Last reviewed: · Prices are approximate and for orientation only.
Overview of Saitama Prefecture (埼玉県)
Saitama Prefecture (埼玉県) is located in the Kanto region of Japan, with its prefectural capital at Saitama. Key sights and travel highlights across the prefecture include Kawagoe 'Little Edo' clay-walled warehouse district, Chichibu mountain shrines & Nagatoro river gorge, the Railway Museum in Omiya, and Omiya Bonsai Village.
How to get to Saitama Prefecture
30m from central Tokyo via JR Saikyo/Takasaki/Utsunomiya lines to Omiya, or 30–45m from Ikebukuro to Kawagoe (Tobu/Seibu) and Chichibu. Use our Shinkansen Fare & Route Calculator and JR Pass Value Helper to compare rail tickets and regional passes.
Signature local food in Saitama
When visiting cities across Saitama, look out for these regional specialties at station restaurants, markets, and local izakaya:
- Kawagoe sweet potato snacks & unagi (eel)
- Chichibu waraji katsu-don (pork cutlet) &くるみ (walnut) soba
- Soka senbei rice crackers
- Fukaya negi dishes
Best time to visit Saitama
October (3rd weekend) for Kawagoe Festival; late April–early May for Chichibu Hitsujiyama Park pink moss phlox (shibazakura); December 2–3 for Chichibu Night Festival.
All 40 cities & municipalities in Saitama Prefecture
Click any city below for its individual travel guide, demographics, rail access, food specialties, and nearby stops:
| City (Kanji) | Type / Status | Population | Area | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kawagoe 川越市 | Core city | 335,693 | 109.16 km² | City guide → |
| Kawaguchi 川口市 | Core city | 552,883 | 61.97 km² | City guide → |
| Gyōda 行田市 | City | 87,462 | 67.37 km² | City guide → |
| Chichibu 秩父市 | City | 69,139 | 577.69 km² | City guide → |
| Tokorozawa 所沢市 | Special city | 338,560 | 71.99 km² | City guide → |
| Hannō 飯能市 | City | 84,053 | 193.16 km² | City guide → |
| Kazo 加須市 | City | 67,862 | 59.40 km² | City guide → |
| Higashimatsuyama 東松山市 | City | 90,840 | 65.33 km² | City guide → |
| Sayama 狭山市 | City | 156,634 | 49.04 km² | City guide → |
| Hanyū 羽生市 | City | 56,820 | 58.55 km² | City guide → |
| Kōnosu 鴻巣市 | City | 119,768 | 67.49 km² | City guide → |
| Ageo 上尾市 | City | 222,479 | 45.55 km² | City guide → |
| Sōka 草加市 | Special city | 237,964 | 27.42 km² | City guide → |
| Koshigaya 越谷市 | Core city | 318,592 | 60.31 km² | City guide → |
| Warabi 蕨市 | City | 70,410 | 5.10 km² | City guide → |
| Toda 戸田市 | City | 118,591 | 18.17 km² | City guide → |
| Iruma 入間市 | City | 148,203 | 44.74 km² | City guide → |
| Asaka 朝霞市 | City | 126,902 | 18.38 km² | City guide → |
| Shiki 志木市 | City | 68,531 | 9.06 km² | City guide → |
| Wakō 和光市 | City | 78,575 | 11.04 km² | City guide → |
| Niiza 新座市 | City | 155,926 | 22.80 km² | City guide → |
| Okegawa 桶川市 | City | 74,703 | 25.26 km² | City guide → |
| Kuki 久喜市 | City | 71,667 | 25.35 km² | City guide → |
| Kitamoto 北本市 | City | 69,903 | 19.84 km² | City guide → |
| Yashio 八潮市 | City | 78,601 | 18.03 km² | City guide → |
| Fujimi 富士見市 | City | 105,286 | 19.70 km² | City guide → |
| Misato 三郷市 | City | 128,956 | 30.16 km² | City guide → |
| Hasuda 蓮田市 | City | 63,375 | 27.27 km² | City guide → |
| Sakado 坂戸市 | City | 99,680 | 40.97 km² | City guide → |
| Satte 幸手市 | City | 53,485 | 33.95 km² | City guide → |
| Tsurugashima 鶴ヶ島市 | City | 70,131 | 17.73 km² | City guide → |
| Hidaka 日高市 | City | 55,454 | 47.50 km² | City guide → |
| Yoshikawa 吉川市 | City | 63,050 | 31.62 km² | City guide → |
| Saitama さいたま市 | Designated major city | 1,324,854 | 217.49 km² | City guide → |
| Kumagaya 熊谷市 | Special city | 204,853 | 159.88 km² | City guide → |
| Kasukabe 春日部市 | Special city | 236,854 | 65.98 km² | City guide → |
| Fujimino ふじみ野市 | City | 103,724 | 14.67 km² | City guide → |
| Fukaya 深谷市 | City | 146,128 | 137.58 km² | City guide → |
| Honjō 本庄市 | City | 81,805 | 89.71 km² | City guide → |
| Shiraoka 白岡市 | City | 51,684 | 24.92 km² | City guide → |