Gyoda City Guide
Image by 京浜にけ via wikipedia

Japan

Gyoda City Guide

Saitama Prefecture

Gyoda in Saitama Prefecture offers a quiet, traditional Japanese experience with historical sites like Oshi Castle and ancient burial mounds. It's peaceful and close enough to Tokyo by train for easy city access. The city suits travelers and remote workers who want culture and nature without big crowds.

Lifestyle🍽️

🍽️
Food Scene
Good
6

Local dishes include Gyoda Fry and Zeri Fry. International food options are limited. Vegetarian and vegan choices are rare. Most places close by 9 or 10 PM.

Local Dishes:
Gyoda Fry, Zeri Fry
International Cuisine:
Ramen, Udon, Chain restaurants
🌙
Nightlife
Poor
2

Nightlife is very limited, mostly local izakayas that close early.

Coffee Culture
Limited
5

Modest coffee scene with local and chain cafes. Few specialty coffee shops.

💰
Tipping
Not Required

Tipping is not expected and can be confusing or rude. Service charges may be included.

Top Attractions
Oshi Castle
Historic
Reconstructed castle with a museum.
Saitama Ancient Burial Mounds Park
Historic
Park with kofun burial mounds and museum.
Gyoda Hachiman Shrine
Cultural
A local historic shrine.
Kumagaya City
Nearby
Nearby city known for rugby stadium and cherry blossoms.
Kawagoe
Nearby
Historic town called Little Edo, less than one hour away.
SIM Cards

SIM cards are available at airports and major electronics stores. Major providers include NTT Docomo, au, and SoftBank. ID is required for purchase.

Available at:
NTT Docomo store
SoftBank store
au store
Airport kiosks
Recommended Apps
Google Maps(Navigation)
Japan Official Travel App(Travel)
Navitime Japan Transit Planner(Transport)
Google Translate(Language)
PayPay(Payment)
LINE(Communication)
Tabelog(Food)
Uber Eats(Food Delivery)

Services & Infrastructure

Street Cleanliness
Excellent
9

Streets and public spaces are very clean with good recycling and waste management.

24/7 Services
Limited
4

Convenience stores are open 24/7, but pharmacies, clinics, and food places generally are not.

Groceries
Belc
Yaoko

Supermarkets like Belc and Yaoko offer groceries including some international products. Most are open 9 or 10 AM to 9 or 10 PM daily. Bargaining is not practiced.

Cashless Payments
Cash preferred

Cash is common, especially in small shops. Major credit cards work in larger stores. IC cards like Suica and Pasmo are widely accepted for transport and some stores.

ATMs

ATMs are easy to find in post offices and convenience stores like 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson. They usually accept international cards but fees can apply.

Schools
Local only

No notable international schools in Gyoda. Local schools teach mainly in Japanese. International schools are in bigger cities like Tokyo.

Work & Digital💻

Coworking Spaces
Not Available
Work-Friendly Cafés
Limited
Doutor Coffee Gyoda
Local café with possible Wi-Fi and power outlets.
Alternatives:
Gyoda City Library
Quiet place for work, check for Wi-Fi availability.
Hotel lobbies
May have Wi-Fi; good for work if open.
Community centers
Some have free public Wi-Fi.
Digital Nomad Community
Poor
1

There is no established digital nomad community or specific events in Gyoda.

Nature & Activities🌿

Green Spaces
Excellent
8

Parks like the burial mounds park provide good green space for walking and running.

Running
Good
7

Good running routes in parks and along rivers, with safe paths and good air quality.

Gyms
Available

Several gyms including chain and public facilities are available.

Available Gyms:
Anytime Fitness Gyoda
Joyfit 24 Gyoda
Gyoda City General Gymnasium
Tennis
Limited
5

Tennis courts are available at public facilities like the city gym.

Padel
Poor
0

Padel is not available in Gyoda.

Yoga
Poor
3

Yoga studios are rare; some community centers might offer classes.

Martial Arts
Limited
5

Traditional martial arts like Judo and Kendo are practiced, often at local clubs.

Skiing
Poor
0

No skiing nearby; resorts are several hours away.

Water Sports
Poor
2

Limited water sports; some activities possible on distant rivers or lakes.

Surfing
Poor
0

No surfing, Gyoda is inland.

Diving
Poor
0

No diving opportunities in the area.

Health & Safety🏥

Healthcare
Excellent
8

Healthcare quality is high but English-speaking staff may be at larger hospitals in Saitama or Tokyo. Pharmacies are available but often limited hours.

Hospitals:
Saitama City Hospital
Tokyo University Hospital
Pharmacies:
Local Kusuri-ya
Yakkyoku Pharmacies
Tap Water Safety
Safe to drink

Tap water is safe to drink and meets high quality standards.

Common Scams
Inflated prices at tourist spots, Unsolicited approaches are rare but watch for them

Community & Family

Family Friendly
Good
6

Family attractions include Saitama Ancient Burial Mounds Park and Aquatic Park. Basic baby supplies found in supermarkets.

LGBTQ+ Friendly
Limited
5

LGBTQ+ acceptance is moderate; safe spaces are limited in this traditional city.

Pet Friendly
Limited
4

Pet services exist but few pet-friendly venues or parks. Japan's pet import rules are strict.

Communities
Saitama JET Programme (Expat)
Facebook Groups (Social)
Meetup.com Saitama (Social)

Quick Facts

Population
78,488
Power Reliability
Excellent
10/10

Power supply is stable with very few outages.

Mountains
Available

Close to Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park with hiking over an hour away by car.

Languages
Japanese(95%)
English(10%)
Emergency
110
Police
119
Ambulance/Fire
0570-000-911
Japan Helpline

⚠️Natural Disasters Risk

🌊
Tsunami
Very Low Risk
0
🏔️
Earthquake
High Risk
8

🌦️Seasonal Issues

Typhoons
August, September, October
Typhoons can affect the area mainly late summer to early autumn, though less common inland.
Extreme Heat and Humidity
July, August
July and August can be hot and humid.
Pollen
February, March, April
Spring has high pollen counts, which may affect allergies.

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