2025 Asaka Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in May)

Izumo Taisha Saitama Branch in Asaka City, Saitama Prefecture. Founded as Arafune Shrine, it has been worshiping Okuninushi-no-Mikoto as the only Izumo Taisha in Saitama Prefecture since receiving a branch of the deity from Soshi (Izumo Taisha) in 1983. It is a 5-minute walk from Asaka Station on the Tobu Tojo Line. Izumo Taisha Saitama Branch is located in a residential area. I visited around 11:00 on a weekday, and there were several people there. I received a goshuin (stamp)💰 (price: ¥1000) and a matchmaking thread💰 (price: ¥1500). There were several types of goshuin, and many amulets and fortune-telling slips. The warm atmosphere made it very comfortable. I was also impressed by the strong shimenawa. Izumo Taisha is far away and difficult to visit, so I'm very happy to have found it nearby. You can get a lot of power, so please visit it. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 📍Spot name: Izumo Taisha Saitama Branch 2-20-18 Honmachi, Asaka City, Saitama Prefecture 351-0011 ☎️048-463-3720 🚃 5 minutes walk from Asaka Station on the Tobu Tojo Line #Domestic travel journal #Shrine #Shrine tour #Saitama

In two weeks, Tokyo will be transformed into a sea of pink, creating picture-perfect scenes straight out of a Japanese drama. According to the latest forecast, the first bloom will be on March 28, and the full bloom will be on April 2. Today, we recommend three prime cherry blossom viewing routes in Tokyo. You can choose the route that best suits your hotel location. Route 1: Ueno-Asakusa Area Kitanomaru Park 🌸 Ueno Park 🌸 Sensō-ji Temple 🌸 Sumida Park 🌸 Tokyo Skytree Route 2: Tokyo Tower Area Yoyogi Park 🌸 Omotesando 🌸 Meiji Jingu Gaien National Garden 🌸 Kitanomaru Park 🌸 Shiba Park 🌸 Tokyo Tower Route 3: Shinjuku Area Shinjuku Central Park 🌸 Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden 🌸 Yoyogi Park 🌸 Shibuya Sky 🌸 Meguro River Night Cherry Blossoms Spot Introduction 1. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden: With approximately 70 varieties and 900 cherry blossom trees, different species bloom in succession, resulting in a longer viewing period. 2. Tokyo Station Yaesu Exit: Located in Yaesu 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, and Nihonbashi 2-3-chome, this is a 500-meter cherry blossom avenue in the Nihonbashi area. 3. Ueno Park: A long-established cherry blossom viewing spot in Tokyo, close to museums and the zoo, suitable for family outings. 4. Inokashira Park: Selected as one of Japan's top 100 cherry blossom viewing spots, perfect for enjoying the blossoms from a boat. 5. Sumida Park: A popular spot with a traditional downtown atmosphere. 6. Shioiri Park: Offers views of the Tokyo Skytree, less crowded, ideal for avoiding the crowds. 7. Meguro River: Voted by the Japanese as a "must-go" cherry blossom viewing spot, the 3.8 km riverbank is lined with over 800 cherry trees. 8. Chidorigafuchi: One of Japan's most popular cherry blossom viewing spots, boating is the most popular way to enjoy the blossoms. 9. Hibiya Park: Conveniently located, perfect for cherry blossom viewing and picnics. Travel Tips ✔ Changes in diet and environment during international travel can cause discomfort. Dress warmly and bring necessary medications. ✔ Be aware of mosquitoes and other insects when viewing cherry blossoms outdoors. ✔ Please follow the rules and regulations to protect the cherry blossoms. ✔ If the cherry blossoms have already withered, consider visiting higher-altitude areas like Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi, or the Hokuriku region of Honshu, where the blossoms bloom later.

Toyokawa Inari Shrine 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃 This shrine is located in Higashi-Benzai, Asaka City, at the Benzai-zakashita intersection. It is a small site, but there is an Inari shrine at the back. There is also a small shrine on the left. The history and founding are unknown. On the right, there is a row of Koshin towers with the year 1871 engraved on them, Enmei Jizo statues, and Bato Kannon statues. Although it is small in scale, it is a magnificent Koshin tower! ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ ••┈┈┈┈ ••✼ ꕥShrine name: Toyokawa Inari Shrine ꕥAddress: 2-1 Higashibenzai, Asaka City, Saitama Prefecture ꕥAccess: 🚉 Asakadai Station → approx. 11-minute walk ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈ ••✼ #0 yen travel autumn #Asaka city #shrine #shrine tour

Mizonuma Hikawa Shrine 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃 A shrine located near the Kurome River in Mizonuma, Asaka City. It is said to have been founded during the Kanbun era (1661-1673). Around that time, when a villager was plowing a field, he discovered a stone with the words "Jirui Gongen" carved into it. The local lord, Nakayama Kanzaburo, founded a shrine to worship Jirui Gongen on the grounds that this place, which was called "Inariyama," had once been the site of a shrine. At the time, it was called Jirui Shrine, but in 1907, it was renamed Hikawa Shrine after the Hikawa Shrine on the grounds was enshrined there. ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ ••┈┈┈┈ ••✼ ꕥShrine name: Mizonuma Hikawa Shrine ꕥAddress: 6-23-1 Mizonuma, Asaka City, Saitama Prefecture ꕥAccess: 🚉 Asakadai Station → approx. 18 minutes walk ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈ ••✼ #0 yen travel autumn #Asaka city #shrine #shrine tour

Takabatake Inari Shrine 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃 This shrine is located in Negishidai, Asaka City, and is located near the Negishidai 4th Division intersection. As it is an intersection, it is a place with a lot of traffic. Details such as its history and founding are unknown. When I went to the site, it was locked and I couldn't enter. I was allowed to see it from outside and then worshiped. There was a pair of fox statues in front of the main shrine, and a stone monument next to it marked the copper torii gate that was dedicated in 1991. I walked there from Shinkura Hikawa Hachiman Shrine, and along the way, there is Shinyashiki Green Space, a pleasant place where you can walk while listening to the sound of flowing water. I also recommend this place. ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ ••┈┈┈┈ ••✼ ꕥShrine name: Takabatake Inari Shrine ꕥAddress: 4-3-9 Negishidai, Asaka City, Saitama Prefecture ꕥAccess: 🚉 Asaka Station → approx. 16 minutes walk ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈ ••✼ #0 yen travel autumn

Izumo Taisha Saitama Branch Shrine ⛩️ 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃 The only Izumo Taisha in Saitama Prefecture. The shrine was built by receiving a branch of the spirit from Izumo Taisha in Shimane Prefecture. The main shrine building, which was rebuilt in 2020, is adorned with a magnificent large shimenawa rope measuring approximately 5m in length. The deity worshipped is, of course, Okuninushi no Mikoto. A copper deity called "Migawari Okuninushi" is enshrined in the precincts. It is said to bring luck in love and good fortune, and to soothe parts of the body that feel uncomfortable or are of concern by stroking them. The original pattern of the Saitama branch is also a must-see. The design features clouds drawn in the shape of a hexagon, which represents a connection to the sacred crest of Izumo Taisha Shrine in Shimane Prefecture, the double hexagonal sword and diamond pattern. The design is called Sainotama. ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ ꕥShrine name: Izumo Taisha Saitama Branch ꕥAddress: 2-20-18 Honmachi, Asaka City, Saitama Prefecture ꕥAccess: 🚉 Asaka Station → 7 minutes walk ꕥVisiting hours: ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ #0 yen travel autumn #shrine #shrine tour #shrines and temples #shrine visit #Izumo Taisha

Tenmei Inari Shrine in Asaka, Saitama Prefecture 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃 The shrine that is said to be the living deity of Yanagisawa Seigoro. The origins of the shrine lie in the fact that an ancestor of the Yanagisawa family found the remains of a white fox in the forest and set up a shrine as a memorial for the fox. Yanagisawa Seigoro sold the land, but after receiving a prophecy, he took it back and named it "Tenmei Inari Shrine" in 1916. Takahashi Genzaemon, who took it back, later became a priest! A small shrine located next to a residential area. There are many torii gates lined up on the approach to the shrine. Because it is an Inari shrine, there are many fox statues. Some are jumping and some are humorous! The flower water basin is also pretty and beautiful. And above all, the chief priest was very kind and made me feel at ease. ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ ꕥShrine name: Tenmei Inari Shrine ꕥAddress: 3-2-17 Miyato, Asaka City, Saitama Prefecture ꕥAccess 🚌🚏Kita-Asaka Station → 🚏Hozoji Temple → About 5 minutes walk ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ #Sakura2024 #SaitamaTourism #Shrines and Temples #ShrineTour #ShrineVisit

Miyato Shrine in Asaka City, Saitama Prefecture 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃 Five deities are enshrined here, including Menashi, known as the god of handsome men, Izanagi, Izanami, Inakuratama, and Takara Tamatarehime. The founding date is unknown. It is said that the shrine was founded after the Genroku period (1688-1704), when the former Miyato village was divided into upper and lower villages, and was established as a separate shrine for Zao Gongensha in the main village! There is a torii gate ⛩ on a side street of Miyatobashi Street, and as soon as you pass through it, you will come to stone steps. The shrine grounds are located a little higher. As you go up the stone steps, you will find the Chikaraishi 🪨, Yakuwariishi, and sacred tree nearby. There were hardly any people around, but it was a well-maintained shrine with many shrines within the grounds! ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ ꕥShrine name: Miyato Shrine ꕥAddress: 4-3-1 Miyato, Asaka City, Saitama Prefecture ꕥAccess 🚌🚏Kita-Asaka Station → 🚏Hozoji Temple → About 2 minutes walk ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ #Sakura2024 #Shrine visit #Shrine tour #Shrines and temples #Saitama sightseeing

Uchimaki Shrine in Asaka City, Saitama Prefecture 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃 This shrine has been called Juden Gongensha. The founding date is unknown. It was a branch shrine of Zao Gongensha, which was enshrined in Shimouchimaki Village after the Genroku period (1688-1704). In 1873, it was ranked as a village shrine and renamed Uchimaki Shrine. Going further down the long and narrow approach, there are stone steps, and the worship hall is located on a slight hill. To the right of the worship hall are the precincts of Benten Shrine and Inari Shrine. The two large sacred trees beside the stone steps are impressive! ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ ꕥShrine name: Uchimaki Shrine ꕥAddress: 443 Uchimaki, Asaka City, Saitama Prefecture ꕥAccess 🚌🚏Asaka Station East Exit → 🚏Uchimaki Sanzai → Approximately 2 minutes walk ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ #Sakura2024 #Saitama Tourism #Shrines and Temples #Shrine Tour #Shrine Visit

Tajima Shinmei Shrine in Asaka, Saitama Prefecture 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃 This shrine was enshrined as the guardian deity of the Tajima area, and the date of its founding is unknown. In the Meiji era, it was enshrined with Hikawa Shrine in Hamasaki, but the long-standing wishes of the residents were fulfilled. In 1956, Hikawa Shrine returned the deity enshrined at Shinmei Shrine, and it was rebuilt. It is located north-northeast of Asaka Station. This shrine's eye-catching vermilion roof in the Shinmei style is a must-see. It is a very quiet place, but there are many shrines within the grounds, including Inari Shrine, Akiba Shrine, Yasaka Shrine, Mitake Shrine, and Haruna Shrine. ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ ꕥShrine name: Tajima Shinmei Shrine ꕥAddress: 2-7-224 Tajima, Asaka City, Saitama Prefecture ꕥAccess 🚌🚏Asaka Station East Exit → 🚏Hana no Ki → 4 minute walk ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ #Sakura2024 #Shrine visit #Shrine tour #Shrines and temples #Saitama sightseeing

#thingstodo It had a luxurious feel and was very beautiful! It was great to have a way out even when the Christmas market was crowded. I forgot to take a photo of the FOOD, but the SKOOKUM sausage that was in the SETOUCHI store was expensive but extremely delicious🌟It's worth eating, it's there!! ️ The mushroom soup at BAKE STORE was also quite delicious and my child begged for a refill 😂 lol There was a lot of alcohol, but when I entered the building, there was a Starbucks, so kids could have drinks too.

The streets were decorated with Christmas lights and it was really beautiful. I had a great time going for a walk with my family.