Saitama

**JawZ251** · 05-26-2008 03:45 PM

Anyone? Live there? Been there? I haven't but it's cool I hear!

**Slim** · 05-26-2008 04:35 PM

Sure, I've been there. It's a suburb of Tokyo, to the north. It's a little cheaper of an area to live, but kind of "inaka" - it doesn't have a very sophisticated or cultured image. About the only thing going on up there is the Urawa Red Diamonds soccer team. The further you get away from Tokyo and into Saitama, the more country it becomes and I bet there are some beautiful areas. I never skated there though so I can't report on that.

**JawZ251** · 05-26-2008 07:28 PM

Sounds nice! You have pics?

**Slim** · 05-26-2008 08:14 PM

Unfortunately I don't. But I just did a google search and turned up this English page about Saitama which has some info and pics:

Saitama tour guide

**Bugs** · 05-27-2008 06:03 AM

Saitama is the prefecture immediately north of Tokyo. I used to live in Tochigi prefecture, which is immediately north of Saitama, so I frequently travelled through Saitama on my way to Tokyo.

Although technically it isn't part of Tokyo, in reality it's like the northern suburbs. As Slim says, not sophisticated or cultured - just the suburbs. But by the time you get to the northern part of Saitama it's starting to get semi-rural.

It's part of the Kanto plain, which is the largest flat part of Japan. Unlikely to have much good downhill skate territory, but I'm sure there's hills there somewhere.

From memory the main centre in Saitama is Omiya, which is much like any major suburban centre of Tokyo. It's actually quite close to the centre of Tokyo as Tokyo is very short from north to south.

**tomes** · 05-27-2008 08:50 AM

It's also home to Powder Milk surf/skate shop where i got my Caften. Awesome guy, you should check it out if you go.

**JawZ251** · 05-27-2008 09:58 AM

Nice, I'm from Pittsburgh, (Technically, I'm from Cora.) Saitama's sister city! Wait... What about touge? Maru-Yama?

**pavedwave** · 05-27-2008 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by jia

It's also home to Powder Milk surf/skate shop where i got my Caften. Awesome guy, you should check it out if you go.

that's funny, I remembered seeing a Powder Milk thread here a long time back, and just found it again

wheres powder milk?

I'd also recommend checking outdoorjapan, not a really busy forum, just one place to catch people living there currently. a guy named "suneko" I never actually met but lived in Saitama, we went back and forth online a few times trying to organize a session. i'd definitely drop a line there before heading over.

**Bugs** · 05-31-2008 10:04 PM

Originally Posted by pavedwave

I'd also recommend checking outdoorjapan, not a really busy forum, just one place to catch people living there currently. a guy named "suneko" I never actually met but lived in Saitama, we went back and forth online a few times trying to organize a session. i'd definitely drop a line there before heading over.

Yeah I skated with the outdoorjapan people a couple of times - they used to have a monthly session on a hill in Yoyogi Park in Tokyo. Worth checking out.

**JawZ251** · 06-01-2008 10:20 AM

HAHAHA!!! I'm 15! I'm talking about a few years from now! Y'know, get a job for Honda or something... But thanks!

**pavedwave** · 06-01-2008 05:23 PM

Originally Posted by JawZ251

HAHAHA!!! I'm 15! I'm talking about a few years from now! Y'know, get a job for Honda or something... But thanks!

a lot of high schoolers go to Japan as exchange students.

anyway, this information won't be any less relevant if you ever do make it over. good luck.

**JawZ251** · 06-02-2008 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by pavedwave

a lot of high schoolers go to Japan as exchange students.

anyway, this information won't be any less relevant if you ever do make it over. good luck.

Exchange student, eh? From Saitama's Sister City? Who speaks some Japanese? Hmm...