adults one way ¥700 / round trip ¥1,200; children one way ¥350 / round trip ¥600. Service runs approximately 9:40 to 17:00

④ Ancient Lotus Village (Gyoda City) | Fantastical Pink Lotuses Blooming on the Water

Ancient lotus flowers — said to have naturally germinated from seeds 1,400 to 3,000 years old — bloom in early morning from late June to early August. The pink lotus blossoms densely covering the water's surface are as beautiful as a vision of paradise. The park itself is open around the clock and free to use, but during the lotus blooming season (mid-June to mid-August) the parking lot becomes paid — ¥500 per regular vehicle per day.

Photography tip: Peak blooming is between 7 and 9 AM. For an overhead shot, head to the observation room at the Kodai Hasu Kaikan (Gyoda Tower). During the lotus blooming period (mid-June to early August), the museum opens early at 7:00, with admission of ¥400 for adults (high school students and above) and ¥200 for children (elementary and junior high school students). Outside this period, it opens at 9:00, closing at 16:30.

Access: From JR Takasaki Line / Gyoda Station, take the Gyoda City circular bus (Kanko Kyoten Junkan Course) about 21 minutes and alight at "Ancient Lotus Village"

⑤ Kokuei Musashi Kyuryo Forest Park | Seasonal Flower Fields and an Approximately 500-Tree Maple Garden

A national park where you can enjoy a "spectacular flower view" all year round — tulips in spring, sunflowers in summer, and cosmos in autumn. In autumn the maple garden, with about 20 varieties and 500 trees, turns red and yellow, and there is also an evening-admission event called "Koyo Mite Night."

Photography tip: Stand to one side of the garden path and shoot with a slightly wide angle to emphasize the sense of depth (stopping in the middle of a path blocks other visitors). Shooting slightly into the light lets it pass through the leaves and creates a beautiful glowing effect.

Access: About 10 minutes by bus from Tobu Tojo Line / Shinrin-koen Station. Admission is charged and opening hours vary by season (please check the official website for the latest information on fees and times)

The great outdoors of Saitama is at its most accessible — all within one to two hours of Tokyo. Why not take a short weekend trip to find your very own perfect shot?

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Best season and time of day: The moss phlox at Hitsujiyama Park is at its best from mid-April to early May (it varies from year to year). The lotus flowers at Kodaihasu no Sato are at their best in the early morning from late June to early August, and during the flowering season the Gyoda Tower opens early, from 7:00. If you are hoping for a sea of clouds on Mount Hodo, note that the first ropeway is at around 9:40.
• Opening hours and event periods: The paid period at Shibazakura Hill runs 8:00-17:00 (in 2026 from April 10 to April 30; from May 1 admission is free). The Kodaihasu Kaikan (Gyoda Tower) is open 9:00-16:30 in normal periods and 7:00-16:30 during the lotus flowering season (mid-June to early August). The Hodosan Ropeway runs from around 9:40 to around 17:00.
• Fees: Admission to Shibazakura Hill is 500 yen for general visitors, 400 yen for groups (20 or more) and free of charge for junior high school students and younger (2026). Use of the park at Kodaihasu no Sato is free of charge, while the Gyoda Tower and Kodaihasu Kaikan cost 400 yen for adults, 200 yen for elementary and junior high school students, and are free for children of preschool age. The Hodosan Ropeway costs 700 yen one way / 1,200 yen round trip for adults, and 350 yen one way / 600 yen round trip for children. The Musashi Kyuryo National Government Park charges an admission fee.
• Access: Hitsujiyama Park is about 20 minutes on foot from Seibu-Chichibu Station (there is no shuttle bus into the park). Iwadatami in Nagatoro is a 5-minute walk from Nagatoro Station on the Chichibu Railway, and the base station of the Hodosan Ropeway is about a 20-minute walk from Nagatoro Station. For Kodaihasu no Sato, take the Gyoda city loop bus (tourist hub loop course) from JR Gyoda Station for about 21 minutes and get off at "Kodaihasu no Sato."
• Parking: Hitsujiyama Park charges for parking during the moss phlox season: 700 yen for an ordinary car, 300 yen for a motorcycle and 3,000 yen for a large bus (charges apply 8:00-17:00). The parking lot at the foot of Mount Hodo has about 150 spaces and costs 500 yen on weekdays and 700 yen on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Kodaihasu no Sato has 490 spaces for ordinary cars and 8 for large buses, and only during the lotus flowering season (mid-June to mid-August) does an ordinary car cost 500 yen per day.
• Photography rules: At Kodaihasu no Sato, visitors using a tripod are asked to be considerate of other visitors; photography carried out as a business (commercially) requires a permit costing 1,000 yen per case per day, and film shooting costs 3,000 yen per hour. In the moss phlox area of Hitsujiyama Park, weeding work is carried out even during the season.
• Safety notes: At Iwadatami in Nagatoro the rocks become wet and slippery when the water rises or in rainy weather, and some stretches of the Arakawa River have fast currents. Take care not to go too close to the river, and do not enter when the water is high. On Mount Hodo, precautions against frozen road surfaces and low temperatures are needed in the early morning in winter.

* Fees and opening periods are reviewed every year. The admission fee and the paid period for the moss phlox in particular change from year to year, so always check the official website before you set out.

(Sources: Chichibu City official website "Chichibu Kanko Navi," Hitsujiyama Park Shibazakura Hill; Hodosan Ropeway official website (business information and fares / transport access); Gyoda City Industry, Culture and Sports Ikiiki Foundation, "Kodaihasu no Sato Visitor Information")