Information for Saitama Citizen’s Day or Prefecture Day or Saitama day, kenmin no hi 県民の日 in Japanese. Saitama Citizen’s day is on the 14th of November each year. Kenmin no Hi literally means citizen’s day, but when I first came to Japan and until very recently it was called Prefecture Day in English. In recent years, the official public relations from the prefecture use the literal translation “Citizen’s Day”.
Saitama Prefecture Day
On Saitama Citizen’s Day many venues and locations offer free entry to their attractions. Moreover, there is a big event at the ‘kencho’ prefectural offices. You can find information for the open day (like a festival) at the Kencho here. In addition, on Saitama Citizen’s day you can also get special day tickets for the trains within Saitama.
Below is the list of places that you and / or your children can enjoy for free on Saitama prefecture day annually. Things changed a lot during the pandemic, but it looks like in 2023 most of these places will be free in for the first time in four years. In both 2020 and 2021 almost everywhere charged in to deter crowds of people, due to the pandemic. In 2022, quite a few were free in again, but in 2023, from what I can tell so far, its back to pre-pandemic style.
Free entry on Saitama Prefecture Day
This map is for an average year, so it didn’t really apply to the pandemic, but it applies once again in 2023. This is only the FREE in places, there are other places with discounted entry. A couple of the locations are only free in for children, not adults – that information is provided below in the attraction’s paragraph.
Here is the master list for places with free entry for Saitama Citizens. Below it you will find specifics for each location.
Attractions with animals
- Saitama Children’s Zoo
- Campbell Town
- Saitama Aquarium ※for children only
Museums
- Saitama Museum of Rivers
- Tokorozawa Aviation Museum
- Skip City Visual Museum
- Kawaguchi Science Museum
- Kawaguchi Green Center
- Museum of Sakitama Ancient Burial Mounds
- Saitama Museum of Literature
- Center of Environment Science Saitama
- Saitama Prefectural Museum of History and Folklore
- 100 Caves of Yoshimi
- Saitama Prefectural Museum of Natural History
- Kawagoe Festival Museum
- Kawagoe Museum
- Former Yamazaki Residence
- Kawagoe Art Museum Gallery
- Honmaru Goten
- MOMAS
Amusements
- Ogawa Genki Plaza
- Sengenyama Miharashi Park (Saitama’s longest roller slide) ※for children only
- Moominvalley Park ※for children only
- 100 Kannon ※for children only
- Kawagoe Planetarium
1. Saitama Children’s Zoo
Saitama Children’s zoo will be free in again this year on November 14th. In addition, the Beatrix Potter Museum (which is in the zoo) is also free in. Please note the parking is always charged and individual events incur charges. Moreover, the zoo is always busy, like crazy busy, on Saitama Day, even when its a weekday.
Opening hours: 9.30 to 17.00 (last entry 16.00)
Address: 554 Iwadono, Higashimatsuyama-shi, Saitama 355-0065
TEL: 0493-35-1234
Official website
In addition, more information in English about the Zoo:
2. Saitama Aquarium
The Saitama Aquarium offers free entry to the aquarium for children on citizen’s day only. It normally costs 200 yen per child. They have confirmed that they will also be offering this in 2023. However, adults and children over 15 years old are charged 500 yen per person.
Opening hours: 9.30 to 17.00
Address: 751-1 Mitakaya, Hanyu City, Saitama 348-0011
TEL: 048-565-1010 FAX 048-565-2768
Official website
More information about the aquarium and the beautiful park its in:
3. Campbell Town Forest of Birds
Campbell Town is always reasonable at just 100 yen, but on Saitama Day it is completely free.
Hours: 9 am to 4 pm, last entry at 3.30 pm
Address: 272-1 Ōyoshi, Koshigaya, Saitama 343-0008
Official website
4. Saitama Museum of Rivers
Entry to the grounds, even to the water playground and moreover parking are all free annually on Saitama Day. In addition, they usually hold a number of events in conjunction with the free entry for Saitama Prefectural Day. This is another location that is not on the official prefectural list for 2023, but they have confirmed that they will be free in for Saitama-jin. Moreover, they will have an autumn festival on the day.
Opening hours: 10.00 to 16.00 (grounds are open from 9.00 to 17.00)
Address: ３９ Kozono, Yorii, Osato District, Saitama Prefecture 369-1217, Japan
TEL: :+81 48-581-7333
Official website
More information about the Museum of Rivers in English:
Places with free entry on Saitama / prefecture day
5. Tokorozawa Aviation museum
The aviation museum free in for Saitama-jin. The museum is location in the Tokorozawa Aviation Memorial Park, which is an excellent park and always free.
Hours: from 9.30 to 17.00 (last entry 16.30).
Address: 1-13 Namiki, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359-0042
TEL: 04-2998-4388
URL: official website
More information in English about the engaging Tokorozawa aviation museum is also available on this blog.
6. Skip City Visual Museum
The Skip City Visual will be free in on Saitama Day in 2023. In addition, they will have their usual free movie showing on Prefecture day, as well as talk shows of works related to the special exhibition “The World of Tonko House” currently being held at the museum.
Opening hours: 9.30 to 17.00
Address: Sai no kuni Visual Plaza, 2nd Floor, Visual Museum, 3-12-63 Kamiaoki, Kawaguchi, Saitama 333-0844, Japan
TEL : 81-48-265-2500 / FAX : 81-48-265-2628
Official website
More information also in English about the excellent Skip City Visual Museum:
7. Kawaguchi Science Museum
It is free in to the Kawaguchi Science Museum on prefecture day. The planetarium is also free and they have several events and / or workshops on prefecture day.
Opening hours: 9.30 to 17.00
Address: (Inside Skip City) 3-12-18 Kamiaoki, Kawaguchi, Saitama 333-0844
TEL: 048-262-8431
Official Kawaguchi Science Museum website
8. Kawaguchi Green Center
The Kawaguchi Green Center is free in to all and sundry on Saitama Day annually. However, you still have to pay for the field athletic and the mini train.
Opening hours: 9 am to 5 pm (last entry 4 pm).
Address: 700 Araijuku, Kawaguchi, Saitama 333-0826.
TEL: 048-281-2319
Official website
9. Museum of the Sakitama Ancient Burial Mounds
The Sakitama park is always free in and it is a beautiful park especially during cherry blossom season. The museum has a nominal fee that is waived on Prefecture Day annually. They have confirmed 2023 is no different and it will be free in for all residents of Saitama.
Opening hours: 9 am to 4.30 pm
Address: 4834 Sakitama, Gyoda, Saitama 361-0025
Tel: +81485591111
URL: Official website
Additional information in English about the park:
10. Saitama Museum of Literature
Admission to the literature museum exhibition room is free.
Opening hours: 10.00 to 17.30
Address: 1 Chome-５-９ Wakamiya, Okegawa, Saitama Prefecture 363-0022, Japan
TEL: +81 48-789-1515
Official website
11. Center for Environmental Science Saitama (CESS)
The Center for Environmental Science Saitama is an engaging museum of sorts where you can learn about environmental science. They are offering free entry this year. In addition, they will have special events including a science show.
URL: Official website
More information about CESS also on this blog:
12. Saitama Prefectural Museum of History and Folklore
The Saitama Prefectural Museum of History and Folklore will have their usual Saitama Day special. That is, free entry into the museum.
Opening hours: 9 am to 4.30 pm
Address: 4-219 Takahanacho, Omiya Ward, Saitama, 330-0803
Phone: +81486410890
Official site
More information about the museum in English also on this website:
13. 100 Caves of Yoshimi
Although not on the official list in 2023, the 100 caves will have their usual free entry. In addition, they will also have their annual Saitama Day festival.
Opening hours: for the free entry – 10 am to 3 pm
Address: 324 Kita Yoshimi, Yoshimi Town, Hiki District, Saitama
Phone: 0493-54-4541
Official website
More about the caves on this website:
14. Saitama Prefectural Museum of Natural History
The autumn leaves are currently in season and the museum has light up in the Kaede no Mori from Friday November 10th to national holiday November 23rd 2023, between 5 and 9 pm.
Hours: 9.00 am to 4.30 pm
Address: 1417-1 Nagatoro, Chichibu District, Saitama 369-1305
Official website
15. – 19. Kawagoe Museums, Art Gallery and Honmaru Goten
Free entry into Kawagoe museum, Kawagoe Festival museum and Yamazaki Museum in 2023. Kawagoe City Art Museum (Gallery) and Honmaru Goten are back on the list in 2023 (they didn’t participate in 2022).
Hours: various, generally 9.30 to 17.00
Address: the tourist area of Kawagoe
Kawagoe City Museum
Kawagoe Matsuri Museum official website
Yamazaki Museum official website
Kawagoe City Art Museum website
Honmaru Goten (Palace) website
20. MOMAS
Entrance to the museum is always free, but you have to pay into the collections. Its normally 200 yen. On Citizen’s Day, admission to the MOMAS collection is free.
Hours: 10.30 am to noon, 2 pm to 3.30 pm
Address: 9 Chome-30-1 Tokiwa, Urawa Ward, Saitama, 330-0061.
Official website
21. ALIT
Part of ALIT, the museum Art / Archives, Library, Information and Tea, has one section that is always free. But on Prefecture Day the tea museum entry fee is waived. And this year they are giving a present to the first 100 visitors too!
Hours: 9 am to 5 pm
Address: 100 Nihongi, Iruma, Saitama 358-0015
Official web page
Information on this site in English:
22. Sengenyama Miharashi Park
Saitama’s longest roller slide is free for children on Prefecture Day only. Its not on the official prefecture list, but they have it stated clearly on their website, which is linked below.
Opening hours: 9.45 am to 4.30 pm
Address: 〒355-0321 Saitama, Hiki District, Ogawa 1440
Phone: +81493731000
URL: Official website
There is more information about the location on this blog as well:
23. Moominvalley Park
This one is only free in for children on Saitama Citizen’s Day. They currently have a wonderful illumination event on too.
Hours: 10 am to 8 pm
Address: 327-6 Miyazawa, Hanno, Saitama 357-0001
Official website
24. 100 Kannon Hot spring
Hyaku Kannon hot spring is free in for children (it normally costs 400 yen).
Hours: 8 am to 11 pm
Address: 2-chōme-19-1 Nishiōwa, Kuki, Saitama 340-0206
Official website
25. Kawagoe Kodomo no Shiro Planetarium
The planetarium in Kawagoe Kodomo no Shiro, a children’s community center, is free on Saitama Day.
Hours: one showing at 3.30 pm only.
Address: 〒350-0824 Saitama, Kawagoe, Ishiwaramachi, 1-chōme−４１−２
Official website
Information in English about Kodomo no Shiro (Kawagoe):
Other
- The Mt Buko museum in Hitsujiyama Park is free in
- Boxping in Urawa has discounts for Saitama Citizens on Saitama Day
- Yoshimi sports park has free rental of grounds
- Hanaten garden in Koshigaya is free in
You will also find there are several other discounts for and special events on Prefecture Day annually. For example, many of the train lines run a special campaign with discounted tickets for the week of Prefecture Day. Furthermore the Onsen Dojo hot springs such as Cafe Bivouac (Kumagaya) and Retro Springs Tamagawa (Tokigawa) usually offer discounts on Saitama Day. In addition, you will also find many places have special prices on the day, such as the Saitama Ice Arena.
Also, places outside Saitama usually offer discounts to people who live in Saitama day on November 14th annually. For example, Gunma Safari Park, Sanrio Puroland, Mothers Farm (Chiba) and Yomiuri Land have special offerings for residents of Saitama prefecture on Saitama day annually.
Please note, that due to all the discounts, freebies and special events, all the big tourist attractions tend to be extremely crowded on Prefecture day.
Originally posted in 2013. Republished in November 2021. Completely revamped and republished on November 7th 2023. saitama-prefecture-citizens-day
nice! What a great idea for a special day!