Things to do in Saitama Prefecture, Kanto: The Best Sightseeing Tours

[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

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

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

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

On this full-day group tour, you'll start with a brief introduction and history of green tea. You will then have the opportunity to pick the tea and make your own green tea with your just-harvested leaves. Along with your freshly brewed green tea, you will get to enjoy green tea leaf tempura! After this special green tea experience, your tour escort will take you on a stroll around Kawagoe with your group. Kawagoe is one of the historical towns near Tokyo, known as Little Edo. Here, you can enjoy local snacks and beer. There will be a maximum of 10 people per group.

Inclusions: English-speaking tour escort, Transportation, Green Tea picking, Green tea leaf tempura, Coffee and/or Tea

Exclusions: Lunch, Admission, Personal expense (food, beverages, souvenir), Hotel pick-up/drop-off

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

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

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

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