# Kumagaya

Kumagaya (熊谷) is a city in northern Saitama.

## Understand

Kumagaya was one of the post-towns on Nakasendo route connecting Kyoto and Tokyo, and is still an important traffic hub.

### Climate

Kumagaya has a humid subtropical climate characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The city is known for being one of the hottest areas in summer in Japan. This is caused by very hot winds from Tokyo and the Chichibu basin in the west of the prefecture. In central Tokyo, the summer monsoon enhanced by sea breeze is heated by the urban heat island. Also, from the Chichibu Mountains, the Föhn blows. The two winds converge above the city at about 14:00.

### Tourist information site

The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with some English information (click on the boxes at the middle).

## Get in

* 36.13939139.3900331 Kumagaya Station (熊谷駅). Served by the JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line from western Tokyo and the JR Takasaki Line from Ueno and eastern Tokyo, as well as the Joetsu/Hokuriku Shinkansen; also the east-west Chichibu Line of the private operator Chichibu Railway. (updated May 2024)

## See

* 36.146639139.3830281 Kumagaiji Temple (熊谷寺, Yukokuji), 43 Nakamachi (15 minutes walk from Kumagaya Station on the JR Takasaki Line). (updated Nov 2023)
* 36.079473139.4368592 Nagashima Memorial Hall (長島記念館), 1022 Kohachibayashi (5 minutes by car from JR Takasaki Line "Fukiage Station", 40 minutes by bus from JR Takasaki Line "Kumagaya Station"), ☏ +0493-39-2025. W-Su 10:00-16:00 (closed summer and New Year's holidays). This is a memorial museum that uses Kyosuke Nagashima's birthplace. ¥300. (updated Nov 2023)
* 36.144194139.3813063 Seikeien Garden (星溪園), 32 Kamakuracho (approx. 3-minute walk from Kami-Kumagaya Station on the Chichibu Railway, or 18-minute walk from Kumagaya Station on the JR Takasaki Line), ☏ +048-536-5062. Tu-Su 10:00-17:00 (closed on New Year's holidays). It is a strolling garden designated as a scenic spot of the city. 　 Free. (updated Nov 2023)
* 36.146376139.3785294 Katakura Silk Memorial Museum (片倉シルク記念館), 2-135 Honishi (approx. 7-minute walk from Kami-Kumagaya Station on the Chichibu Railway, 15-minute walk from Kumagaya Station on the JR Takasaki Line, 30-minutes from Higashimatsuyama IC on the Kan'etsu Expressway, 30-minutes from Hanazono IC on the Kan'etsu Expressway), ☏ +048-522-4316. W-Su 10:00-17:00 (closed during the summer New Year holidays). This memorial museum, certified as a modern industrial heritage site, uses the cocoon warehouse of the Kumagaya factory, Katakura Industries' last silk factory. There is no parking lot. 　 Free. (updated Nov 2023)
* 36.22819139.374725 Kangi-in Temple (歓喜院). A Buddhist temple with architecture designated as a National Treasure (updated Jun 2024)

## Do

* 36.16825139.4024441 Saitama Wild Knights 埼玉パナソニックワイルドナイツ (formerly Panasonic Wild Knights), Kumagaya Rugby Ground. A Japanese rugby union team that plays in the Top League. The street from Kumagaya Station to its home stadium is named the "Rugby Road". Kumagaya was one of the host towns for the World Cup 2019. (updated Jun 2024)
* 36.15575139.3451112 Kumagaya Sports Park 熊谷運動公園, Kojima (15 minutes on foot from Hirose Yacho-no-Mori Station on the Chichibu Railway, 9.5 km from Hanazono IC on the Kan-Etsu Expressway). (updated Nov 2023)

## Buy

* Gokabo (五家宝) — Finger-sized traditional sweets. Good companion to green tea.

## Stay Safe

Kumagaya is the record holder for the highest temperature in Japan - 41.1°C on 23 July 2018. Avoid mid-summer if you can.