Saitama Prefecture is Tokyo's underrated northern neighbor — a landlocked prefecture where the Edo-period streets of Kawagoe, the world's largest railway museum collection, bonsai gardens tended for a century, and the moss-phlox hills of Chichibu sit within an hour of the capital, all at a fraction of Tokyo's crowds and prices.
Top spas
Curated picks for treatments and day spas.
Seibu Chichibu Ekimae Onsen Matsuri no Yu
A large onsen facility built right beside Seibu-Chichibu Station and themed around the city's famous float festivals.
Chichibu Onsen Mangan no Yu
A day-use hot spring near Nagatoro with an open-air bath positioned directly in front of Mangan Falls.
Natural Hot Spring Seine-no-Yu
A natural hot spring in Nagatoro with a free station shuttle, popular for a soak after river rafting on the Arakawa.
Kamenoi Hotel Nagatoro Yorii Onsen
A hotel hot spring on the edge of Nagatoro with open views across the Chichibu mountains, open to day-use visitors.
Musashino Kenko Land
A large public bathhouse complex in Urawa with an extensive sauna and multi-bath setup popular with locals.
Saitama Mihashi Onsen
A genuine natural hot spring in western Saitama City, drawn from a source 1,500 meters underground.
Wellness retreats
Multi-day immersive experiences.
Nagatoro Arakawa Riverside Self-Guided Wellness Walk
A self-guided riverside walk along Nagatoro's Iwadatami rock shelf, an easy pairing with a hot spring soak afterward.
Where: Nagatoro, Chichibu District
Wellness travel tips
Get the most from your wellness experience.
Book treatments in advance — popular slots fill up quickly during peak season.
Hydrate well before and after treatments, especially massages and saunas.
Communicate any allergies or skin sensitivities before treatments begin.