HOLY JOMON SITE
Musashi-Ichinomiya, Hikawa Jinja Shrine, Saitama city
⇁50 minutes drive from Tokyo, 1 hour by train
Until the end of Edo era (1603-1868), Tokyo and Saitama and part of Kanagawa were one province called Musashi-no-kuni. Hikawa Jinja area (Omiya) was the center of Kanto region (Greater Tokyo Area) in Jomon era.
Hikawa Jinja has a history of over 2400 years and has 290 branches mainly in Kanto region.
Enjoy walking along the longest approach of Japanese zelkova to the shrine. Hikawa jinja is surrounded by Omiya park (popular site for 1000 cherry blossom trees) and 1250ha Minuma tambo (rice fields) which used to be a marsh district of rice and agricultural products in Edo era.
World famous Bonsai village is in its neighborhood.
Traditional style fancy Japanese restaurants and local farmer’s restaurants using fresh off the farm and Hikawa brewery are among our recommendations.
Omiya Bonsai Village, Saitama-city
Omiya Bonsai Village was formed in 1925 when bonsai nurseries and gardeners escaped from central Tokyo area seriously affected by Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923.
There are six major bonsai nurseries in the village in addition to the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, the first public bonsai art museum in the world opened in 2010.
Annual bonsai festival is held from May 3 to 5th where many bonsai lovers gather from all over Japan.
The village scape was formed according to bonsai gardeners where cherry blossoms trees, maples, willow and Japanese zelkova streets reflect four seasons beauty together with local residences beautiful gardens.
Visitation of bonsai nurseries and museums, meeting with a bonsai master, experience tea ceremony at the Bonsai House of Four Seasons are some of the highlights of Omiya Bonsai Village tour.
Hikawa Jinja Shrine 
Omiya Bonsai Art Museum