SAITAMA Saitama New Urban Center Shop, dine, and be entertained in the heart of Saitama

Come to Saitama's New Urban Center area to see a concert or sports game at the Saitama Super Arena, shop at a huge mall, and relax in picturesque parks.

The New Urban Center is located in the Chuo-ku district of Saitama City west of the city center.

From Tokyo, take the Takasaki Line, Keihin-Tohoku Line, or Utsunomiya Line to JR Saitama-Shintoshin Station. The journey, which takes about 30 minutes, is covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

The minute you step out of Saitama-Shintoshin Station, you will see a futuristic cityscape of steel and glass skyscrapers. What was once the switchyards for the Japan National Railway reopened as Saitama's modern city center in May 2000, designed to meet the needs of tourists and locals alike.

Saitama Super Arena is located just outside Saitama-Shintoshin Station, and is one of the largest multi-purpose arenas in Japan. With a capacity of 37,000, it hosts basketball games, MMA fights, exhibitions, concerts, and more.

The arena has an innovative design, and it can be transformed from a stadium into an arena with a huge moveable seating section. It is the first building in Japan to be equipped for an American football game.

Adjoining Saitama Super Arena is Keyaki Hiroba, a complex known as Sky Forest Plaza. Various festivals, fairs, and cultural events are held here throughout the year. It comprises an open square as well as some 20 restaurants and shops on its first and third floors. It is a great space to relax before and after events at the arena.

If you happen to go during the Christmas season, do not miss the spectacular holiday illuminations as well as the special Christmas market that opens in late November.

For excellent shopping, check out Cocoon City just outside Saitama-Shintoshin Station.

The massive shopping center is separated into three “cocoons,” different buildings containing many different shops. If your time is limited, do not miss Cocoon 2—it has shops and restaurants, an event space called Cocoon Square, and the Cocoon Dining food court.

Escape the city at Omiya Park , located just outside the New Urban Center near Omiya Station. Favored by locals, it is more than just a park—it contains landscaped gardens, forests, a zoo, and the Saitama Prefectural Museum of History and Folklore.

At one end of Omiya Park sits Musashi Ichinomiya Hikawa-jinja Shrine, one of the oldest shrines in Saitama. It is said to have been built over 2,000 years ago. It is a massive shrine complex with tall, vermillion gates, a pond with a traditional Japanese bridge, several large buildings, and a large park surrounding it.

To the south of the New Urban Center, near Kita-Urawa Station, is the Saitama Museum of Modern Art . Also known as MOMAS, the building has a unique grid-like design. It houses works by major western and Japanese artists, including Picasso, Monet, and Chagall, as well as works by local artists.

MOMAS is more than just a museum; it is an art hub for the community. Special exhibits, children's programs, lectures, workshops, and concerts are held here throughout the year.