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Saitama Sophia University
Alumni Association's 7th Walking Tour

2023年04月06日

In the spring season, let us learn about
Omiya's history and culture through a walking tour

"Omiya," the transportation and commercial center of Saitama Prefecture, is part of the highly prestigious Hikawa Shrine, the first shrine in Musashi Province, which has been revered as the "Grand Palace" since the Heian Period (794-1185). Our walking tour will cover the areas surrounding the Hikawa Shrine, Omiya Park, and Bonsai Village. We hope that the participants will enjoy and experience the history as well as culture of this unique area during our short tour.


1 Date: Saturday, May 13, 2023 (to be held irrespective of the weather)

2 Number of Participants: 25 (maximum)

3 Target Participants: Saitama Sophia Kai members, family and friends of members, and other Sophians

4 Meeting Place and Time
Meeting time: 10:00 at the ticket gate of JR Saitama-Shintoshin Station
 (Keihin-Tohoku, Utsunomiya, and Takasaki Lines)
Note: Shonan and Shinjuku Lines do not stop at Saitama-Shintoshin
Place and Time of Dispersal: Tobu Urban Park Line, Omiya Koen Station around 16:00 (for those who do not plan to attend the dinner party)

5 Walking Tour Itinerary
Saitama-Shintoshin Station ⇒ 5 min walk (Entrance of the approach gate: Ichi-no-Torii) ⇒ 15 min walk (Ni-no-Torii) ⇒ 15 min walk (San-no-Torii)⇒ 5 min walk (the Hikawa Shrine) [30 min stay] ⇒ 5 min walk for lunch (*Omura-an: Soba lunch) [60 min stay]
 Lunch will be served at 11:30 am, and everyone is requested to be present at the restaurant on time. Therefore, we recommend that you have an early breakfast.
⇒ 15 min walk (Manga Kaikan Museum) [30 min stay] ⇒ 20 min walk (Bonsai Art Museum) [30 min stay] ⇒ 10 min walk (Seiko-En) [15 min stay] ⇒ 10 min walk (Fuyoen) [15 min stay] ⇒ 5 min walk for dispersal (Tobu Urban Park Line, Omiya Koen Station) 

6 Walking Tour Highlights

1) Musashi Ichinomiya Hikawa Shrine
Most of you may know about this shrine. It is the head shrine of approximately 280 Hikawa shrines in the Kanto region. The shrine offers blessings for matchmaking and the fulfillment of love. It is believed to have been founded in ancient times as recorded in the Kojiki (Records of Ancient Matters) and Nihonshoki (Chronicles of Japan). During the reign of Emperor Shomu, it was honored as the "First Shrine of Musashi." Emperor Meiji made three visits to the shrine. Its 150th anniversary was celebrated in 2009.

2) Three Torii Gates
The Musashi Ichinomiya Hikawa Shrine has the longest approach to any shrine in Japan at around 2 km.
It has three torii gates as follows: Ichi-no-Torii, Ni-no-Torii, and San-no-Torii. Currently, the Ichi-no-Torii gate is undergoing earthquake proofing.
The second torii gate was donated and transferred from the Meiji Jingu Shrine. It is 13 meters high.

3) Omiya Park, Amusement Park, and Zoo
Established in 1885, this is Saitama Prefecture's first prefectural park with lush greenery. It has an area of approximately 350,000 sq m. It consists of a soccer field, official baseball stadium, swimming pool, archery range, gymnasium, bicycle racing track, and other sports facilities. In addition, it includes a small amusement park and free zoo. In spring, approximately 1,000 cherry blossom trees bloom simultaneously, thus attracting many viewers to the park.

4) Manga Kaikan
Constructed in 1966, this is Japan's first manga museum. It was built on the site of "Rakuten Residence," the residence of Kitazawa Rakuten (1876-1955), a cartoonist who laid the foundation of Japanese cartoons in his later years. The museum exhibits many of his satirical cartoons and Japanese paintings.

5) The Bonsai Art Museum
The Bonsai Art Museum, as a core facility for the promotion of bonsai culture, exhibits world-class bonsai masterpieces and promotes the art of bonsai both in Japan and abroad . It is also used as a facility to promote international exchange and interaction with bonsai enthusiasts through bonsai.

6) Seiko-En
Seiko-En is a historic bonsai garden that was set up in Edo during the Kaei era (1848-1854). Inside the garden, bonsai of various species are beautifully arranged in a three-dimensional form. Even those who have never experienced bonsai can get familiarized with it. The garden also offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy traditional and colorful bonsai specimens of various flowers and varieties of grass.

7. Expenses
 Lunch (Omura-an): Soba lunch of JPY 1,650 (drinks not included)
 The Bonsai Museum admission (group discount): JPY 100 for those aged 65 years and over and JPY 200 for those aged below 65 years
Recreational insurance: JPY 50
 The dinner party starts at 16:30 (for those who wish to join) Location: Kajiya Bunzo Omiya Nishiguchi Jack Building (tentative) on the 1st floor, a 5 min walk from Omiya Station, West Exit
Phone: 048-657-4131
Cost: approximately JPY 4,000 (unlimited drinks are included)


Applications and Deadlines
Please send an e-mail with your name, graduation year, faculty, and department to the below e-mail address of Saitama Sophia Kai by Friday, April 28, 2023.
Please send an e-mail with your name, year of graduation, faculty/department, names of accompanying participants, and confirmation of whether or not you will attend the dinner party by Friday, April 28, 2023 to the below e-mail address.
Any enquiries about this trip should be sent to the following public e-mail address of Saitama Sophia Kai.

Public e-mail address: saitamasophiakai[at]sophiakai.gr.jp
Please replace [at] in the email address with @

Written by
Seiichiro Oshima (graduated from the Faculty of Law, 1977)

Musashi Ichinomiya Hikawa Shrine

Musashi Ichinomiya Hikawa Shrine

Hikawa-Sndo Third Torii

Hikawa-Sndo Third Torii


Small Zoo in Omiya Park

Small Zoo in Omiya Park

Beautiful Cherry Blossoms in Omiya Park

Beautiful Cherry Blossoms in Omiya Park


Hikawa-sando Dango Shop

Hikawa-sando Dango Shop

Bonsai Museum of Art

Bonsai Museum of Art


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