Omiya, Urawa, Konosu Travel Guides

The Omiya, Urawa, and Konosu areas offer tourist attractions such as Saitama Super Arena, Tobu Zoo, and the Railway Museum; sightseeing events such as the Tatara Festival, Minami-Koshigaya Awa Odori Dance, and Todabashi Fireworks Festival; and local delicacies such as Saika no Gem, Soka Senbei, and Gokebou.

Omiya, together with Urawa and Yono, makes up Saitama City. Because of its convenient transportation access, many people visit the city not only from within Saitama Prefecture but also from Tochigi and Gunma prefectures. The population is concentrated around Omiya Station, with the east exit lined with department stores, department stores, movie theaters, and other facilities. The west exit also has many restaurants and commercial facilities.

Kawaguchi has the second largest population after Saitama City, and because it is adjacent to Tokyo across the Arakawa River, it is known as a bedroom community with a forest of high-rise apartment buildings. Soka, also adjacent to Tokyo, is an area with a rapidly growing population.

Omiya is also an office town, and as such, there are an abundance of restaurants open for lunch. Omelettes and pasta are especially popular in the hideaway café restaurants.

There are also Japanese restaurants that have been around for a long time, so all types of people can be satisfied. Kawaguchi has a wide variety of fashionable sweets stores, so enjoy cakes, macaroons, and other sweets with coffee or tea.

When talking about gourmet foods in Soka, Soka senbei cannot be missed. Soka senbei has a long history dating back to the Edo period, and today there are more than 70 Soka senbei stores.

At Hikawa Shrine in Omiya, a bonfire is lit from November 30 to December 10 to pray for good health, and a samba carnival is held in front of Omiya Station during the Omiya Summer Festival.

On December 12, a market called "Twelfth Street" is held at Suwata Shrine, where many stalls are lined up. The Tatara Festival is held every August in Kawaguchi, attracting many tourists with portable shrines, stalls, and a fireworks display, and the Okame Market held at Kawaguchi Shrine in December is also very lively.

Hikawa Shrine, a 10-minute walk from Kitaomiya Station, is the head shrine of Hikawa Shrines in Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture. The camphor trees surrounding the main hall are sacred trees and are known as a power spot. Omiya Park is home to many cherry trees and has been selected as one of the 100 best cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan. Bonsai Village is an area formed by bonsai vendors and has many bonsai gardens.