From Wikitravel

Saitama (さいたま) is the capital of Saitama prefecture in the Kanto region of Japan.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

JR Kanto Bus runs limousine bus service, the O N Liner, every hour from Narita Airport to and from the Saitama Shintoshin and Ōmiya train stations. The trip takes about two hours and costs ¥2750 each way. If you have a Japan Rail Pass or JR East Pass, you can make it to Ōmiya station in about the same time by taking the Narita Express to Tokyo and changing to the Tohoku/Joetsu Shinkansen.

From Haneda Airport you can take the Keikyu line to Shinagawa station and change to the JR Keihin-Tohoku line for the run to the Saitama area (80-90 minutes to Omiya, ¥1020). Hourly limousine buses also run to Ōmiya station (90 minutes, ¥1500).

[edit] By train

Saitama's Ōmiya Station (大宮駅) is a major train hub, connecting together the Tohoku Shinkansen and Joetsu Shinkansen lines, as well as the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line, JR Tohoku (Utsunomiya) Line, JR Saikyo Line, JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line and Tobu Noda Line.

Why do shinkansen trains travel from Tokyo to Omiya in nearly the same time as local trains? While bullet trains in the north are capable of speeds up to 275 km/h (165 mph), trains between Tokyo and Omiya are limited to 110 km/h (65 mph) due to residential noise restrictions.

• Just about all northbound shinkansen trains from Tokyo and Ueno stop at Ōmiya station, with the ride from Tokyo taking 25 minutes. On all services except the Hayate and Komachi, an unreserved seat costs ¥1580. If you have a Japan Rail Pass, and if time and space permits, you can reserve a seat beforehand (which normally costs ¥2800)... or just hop into an unreserved seat... all at no charge. Departures every 5-15 minutes.

• Regular trains on the Tohoku and Takasaki lines run from Ueno to Ōmiya in 25 minutes at a cost of ¥450. These trains make added stops at Saitama Shintoshin Station (さいたま新都心駅), near the Saitama Super Arena and the John Lennon Museum. Service every 10 minutes or less.

• The Keihin Tohoku Line is a local service connecting Ōmiya and Saitama Shintoshin to eastern Tokyo, including from Tokyo station (50 minutes, ¥540), Shinagawa (one hour, ¥620) and Kawasaki (75 minutes, ¥780). Service every 10 minutes or less.

• There is also service from western Tokyo to Ōmiya via the Saikyo Line and the Shonan-Shinjuku Line. Trains leave from Ikebukuro (25-35 minutes, ¥380), Shinjuku (30-40 minutes, ¥450) and Shibuya (30-40 minutes, ¥540). Service every 10 minutes or less.

• The Shonan-Shinjuku Line is also the best way of reaching Ōmiya from Yokohama (one hour, ¥890). Service runs every 10-20 minutes. Keihin-Tohoku Line local trains make the same run in 80-90 minutes, departing every 10 minutes or less.

• The Tobu Noda Line links Ōmiya station with Kasukabe (connection to the Tobu Isesaki Line), Kashiwa (connection to the JR Joban Line), and Funabashi (connection to the Keisei Line and JR Sobu Line).

[edit] Get around

[edit][add listing] See

• John Lennon Museum, [1]. Japanese Beatle fans are among the most rabid in the world, and this museum, the first of its kind, goes to prove it. Displays include instruments, hand-written lyrics, and other memorabilia. Be warned, though, that Yoko Ono exerts a strong influence on the museum: it's very much about John Lennon rather than the Beatles. The museum entrance is on the fourth floor of the Saitama Super Arena. Open daily from 11:00 to 18:00, closed on Tuesdays and during the New Years Holiday. Admission ¥1500/1000/500.
• Musashi no Ichinomiya Hikawa Jinja, one of the most important Shinto shrines in the Kanto area, claiming the history of more than two thousand years. Take the train to JR Omiya station, exit to the east, and keep walking until you come to the tree-lined street. This is the two-kilometer long entrance path to the shrine. Turn left and walk straight north until you reach Hikawa Jinja itself.
• Omiya Koen, one of Saitama's first modern parks. Right next to Hikawa Jinja and a relaxing place to eat lunch.
• Railway Museum (鉄道博物館), 3-47 Onaricho (Saitama New Shuttle Tetsudo-hakubutsukan Stn, one stop from JR Omiya), [2]. Open Wed-Mon 10 AM-6 PM. A must of rail buffs and great for kids, the museum features 36 engines on display (including Japan's first steam loco), train cab simulators, Japan's largest HO-gauge miniature railway and more. You can even eat your lunch in a restored dining car. ¥1000/500 adult/child.  edit

• Saitama Super Arena (さいたまスーパーアリーナ), [3]. A multi-configuration arena that can seat up to 37,000 people. Numerous shops, restaurants and attractions can be found within. A pedestrian walkway links the Saitama Shintoshin train station with the Super Arena.

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit][add listing] Eat

The Three Little Lambs is a delicious lamb shabu-shabu restaurant which also serves lamb sashimi or lamb yakiniku. With drinks you can have a delicious, filling meal for under 3000 yen.[4]

The kaiten sushi restaurant at Saitama Shintoshin Coccoon is not to be missed. Featuring amazing, fresh sushi and some of the best tuna salad rolls (not to mention the often missed-in-Japan "California Roll"), this is a great meal for any occasion.

[edit][add listing] Drink

• The King George Tavern B1F, Tokai Bldg, Omiya, tel. +81 4 8649 5040. A few minutes walk through the seedier side of Saitama from Omiya Station's East Exit. Turn right at the exit and then left down the brightly lit strip full of touts and hostesses in evening dresses. The King George is a way down on your right. This English-style pub is often full of expat English teachers, and hosts a lot of gigs and live events. Drinks are around ¥600.

• The HUB East Exit, Omiya. Walk out of the station and take your first left. Walk for about a half a KM until you will see the bar on your right. Every gaijin loves a Hub, and this one is arguably the best in the Kanto region, thanks to its massive interior and patio, as well as a non-smoking section that actually stays smoke-free.

[edit] Get out

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