Saitama Prefecture is located in the middle of the Kanto Plains,with the abundant nature of Musashino and the Kanto-mountains lying to the southwest. There are fertile land and forests,through which rivers flow,and different flowers bloom throughout the year. You can also see the traditional culture traced far back to ancient times,and feel the atmosphere of old Musashino through the beautiful nature still remaining even in the urban area. 

Major areas: Chichibu
Faith in the bodhisattva Kannnon has deep roots in Japan, and one of its expressions is making a pilgrimage on foot to a series of Kannon temples. Making that "journey for two --- walking with Kannon" is still a popular act of devotion that draws many pilgrims to Chichibu's 34 Kannon temples. While covering the full route takes six to ten days on foot and two to four by car, electing to visit a smaller group of temples in one or two days can provide a satisfying glimpse of the pilgrimage experience and the beauties of Chichibu.

Kawagoe area
Dating back to the mid-15th century, the castle town of Kawagoe, during the Edo period (1603-1867), had been under the reign of powerful feudal lords as a vital defense point for Edo. While most of the castle structures were dismantled during the Meiji period (late 19th century), the stately entrance and main hall of Honmaru Goten, built in 1848, have survived. Within hailing distance is the City Museum designed to introduce virtually everything about Kawagoe through valuable artifacts, exhibits, scale models and audio-visual presentations. In Kawagoe, merchants once vied in lively competition with each other to build kurazukuri houses.(Kurazukuri --- or warehouse-style architecture --- was developed for merchants in old Edo to create fireproof structures able to survive conflagrations which often left neighboring wooden structures in ashes.) Once you are in the area, you should visit the Kitain temple, that is dated back to 830.
The most important site to visit in Saitama area is Hirakawa Shrine.It is one of Japan's oldest shrines dating back some 2,400 yearsk, the shrine has long been revered by the Imperial family, shoguns and feudal lords of old as well as the general populace. Proceeding along the 2-km-long approach, an impressive vermilion tower-gate looms into sight, with several other stately structures behind it. The ajacent Omiya Park is an oasis for the local residents, dotted with the prefectural museum and recreational/sports facilities. The park comes alive with visitors in early April when some 1,200 cherry trees burst into bloom.
The geology of Nagatoro is typified by exposed terraces of chlorite schist, a type of crystalline schist. Manyother types of schist formations are found in the area and are known collectively as Nagatoro metamorphic rocks. Seen from above, the schist terraces or "tatami stones" look like tatami mats; they have been designated as a national Natural Monument. The opposite wall of the gorge is the Nagatoro Red Wall, named after the famous Red Wall cliffs of China.
For experiencing the beautiful nature, you can also visit the Nagatoro Area.
The best way to see these natural wonders is to ride one of the boats, "yakata-bune", that run downstream through the gorge. The trip through the rapids in a small boat, its captain at the helm, is an unforgettable thrill. The passage through the rapids is in two segments, from Oyahana Bridge to Nagatoro and Nagatoro to Takasago Bridge; in total they cover 6 km and take about 60 minutes.