Hello to everyone watching Cool Japan Video—nice to meet you! This is Ina Town Tourism Association. Ina Town, Kitaadachi District, Saitama Prefecture, sits in the central-eastern part of Saitama Prefecture and boasts a beautiful natural environment. Known as the Rose Town, it attracts many visitors to the prefecture’s largest rose garden. Leave the city’s noise behind and enjoy a leisurely pace—Cool Japan Video brings you recommended sightseeing information for Ina Town in Saitama Prefecture. Thank you for watching! [Access from Tokyo to Ina Town, Saitama Prefecture] ▼ By car From central Tokyo, you can reach Ina Town in Saitama Prefecture in about one hour via the Shuto Expressway or the Tohoku Expressway. ▼ By train Train access is also convenient. From Tokyo Station, take the Ueno-Tokyo Line and transfer at Oomiya Station to the NewShuttle. The NewShuttle runs directly to Uchijuku Station, and the trip takes about one hour. Buses also run from ageo station and lotus field station, providing access into Ina Town. [Rose Town, Ina Town, Saitama Prefecture] Ina Town in Saitama Prefecture is widely known as the Rose Town. The town’s Town Establishment Memorial Park, opened in 1972, contains the largest rose garden in Saitama Prefecture. Some 400 varieties and 5,000 rose bushes bloom in a riot of color, delighting visitors. You can see Ina Town’s original varieties, including Ina Hime, a charming pink climbing rose that continues blooming into autumn; Ina Rose, a deep crimson large-flowered rose whose shape becomes antique-like as it opens; and Ina no Tsuki, a pale yellow medium-flowered rose created to commemorate the town’s 50th anniversary. The best viewing seasons are early May to early June and late October to mid-November. Rose-themed events and festivals are also held, letting you fully enjoy the charm of roses. Ina Town is a member of the Rose City Conference, which includes 29 municipalities nationwide (as of May 2024). In 2024, the 33rd Rose City Conference in Ina was held on a grand scale, welcoming municipal leaders from across Japan. [Popular sightseeing spots in Ina Town, Saitama Prefecture] ▼ Around the Ina Clan Residence Site The Ina Clan Residence Site is the former estate of Ina Bizen-no-kami Tadayoshi, a retainer of Tokugawa Ieyasu who was active from the Sengoku Period into the early Edo Period. Tadayoshi earned Ieyasu’s deep trust and contributed to flood control, civil engineering, and new paddy development, using Ina as a base to help lay the foundations of the Edo Shogunate. Earthen ramparts, moats, and roads from that time still remain, and the residence is designated as a prefectural commemorative monument (historic site). ▼ Green Trust Conservation Area No. 13 “Musenyama – KDDI Forest” Musenyama – KDDI Forest is a conservation area with rich nature, featuring a native deciduous broad-leaved woodland centered on konara oak. It hosts the cherry festival, and many hanami visitors come during peak season. ▼ Cultural properties of Ina Town Ina Town is home to many cultural properties. Representative examples include nationally registered tangible cultural properties (buildings) such as Oshima Family Residence Main Building and Saito Family Residence Main Building; Saiko-ji Temple’s wooden seated Amida Nyorai statue, designated as a prefectural tangible cultural property (sculpture); and the Shiku no Mikoshi, a town-designated tangible folk cultural property. Thanks to local efforts, these items remain today and hold high historical value. They are scattered throughout the town, so visitors can enjoy historical exploration and cultural property tours. [Local specialties of Ina Town, Saitama Prefecture] ▼ Wine A recommended souvenir from Ina Town is wine made from 100% locally grown Kyoho grapes or pears. These wines feature rich flavor and aroma and pair well with meals. ▼ Sake Another specialty is sake. This sake uses 100% Saitama-brand rice from Ina Town called Sainokagayaki as the polishing rice, producing a concentrated, rich rice flavor. It is brewed at Shinkame Shuzo in Hasuda City, a brewer famous nationwide for producing only junmai sake. [Events and festivals in Ina Town, Saitama Prefecture] ▼ Cherry Festival A lesser-known but beloved cherry spot, the cherry avenue in Green Trust Conservation Area No. 13 hosts an annual festival. On festival weekends, farm produce direct sales and various events take place. This area is called Musenyama because it once stood where the antenna array of Kokusai Denshin Denwa Co., Ltd., the predecessor of KDDI, soared. Although there are relatively few cherry trees, about 200 meters of tunnel is formed by ancient cherry trees over 80 years old, creating a breathtaking sight for visitors. ▼ Rose Festival The Rose Festival, held in May during the peak rose season at Town Establishment Memorial Park, is one of Ina Town’s signature events. Tree roses, climbing roses, old roses, and English roses bloom in a rainbow of colors, filling the park with a sweet fragrance that delights visitors. On weekends, programs such as rose weddings and mini concerts add variety to the festival. ▼ Ina Festival Ina Festival, held every August at the Town Establishment Memorial Park, is a major summer event enjoyed by families and tourists. Traditional taiko drumming, bon odori dancing, food stalls showcasing local specialties, and stage events provide plenty of entertainment. The festival concludes with a vivid fireworks display. ▼ Autumn Rose Festival – Rose Festa – The Autumn Rose Festival – Rose Festa –, held in late October, lets visitors savor the beauty and scent of autumn roses. Though autumn roses tend to be smaller, their fragrance is said to be stronger. Like the spring Rose Festival, it features various rose-related events, local vegetable sales, food stalls and kitchen cars, and stage performances. [Tourist information for Ina Town, Saitama Prefecture] Ina Town in Saitama Prefecture is an attractive town with beautiful nature and a rich history. With good access from central Tokyo and a reputation as the Rose Town, we bring you plenty of recommended information about Ina Town’s history, nature, and more. We hope you enjoy it!