Highly Accessible Tourist Spots Are a Hit! Discover the Charms of Misato!

Saitama Prefecture’s Misato City is located at the border of the prefecture, adjacent to both Chiba and Tokyo. Situated about 20 kilometers from central Tokyo, Misato has developed as a commuter town, with many large housing complexes and residential neighborhoods.

A recent highlight is the redevelopment of the former Musashino Marshaling Yard, which was used during the Showa era. This area has undergone large-scale land readjustment and urban development. As a result, popular facilities have expanded into Misato, drawing growing attention as a tourist destination.

In this article, we’ll introduce some of Misato’s top tourist spots, focusing on the area around the newly developed Shin-Misato Station!

1. Shin-Misato Lala City

Currently the most talked-about tourist area in Misato, Lala City is a large-scale development on the vast land in front of Shin-Misato Station, once home to a freight train marshaling yard. The area has been transformed into a cohesive blend of commercial, amusement, and residential zones. The entire area is officially named Saitama Prefecture Misato City Shin-Misato Lala City.

With a direct connection to Shin-Misato Station and numerous popular commercial facilities concentrated here, the area is always bustling with visitors.

◆ LaLaport Shin-Misato

Opened in 2009, LaLaport Shin-Misato is the centerpiece of Lala City.

This two-story mall-style shopping complex takes advantage of its spacious grounds, housing around 200 stores from a wide range of categories. From fashion to furniture, electronics, household goods, and groceries—everything you need for daily life can be found here. With a fully equipped food court and a variety of restaurants, you can also enjoy delicious meals.

Thanks to its prime location directly connected to the station, it’s a highly popular tourist destination for visitors from neighboring areas.

◆ Thomas Town

Located inside LaLaport Shin-Misato, Thomas Town is an indoor theme park based on Thomas the Tank Engine. Though compact in size, it faithfully recreates the world of Thomas and his friends, attracting many families with Thomas-loving children.

Visitors use the in-town currency, “Thomas Coins,” to enjoy attractions and games. A popular highlight is the “Thomas Theater Train,” where guests ride Thomas through the town and watch a movie in a back-end theater. The movie content changes seasonally, so each visit brings something new.

There’s also a food corner serving Thomas-themed dishes and a shop offering a wide variety of Thomas merchandise—perfect for young Thomas fans!

Admission is free unless you use the attractions, so be sure to stop by if you're visiting LaLaport.

◆ IKEA Shin-Misato

Globally beloved for its affordable, functional, and stylish designs, IKEA opened its fifth location in Japan here in Lala City Shin-Misato in 2008.

While IKEA stores are becoming more common across Japan, many are designed for car access, making them hard to reach for those without a vehicle. However, IKEA Shin-Misato is located just a short walk from the station, making it accessible even for those who rely on public transit in urban areas.

Aside from shopping for furniture and household items, you can also enjoy browsing unique Swedish foods or sampling Swedish cuisine at the food court—another way to enjoy IKEA. And since it’s so easy to get to, you can drop by just for lunch or tea.

Large furniture items that can’t be carried home by train can be delivered, so no need to worry about the trip back.

◆ Costco Shin-Misato

Costco is a membership-based warehouse-style supermarket known for its wide range of international products and generously sized food items. It’s often featured in media and, though the number of stores in Japan is still relatively low, Costco has been gaining nationwide attention.

Beyond its famous food items, Costco offers clothing, electronics, jewelry, sports gear, and more—each at remarkably low prices.

With even a Costco in the mix, Lala City Shin-Misato truly leaves nothing to be desired as a tourist destination.

2. Misato Park

Misato Park is located on the banks of Koai Reservoir, a body of water created between the Edo River and the Nakagawa River. In the Edo period, this reservoir functioned as a flood-control basin to prevent river overflows.

The park features large athletic playground equipment that even adults will find challenging, a grassy field suitable for playing catch, and a 1,500-meter running course that circles the grounds. It's a beloved recreational spot among Misato residents, catering to a wide range of age groups.

There’s also a cooking area equipped with traditional hearths where visitors can enjoy barbecues. Since the number of users is limited, be sure to make a reservation in advance for the kitchen and BBQ area.

3. Noten Yumoto Yukai Sōkai "Yukemuri Yokocho" Misato

This is a day-use hot spring facility in Misato that uses 100% natural hot spring water drawn from 1,300 meters underground, offering true gensen kakenagashi (free-flowing source water) baths.

There are a wide variety of baths and saunas, with options for both hot and lukewarm water temperatures to suit every preference.

The facility's interior is carefully designed with a retro Showa-era townscape theme. The dining area, in particular, is brimming with nostalgic charm. You'll also find a full range of relaxation services such as massages, Korean-style scrubs, and stone saunas.

Conveniently located near the Gaikan Misato Nishi Interchange, it's an ideal spot to stop by on your way home from sightseeing.

◎ Conclusion

We’ve introduced several tourist attractions in Misato. With the development of Lala City, Misato has become a prominent destination in the greater Kanto area. As the area continues to draw more visitors, its popularity and development are expected to keep growing.

These spots can get quite crowded on weekends, so plan for a full day to enjoy everything at a relaxed pace.

If you haven’t visited Misato yet, you’re sure to have a great time—make your next outing a trip to Misato!

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Highly Accessible Tourist Spots Are a Hit! Discover the Charms of Misato!