Rainy Day in Saitama: Best Indoor Spots & Activities

The Railway Museum

The first name that comes up as a spot we want you to visit on a rainy day is the "Railway Museum" in Omiya. At this museum, the pride of JR East, real Shinkansen and steam locomotives retired from active service are lined up in rows, so powerful that they make you unintentionally cry out. Of course for railway fans, but even for those who say "I'm not especially knowledgeable about trains," the moment you look up at the giant rolling stock up close, that childhood excitement is sure to come flooding back into your chest.

The interior is so rich in content that you can't see it all in a day, and not only the exhibition area of actual rolling stock but also the driving simulator that is just like the real thing, and the restaurant area where you can enjoy ekiben (station box lunches) and railway gourmet food, are popular. Since weekends are crowded with families, right after opening on weekdays (the 10 a.m. to noon hour) is the best time to look around leisurely.

As a hidden gem point, there is the History Zone on the 2nd floor. Gazing at the exhibits from a height that lets you look out even over the "tops of the roofs" of the actual rolling stock makes you notice the beauty of railway details you don't usually notice. Also, the in-building museum shop is a treasure trove of railway goods, ideal for choosing trip souvenirs too.

• Access: Directly connected to "Railway Museum (Onari) Station" on the New Shuttle. Access is excellent, at about 3 minutes from Omiya Station on the New Shuttle.
• Guideline for required time: 3 to 4 hours if you want to enjoy it thoroughly
• Tips for travelers: The driving simulator is highly popular and may fill up at the same time the numbered tickets are distributed. Checking the numbered tickets right after entering is the wise order.

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The Museum of Modern Art, Saitama

Get off at "Kita-Urawa Station" on the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line, and walk about 3 minutes from the west exit. Standing quietly deep within the greenery-rich Kita-Urawa Park is "The Museum of Modern Art, Saitama (MOMAS)." Reaching this museum by passing through the park's trees in the moist air of a rainy day, it has a calm that somehow recalls a European street corner.

The greatest individuality of this museum is, without a doubt, that it is a "museum you can sit in." A collection of masterpiece chairs is exhibited throughout the building, and there are also many works you can actually sit in and experience. While sitting down in famous chairs created by master designers such as Alvar Aalto and Eames, please slowly feel the boundary line between art and everyday life. It is a place we especially want those who say "a museum is a bit of a high hurdle..." to visit.

The content of the special exhibitions is also substantial every season, covering a wide range of genres from contemporary art to Japanese-style painting. The special exhibition season from autumn to winter is especially recommended, perfect for spending a rainy holiday richly.

• Access: About 3 minutes on foot from the west exit of "Kita-Urawa Station" on the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line
• Guideline for required time: 1.5 to 2 hours including the special exhibition
• Tips for travelers: The viewing fee differs depending on the special exhibition, but the permanent exhibition alone is relatively reasonable. Discount coupons are sometimes distributed on the official website, so check in advance. Please note that it is closed on Mondays (the following day if a public holiday).

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Saitama Aquarium

The fixed idea that "an aquarium means sea fish" is pleasantly betrayed here. Surrounded by the rich nature of Hanyu Suigo Park, "Saitama Aquarium" is a rare aquarium in Japan specializing only in freshwater fish. Its individuality gradually but strongly etches itself into the hearts of visitors.

Of course there is the overwhelming presence of the "pirarucu," one of the world's largest freshwater fish living in the great rivers of the Amazon, but you can also experience the diverse world of "creatures in water" all at once, down to the small medaka and goldfish swimming in familiar rivers. The somehow nostalgic and warm exhibits, which you can't feel at a sea aquarium, are full of a mysterious charm that makes even adults linger.

From spring to early summer (April to June), the waterside park is also beautiful, and visiting on an afternoon after the rain lets you fully enjoy both the aquarium and nature.

• Access: About 20 minutes by taxi or on foot from "Hanyu Station" on the Chichibu Railway. Access by car is convenient (free parking available)
• Guideline for required time: 1 to 1.5 hours
• Tips for travelers: A nice point is that the admission fee is reasonable and gentle on the wallet for families too. Since you can also stroll through the adjacent Hanyu Suigo Park, it is also recommended to step outside when the rain lets up.

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Kawagoe Warehouse-Style Townscape (Indoor)

Kawagoe, called "Little Edo," where travelers gather from all over the country. Its charm is not only for sunny days. Kawagoe on a rainy day, when raindrops wet the cobblestones and the black-plastered warehouses moistly absorb water, has a sentiment like a scene from a movie completely different from a sunny day.

The warehouse-style shopping street on the main street, thanks to the deep eaves at the edges, can sometimes be walked without an umbrella in light rain. Among these, "Kashiya Yokocho" (Candy Alley) is a must-visit spot. This area, where old-fashioned penny-candy shops and candy-craft shops line up, has many indoor and semi-indoor stores, so you can fully stroll even on a rainy day. Just gazing at the colorful candies and nostalgic penny candy, you'll feel like you could forget the time.

Furthermore, the time to take a break at a cafe or sweets shop that makes use of a warehouse-style building is also exceptional. Matcha sweets and sweet potato soft-serve enjoyed while listening to the sound of rain are a luxury unique to Kawagoe.

• Access: 15 to 20 minutes on foot from "Hon-Kawagoe Station" on the Seibu Shinjuku Line or "Kawagoe Station" on the Tobu Tojo Line and JR Kawagoe Line, or use a bus
• Guideline for required time: 2 to 3 hours including strolling and meals
• Tips for travelers: Weekend daytimes are extremely crowded with tourists. A weekday on a rainy day is a hidden gem among hidden gems, where you can stroll leisurely without knowing crowds. Since your feet may get wet, don't forget to prepare easy-to-walk shoes and a folding umbrella.

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National Women's Education Center (NWEC)

Standing quietly in Ranzan Town, which could be called the inner parlor of Saitama Prefecture, is the national facility "National Women's Education Center (NWEC)." Not very well known, it is actually a hidden gem spot known only to those in the know, which general travelers can also use for free or at a low fee.

Within the vast grounds are maintained an archive and library housing valuable materials related to women's history and culture, and visiting on a quiet rainy day lets you settle down and savor the materials and exhibits thoroughly. Without thinking about it too seriously, please casually drop by as a "grown-up's tour of libraries and museums." Being able to have a set meal using local ingredients at the cafeteria within the facility is also one of the quiet pleasures.

The surrounding Ranzan Gorge is a scenic spot also called the "Arashiyama of the Kanto." A course of strolling a little through the gorge, where the greenery shines in the refreshing air after the rain, before visiting is also full of travel sentiment.

• Access: About 15 minutes on foot from "Musashi-Ranzan Station" on the Tobu Tojo Line, or using a taxi is convenient
• Guideline for required time: 1 to 2 hours
• Tips for travelers: You can visit without a prior reservation, but on days when training is being held, some areas may have usage restrictions. It is safe to check the opening status on the official website before visiting. Access by car is also good, and free parking is fully provided.

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Access Information

Saitama's rainy-day spots are facilities with convenient access by train.

• The Railway Museum: Directly connected to "Railway Museum (Onari) Station" on the New Shuttle. With a good location of just about 3 minutes from Omiya Station, you can casually visit on a day trip from the Tokyo direction as well.
• The Museum of Modern Art, Saitama: About 3 minutes on foot from the west exit of "Kita-Urawa Station" on the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line. Access is good, at about 30 minutes by train from Ueno Station. A nice point is that, being close to the station, the time spent holding an umbrella in the rain is kept to a minimum.
• Saitama Aquarium: The nearest station is "Hanyu Station" on the Chichibu Railway, but access by car is especially recommended. About 10 minutes from the "Hanyu IC" on the Tohoku Expressway, with free parking also fully provided.
• Kawagoe's Townscape: Access from the city center is also good, at about 30 minutes from Ikebukuro on the Tobu Tojo Line. With multiple lines running in, you won't have trouble with access from within and outside Saitama Prefecture.
• National Women's Education Center: The nearest station is "Musashi-Ranzan Station" on the Tobu Tojo Line. It is a bit of a distance, at about 50 minutes by express from Ikebukuro, but the extraordinary feeling of traveling while leisurely enjoying the view out the window is also one of the charms of this facility.