A place where the city meets the countryside
Saitama Prefecture is close to Tokyo, but it has an abundance of nature. The prefectural capital is Saitama City which serves as a popular bedroom town for Tokyo. The city is known for its sunny weather and comfortable livability, but inland areas can become extremely hot due to sea breezes warmed by urban areas and the foehn phenomenon.
Eiichi Shibusawa, a businessman active from the Meiji to Showa periods and whose portrait has been chosen for the new 10,000 yen bill, was born in Saitama Prefecture. There are several historical sites related to Eiichi Shibusawa dotted around the prefecture, where you can discover the rich history of the area.
Iwatsuki Ningyo (doll)
Iwatsuki Ningyo are Japanese dolls made in Iwatsuki Ward, Saitama City. They are characterised by their lovely round faces with large heads and eyes. Raw silk is also used for their shiny hair, which closely resembles human hair. Hina dolls and May dolls are still made here.
Hiyajiru Udon（Udon noodles in cold soup）
This local dish is made by mixing sesame and miso with a mortar and pestle, adding condiments such as cucumber, shiso, and myoga, pouring water into the chilled soup, and adding udon. The refreshing taste is especially delicious in the hot summer months.
Miso Potato
A specialty of the Chichibu region, this dish is made by coating steamed potatoes in batter, deep frying them in oil (tempura), then dipping them in a sweet and spicy miso sauce. It is consumed as snacks or nibbles with alcohol, and is also popular as a gourmet food to be eaten while walking around.
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