One of Saitama’s better Museums – the River Museum

Saitama Museum of Rivers, as the name implies, is a river museum, located in Yorii town. It is home to the largest water mill in Japan. It has a number of facilities available under the general admission price including their main educational hall where children can learn about rivers in general as well as river dams, transport, trivia, the role of rivers through history and specific information about the rivers in Saitama.  You can also pay extra to enjoy the “waku waku land“, water adventure park, or watch a film in their adventure theater, which is a virtual simulated theater.

Saitama Museum of Rivers

Latest 2023: Japan’s largest water wheel will be lit up nightly, except for Mondays, from Saturday December 2nd to Sunday December 24th 2023.

General Admission

General admission gives you access to the river museum itself (including outdoor displays, Japan’s largest water mill and some events), the small aquarium on the lower ground floor, wading and splash pools and a unique music pad that jets water as you play with your feet.

The museum runs a number of events and interactive displays as well as housing a library. The workshop room in the main display area often has free crafts for the kids to enjoy.

In the aquarium the children are able to touch and hold turtles.

The water in the splash pool is only 5 cm high so suitable for small children.  They are allowed enter with nappies / diapers.  The splash pools are open from the last week in March until mid- November. There is plenty of green space to rest or set up a picnic. They added a climbing wall in the area in front of the turtle aquarium this year. There is a shop and restaurant on the premises. There are changing cubicles and lockers beside the free splash pool.

General admission is reasonable at 410 yen per adult and 200 yen for children over the age of 15. Young children and teenagers up to 15 years old are free in.

WAKU WAKU LAND

For an additional charge you can enjoy the water adventure park for one hour.  About half the equipment is on water, but the kids don’t necessarily have to get wet, but I do recommend you bring a spare pair of clothes.  It  costs 210 yen per adult, 100 yen per child from 4 to 15 years old. Children under 4 years old are free.  The times are fixed. There are 7 sessions during the summer at 9.30, 10.40, 11.50, 13.00, 14.10, 15.20 and 16.30. However, during the pandemic the sessions are only 45 minutes long, that is 20 minutes shorter than normal.

Photo Gallery of some of the equipment in the water adventure playground.

Nearby:

The Saitama Museum of Rivers is located right next door to the Kawasemigawara river play and barbecue area. Please note that Kawasemigawara is temporarily closed in 2021 due to the pandemic. There are lots of attractions a short drive away. If you are coming to the museum by way of the Kanetsu Expressway you will pass several attractions on the way. Including (on this blog) the Hanazono Roadside Station, Hanazono Sweets Forest and the bubble tea Layer Cafe.

Saitama River Museum Information

For further information and up-to-date prices and schedules please see the official website –

URL: https://www.river-museum.jp/

For those coming by car the phone number for your Satnav is 048-581-733 or the address is 39 Kozono, Yorii Town, Saitama. It is about seven to ten minutes drive from the Hanazono exit of the Kanetsu expressway.  Parking is 300 yen for the day.