10 Private Tours in Saitama Prefecture That You Shouldn't Miss

[Private Tour] Visit the historic town of Ogawamachi, also known as "Small Kyoto". Learn about traditional Japanese paper; washi and Japanese sake in Ogawamachi, a town built around a river, roughly an hour away from central Tokyo. Ogawa, meaning small river, is where the name of this town comes from, and the water of this river is what is used in creating Ogawamachi's washi and sake. The creation process of washi in this town is registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, and on this tour you will get the chance to try it yourself! You will also visit a sake brewing factory and a 100% locally produced and consumed craft beer shop where you can taste local drinks. Make sure to explore the old back streets of Ogawamachi that have stayed unchanged for centuries!

Inclusions: Tour Guide, Private tour, Necessary expenses for the tour guide

Exclusions: Travel expenses and entrance fees for your own, Money for food/drinks, souvenirs and extra activities for your own, Hotel pick-up and drop-off, The use of private van

Feel beautiful and relaxed from the inside out! otomo has created a tour, conducted in Saitama Prefecture, to make our guests feel relaxed and beautiful from the inside out. You will begin the tour with a visit to a herb garden. You can touch and smell the herbs and even try dishes that use herbs for seasoning. Herbal scents make us feel relaxed, and this tends to show in our expressions. After feeling refreshed and relaxed, move onto Tove Jansson Akebono Children's Forest Park which is a Moomin-themed park! Wander into the world of the Moomin family and their friends and take photos in unique locations and some hidden locations that your tour guide will show you. At the end of the tour, treat yourself to a delicious cheesecake.

Inclusions: Tour Guide, Private tour, Necessary expenses for the tour guide

Exclusions: Travel expenses and entrance fees for your own, Money for food/drinks, souvenirs and extra activities for your own, Hotel pick-up and drop-off, The use of private van

Hi, everyone. This is all of a sudden, do you know the Japanese culture? Are you interested? Why did I start "Kawagoe guide"? I was born in Kawagoe and spent 26 years here. Many travelers are intrigued by the architecture of the city but do not understand the history behind it. I will be pleased to guide you through the path of the past and we will have fun doing it. In fact, I played truant from English study. Instead of going to English classes, I would remain home and sleep.Haha However, I wanted to be a backpacker and travel to over 20 countries. So, I started to study English desperately. I had trouble speaking and understanding the local language however, I was taken care of abroad by the local people. It is now my turn to repay the kindness that was shown to me. Let's talk about Japan together.

Inclusions: Bottled water

Exclusions: Snacks

Try the local street food and visit a power spot as well. Nagatoro in Saitama Prefecture is famous for its beautiful canyon. The layered rock formations, known as iwadatami, show us the long history of this planet and the power of nature. On this tour you will enjoy a boat ride through the canyon, taking in its fantastic scenery. Your otomo tour guide will also take you to a museum where you can learn about Nagatoro's natural environment. They will translate anything you need to know if you need help! Make sure you make the most of the local food too - we recommend you try the fantastic shaved ice! The Hodosan Shrine you will be visiting is a great tourist destination and was given a star by the highly trusted Michilen Green Guide.

Inclusions: Tour Guide, Private Tour, Necessary expenses for the tour guide

Exclusions: Travel expenses and entrance fees for your own, Money for food/drinks, souvenirs and extra activities for your own, Hotel pick-up and drop-off, The use of private van

As a Couple you can purchase very Special Jade Eternity Twists.  Choose a Twist Design then select the your Special Jade stone.. Then see your your Eternity Twists take shape as Gordon carves them both into Reality, and Hand Polished to Perfection ( or you can choose to polish yourself.) - You go home with Special Treasures that you both personally saw created from the Jade Stone which will last a Lifetime together. Allow at least 9 hours or more for this Activity

Inclusions: Included is 2 Single Eternity Twists per couple., Green Tea / Coffee on request., Pick Up / Drop Off at JR Yoshikawa Station

Exclusions: Lunch Refreshments can be purchased from the Family Mart Convenience Store 50 meters from the Carving Studio, The listed price does not include any carving design above the value., Food and drinks, unless specified

Visit the holy ground of bonsai trees; Omiya Bonsai Village Time and effort is put into creating bonsai trees: an old Japanese art form of creating little trees in a container that mimic the shape and scale of large trees. When you look up through the small branches of the bonsai tree, you feel as if you have wandered into the forest. In the past, only people who owned a large number of bonsai trees could live in Omiya Bonsai Village. There is a bonsai museum, bonsai gardens and also a number of people who cherish the art of bonsai who still live in this area. On this tour your otomo tour guide will take you around the area on our recommended route and will translate conversations for you, so if you want to talk to the locals, fire away!

Inclusions: Tour Guide, Private tour, Necessary expenses for the tour guide

Exclusions: Travel expenses and entrance fees for your own, Money for food/drinks, souvenirs and extra activities for your own, Hotel pick-up and drop-off, The use of private van

Ancient graves, ancient craft and local cuisine. Yoshimi is a town located right in the center of Saitama Prefecture. On this tour you will be visiting a unique National Historic Site; the Yoshimi Hundred Caves. The caves are known to be ancient tomb graves from the Kofun Period (250-538 AD), and are just as exciting as visiting Egyptian pyramids! You can even walk through the caves to explore them. Another part of this tour is having a go at making an ancient craft. The lucky charm that you make here can be taken home as a souvenir of your trip. At the end of the tour, your otomo tour guide will introduce you to a delicious dish, using the local speciality; strawberries. You will not find a unique tour like this elsewhere!

Inclusions: Tour Guide, Private tour, Necessary expenses for the tour guide

Exclusions: Travel expenses and entrance fees for your own, Money for food/drinks, souvenirs and extra activities for your own, Hotel pick-up and drop-off, The use of private van

Use your five senses to enjoy Iruma's delicious tea! Sayama tea, produced in Saitama Prefecture, is one of the three famous teas of Japan, and is characterized by its richness in taste and deep bitterness. Be prepared to use your five senses to fully enjoy sayama tea on this tour! First of all, you will be taken to see the green carpet of the largest tea plantation in the Kanto region of Japan. Then you will head to the tea museum where you can see, touch and smell tea, and also learn about the history of tea, how sayama tea is made, and what makes it unique. You will not miss out on anything with the help of your personal translator; your otomo tour guide! Finally, taste the tea. Tasting tea flavored food is just as fun as drinking tea!

Inclusions: Tour Guide, Private tour, Necessary expenses for the tour guide

Exclusions: Travel expenses and entrance fees for your own, Money for food/drinks, souvenirs and extra activities for your own, Hotel pick-up and drop-off, The use of private van

Fly a plane and experience different gravities on simulators! Tokorozawa, located in the Southwest of Saitama Prefecture, is the birthplace of Japanese airplanes. Leave the town feeling like a doctor of airplanes! On this tour you will be visiting Tokorozawa Aviation Museum where you will learn all about the aviation history along with how airplanes fly, and also experience flight and gravity simulators. Tokorozawa is also famous for beef. Your otomo tour guide will take you to a place where you can taste this delicious beef, ranked A5. Finally, visit a Japanese garden and enjoy a cup of Japanese tea with sayama tea leaves, another thing Saitama is famous for, in a tea house. Do not miss this tour great for both adults and kids!

Inclusions: Tour Guide, Private tour, Necessary expenses for the tour guide

Exclusions: Travel expenses and entrance fees for your own, Money for food/drinks, souvenirs and extra activities for your own, Hotel pick-up and drop-off, The use of private van

International architectural styles in Kawagoe's historical Coedo Town. Kawagoe, with its streets filled with traditional houses and old warehouses, is a popular place for those who wish to experience the history of Japan. This impressive town not only has Japanese style architecture, but it is also a place where you can enjoy beautiful, retro-looking Western style architecture as well. We recommend you bring your camera to capture this interesting townscape, with its mix of architectural styles. We also recommend you visit in the evening/late afternoon when other tourists have started to leave and the town is calmer and more peaceful. If you are at all interested in architecture or photography, this tour is not one to miss!

Inclusions: Tour Guide, Private Tour, Necessary expenses for the tour guide

Exclusions: Travel expenses and entrance fees for your own, Money for food/drinks, souvenirs and extra activities for your own, Hotel pick-up and drop-off, The use of private van