What to know
Saitama (さいたま) is a major city just half an hour by train north of Tokyo. It was formed in 2001 through the merger of Urawa, Omiya, and other municipalities.
Primarily a residential city, over a million of its residents commute to Tokyo for work. This makes Omiya Station a major train hub, serving the Tohoku and Joetsu Shinkansen lines plus many suburban trains, ranking among the busiest stations in the Kanto Region.
While not a typical tourist hotspot, Saitama offers attractions like the Railway Museum and Omiya Bonsai Village, a leading district for bonsai cultivation and display.
