Name: Saitama
Address: JP

Saitama Prefecture is Tokyo's underrated northern neighbor — a landlocked prefecture where the Edo-period streets of Kawagoe, the world's largest railway museum collection, bonsai gardens tended for a century, and the moss-phlox hills of Chichibu sit within an hour of the capital, all at a fraction of Tokyo's crowds and prices.

Cultural orientation

Essential context for travellers.

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Do's and don'ts

Quick guide to local norms.

Do

Bow slightly when greeting — a small nod is sufficient for casual visitor interactions
Remove shoes when entering a temple hall, traditional restaurant, or any space with a shoe rack at the entrance
Carry cash — smaller shops in Kawagoe's Kashiya Yokocho and Chichibu's Nakamise street are often cash-only
Queue in the marked lines on train platforms and let passengers exit before boarding
Time a visit around the Kawagoe Matsuri (October) or Chichibu Yomatsuri (December) for the most authentic look at local culture
Ask permission before photographing individuals, especially bonsai gardeners or festival participants in traditional dress

Don't

Do not touch or climb on festival floats (dashi) at Kawagoe Matsuri or Chichibu Yomatsuri
Do not talk loudly on your phone inside train carriages
Do not leave tips at restaurants or bars — tipping is not practised in Japan and can cause confusion
Do not eat while walking through the historic Kurazukuri streets of Kawagoe — it's considered inconsiderate in traditional shopping districts
Do not touch bonsai trees at Omiya Bonsai Village gardens without explicit staff permission
Do not block station exits or escalators — stand to one side to let others pass

Etiquette by setting

How to navigate everyday situations.

Useful phrases

A few words go a long way.

Sumimasen

Excuse me / I'm sorry — use to get attention or apologise

Arigatou gozaimasu

Thank you very much (formal)

Ikura desu ka?

How much does this cost?

Eki wa doko desu ka?

Where is the station?

Otearai wa doko desu ka?

Where is the toilet?

Eigo ga wakarimasu ka?

Do you speak English?

Menyu wo misete kudasai

Please show me the menu

Okaikei kudasai

The bill/check, please

Religion & spirituality

Understanding faith in Saitama.

Context

Items:

Religion
Shinto
Presence
Dominant. Musashi Ichinomiya Hikawa Shrine in Omiya is the historic head shrine of the former Musashi Province and the origin point of roughly 280 Hikawa shrines across the Kanto region.
Religion
Buddhism
Presence
Significant, especially in Kawagoe. Kita-in Temple, a Tendai Buddhist complex founded in 830, houses the only surviving structures of the original Edo Castle and the famous Gohyaku Rakan — 538 individually carved stone disciple statues completed between 1782 and 1825.
Religion
Festival-centered folk practice
Presence
Community float festivals such as the Kawagoe Matsuri and Chichibu Yomatsuri blend Shinto shrine ritual with secular civic celebration and remain the most visible expression of local religious custom for visitors.

Cultural orientation

Do's and don'ts

Do

Don't

Etiquette by setting

Useful phrases

Religion & spirituality

Related topics