It is part of the Greater Tokyo Area and often serves as a commuter residence (bedroom community) for people working in Tokyo.
Capital: Saitama City (merged from Urawa, Ōmiya, and Yono in 2001).
Geography: The eastern and southeastern parts lie on the flat Kantō Plain and are highly urbanized.
Towards the west, it becomes more mountainous, containing parts of the Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park.
Saitama borders Tokyo, Chiba, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Nagano, and Yamanashi.
It is one of the few landlocked prefectures.
Economy and character: Saitama is a mix of: Industry — (auto parts, machinery, textiles) and services.
Agriculture — vegetables, fruit, flowers, and green tea for the Tokyo market.
It is also world-famous as the bonsai capital (especially around Ōmiya).
Many residents commute daily to Tokyo, but the prefecture has its own identity with both modern urban areas and tranquil nature.
Sights: Kawagoe — "Little Edo": a historic town with an Edo-period atmosphere, warehouses, and the famous clock tower.
Chichibu — a mountainous area with hiking, rafting, and the spectacular Chichibu Night Festival (December, featuring large floats).
Ōmiya — a bonsai village, parks, and the Railway Museum.
Other highlights: ancient temple routes, nature in the west, and festivals.
In short: Saitama is practically close to Tokyo, but offers a good balance between city life, history, and nature.
It is sometimes playfully called "Dasaitama" by Tokyoites (as "uncool"), but has a lot to offer for those looking for a mix of retro-Edo and modern Japanese atmosphere.
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