The 10 Best Cultural Tours in Saitama Prefecture, Kanto

[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

Join fellow adventurous baseball fans September 12-19 as we attend games at all five Tokyo-area ballparks of Nippon Professional Baseball, Japan's major leagues. We have been operating baseball tours in Japan since 1999 and believe that the best way to experience a new culture is by attending a sporting event. You'll feel like a local as we take the train to the ballpark and cheer along with the home team's frenzied fans. And you will have the option to attend a professional sumo wrestling tournament too! Taking in a game in Japan, where baseball is the national sport, is an unforgettable experience. You recognize the field - the green grass, the dimensions, the outfield wall - but that's about it! The rabid fans and unique style of play make attending a baseball game a not-to-be-missed experience for any visitor to Japan. NOTE: Dates are not flexible. We are only offering one tour that starts September and ends September 19.

Inclusions: Dinner, Lunch, Baseball Game Tickets for Five (5) Games, Accommodation - Hotel for Seven (7) Nights, Transportation to and from all official tour activities.

Exclusions: Airfare to and from Japan

A local guide who knows Kawagoe well will guide you with strong love for the region. This tour takes you to the highlights of Kawagoe's sightseeing such as Time bell tower, Old storehouse street and Candy Lane. Furthermore, we could let you know the charms of Kawagoe by local views. At first, let’s toast with a cup of Japanese sake at Koedo Kurari which is a sake experience spot. There are variety of Sake from the prefecture. And you can choose your favorite one at the modern vending machine. Then, the tour visits a local shrine and experience Shinto style customs a little. Let’s walk around Kawagoe's backstreets like locals. When we arrive at the famous old storehouse street, we will be surprised by its well-balanced street that it is unified by old style buildings with a black plastered wall. During the tour you can understand the present days and the old days of Japan's ordinally life. Because this is a historical merchant town, "Kawagoe". .

Inclusions: English speaking guide

Exclusions: Lunch

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

We will visit Kawagoe, a small city close to Tokyo, also called "the little Edo". Feel free to send a message or to visit our website, if you want to book this tour on another day. This name is refering to the historic area of the city. Wellknown for its festival the third weekend of october, this city welcome the Edo period lovers.

Inclusions: Transport by train, Air-conditioned vehicle

Exclusions: Hotel drop-off, Hotel pickup, Food and drinks

Let's visit Ogawamachi to make your own Washi paper (traditional Japanese paper) and visit a historical sake brewery.

Inclusions: English-speaking tour assistant, Hotel pick-up, Washi making experience, Sake brewery tour and sake tasting, Taxi fare in the tour

Exclusions: Lunch fee, Hotel drop-off, Train fare in the tour

Take pleasure in a Bonsai tour in Omiya, well known as the hometown of Bonsai! Experience Japanese Bonsai culture and get a touch of how Bonsai works. Regular: 8:30AM Hotel pick up 9:30AM Arrive at Toro station 9:45AM-11:00AM Omiya Bonsai Museum 11:00AM – 12:30PM Bonsai village 12:30PM Drop off at Omiya Park Station or Toro Station. For people who want to stroll around the Bonsai village a little longer will end the tour there. Underground Discharge Channel viewing option: Morning: Same as the Sample Itinerary. 12:30 ~1:20 PM Lunch~Visit the Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel (3-4PM)~ 6:00 PM Arrive at hotel in Tokyo Bonsai Master’s Home Visit option: You can choose this option if you would like to hear personal stories from Bonsai craftsmen and Masters in Japan, and have the opportunity to ask various questions. 10:00 AM Go to the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum ~Omiya Bonsai Village Walking~ Visit to Bonsai Master’s Home 4:00 PM Tour ends at Toro Station

Inclusions: Tour assistant, Hotel pickup (excluding Tour plus Master Craftsman Visit)

Exclusions: Lunch, Train fare

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

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

Truly beautiful and elegant Japanese dolls and great local food. Iwatsuki, a town which produces more Japanese dolls than anywhere else in Japan, is located to the east of Saitama city, and is known as the Town of Dolls. Japanese dolls are artistically valuable for their gentle features and beautiful costumes. On this tour you will see Japanese dolls from every decade of the past 400 years, and also get the chance to make your own doll! With your otomo tour guide to help you with translating, you can choose your favorite color and pattern for the kimono to dress your doll in. Do not forget to try Iwatsuki's local soul food; tofu ramen as well. The local restaurant you will be visiting on this tour became famous for serving the best tofu ramen in Saitama.

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