I Have No Memories of Saitama. But That's Actually a Good Thing
To be honest, I have no memories related to Saitama's music scene. After more than 60 years of life, I've visited live houses in Tokyo and the music scenes of Osaka and Nagoya many times, but I've never set foot in a venue in Saitama.
However, the more I researched for this article, the more I came to appreciate the appeal of Saitama as a place. 30 minutes to 1 hour by train from Tokyo. For Tokyo-based bandsmen, members in Saitama are "neighbors from the next town." Conversely, if you live in Saitama, you can connect not only with members in the Saitama scene but also with a vast pool of member candidates in Tokyo. This "close to Tokyo but not Tokyo" distance becomes your greatest asset when searching for band members in Saitama.
ACIDMAN, REBECCA, THE ALFEE — Saitama has produced bands and artists whose names are etched in Japan's music history. This article provides a comprehensive guide to specific methods for finding band members in Saitama, centered on Omiya, Kawagoe, and Tokorozawa.
5 Ways to Find Band Members in Saitama
First, let's organize the concrete methods for finding band members in Saitama.
1. Use Member Recruitment Websites and Apps
This is the most convenient and efficient method. With Membo, you can filter and view member recruitment listings by Saitama Prefecture or specific areas like Omiya, Kawagoe, and Tokorozawa. You can specify genre, instrument part, and age group, allowing you to search pinpoint-style, such as "Saitama × Rock × Bass Wanted."
As mentioned in Common Traits of People Who Can't Find Band Members, "searching only in your hometown" narrows your options. Saitama's strength is its good access to Tokyo. From Omiya to Ikebukuro is 25 minutes, to Shinjuku is 30 minutes. If you form a band with Tokyo members and set up practice sessions in Saitama, studio costs will definitely be cheaper than in Tokyo. I recommend breaking down area barriers and searching broadly.
2. Attend Live Houses
Live houses in Saitama are scattered throughout different areas. Omiya has mid-sized venues, while Kawagoe, Tokorozawa, and Koshigaya also have distinctive live houses. After understanding how to perform at a live house, start by going to see live music in genres that interest you. Because Saitama's scene is unlike Tokyo's massive scene, it's a size where regulars see each other's faces, so if you keep coming back, your network naturally grows.
3. Participate in Jam Sessions and Open Mics
As mentioned in The Complete Guide for Beginners to Join a Band, sessions are places where you can intuitively understand "I want to play with this person." Within Saitama Prefecture, there are bars and live houses that host sessions. If you bring an instrument, you might even find bandmates right there.
4. Use Rehearsal Studio Bulletin Boards and Communities
Studio lobbies in Omiya and Kawagoe have member recruitment bulletin boards. If people use the same studio, you can save the hassle of deciding on a practice space. Member recruitment information may also be posted on studio SNS or websites, so check regularly.
5. Take Advantage of Music Store Events and Bulletin Boards
Music stores in Omiya and Kawagoe often have member recruitment bulletin boards posted. Beyond chain stores like Shimamura Musical Instruments and Ishibashi Music, local music shops are also worth checking out. Make it a habit to check bulletin boards while looking at equipment options, as mentioned in The Reality of Money Spent on Band Activities.
Omiya Area — The Center of Saitama's Music Scene
Omiya is the commercial center of Saitama City and also a base for Saitama's music scene. A terminal station where multiple JR lines, Tobu Noda Line, and the New Shuttle converge, providing good access from throughout the prefecture. Live houses and studios are scattered on both the East and West exits.
Hisomine
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Capacity | Approximately 100 people |
| Genres | Rock, Alternative, Punk, Indie |
| Location | 1F, 2-7-12 Miyaharacho, Kita Ward, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture |
| Access | Walking distance from the East Exit of JR Miyahara Station |
| Official Website | hisomine.com |
A live house leading Omiya's indie scene. Continuously promoting edgy music centered on rock, alternative, and punk. With a capacity of 100, the distance between performers and audience is close, creating natural conversations between performers and visitors after the show. If you're looking for band members in Omiya, definitely check this venue's schedule first. With active bill-split events, band members often meet through connections between performing bands.
RaiBoC Hall (Omiya Civic Hall) ※Public Hall
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Capacity | Main Hall: approximately 1,500 people / Small Hall: approximately 300 people |
| Genres | All genres (concerts, recitals, events) |
| Location | 2-118 Damoncho, Omiya Ward, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture |
| Access | 3-minute walk from the East Exit of JR Omiya Station |
| Official Website | raibochall.com |
Saitama's cultural hub that reopened in 2022. ※Public Hall Different from a live house, it's a public hall that can also be used for independent band live events and music events. The small hall (approximately 300 people) is just the right size for bill-split format events. Because it can be rented at citizen-friendly rates, it's a cost-effective option for bands planning independent events.
HEAVENS ROCK Saitama Shintoshin VJ-3
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Capacity | Approximately 400 people |
| Genres | Rock, Pop, Metal, All genres |
| Location | 1F, Keyaki Hiroba, 11 Shintoshin, Chuo Ward, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture |
| Access | 3-minute walk from JR Saitama Shintoshin Station |
| Official Website | heavensrock.com/saitama |
A large live house in Saitama Shintoshin. The HEAVENS ROCK group operates across the Kanto region, and VJ-3 is their flagship store in Saitama. With a capacity of 300, it's among the largest in Saitama Prefecture, and national tours sometimes have their Saitama performances here. A wide range of artists from indie to major labels perform here, and "performing here" has become one goal for Saitama bandsmen.
Kawagoe and Tokorozawa Areas — The Seibu Line Music Scene
Kawagoe and Tokorozawa are core cities along the Seibu Line. With good access to Tokyo (30-40 minutes from Ikebukuro on the Seibu Line), local live houses support the music scene.
DEPARTURE
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Capacity | Approximately 200 people |
| Genres | Rock, Pop, Acoustic, All genres |
| Location | B1, 6-8 Higashidacho, Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture |
| Access | 5-minute walk from JR/Tobu Tojo Line Kawagoe Station |
| Official Website | departure-kawagoe.com |
The center of Kawagoe's music scene. It accepts a wide range of genres from rock to acoustic, and is a place where local bandsmen gather. With a capacity of 100, the distance between performers and audience is close, naturally creating interaction after performances. While Kawagoe is popular as a tourist destination known as "Little Edo," the music scene is solidly rooted here. Many people start their band activities here, beginning with covers as mentioned in How to Start a Cover Band.
MOJO
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Capacity | Approximately 80 people |
| Genres | Rock, Blues, Pop |
| Location | Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture |
| Access | Walking distance from Seibu Line Tokorozawa Station |
A live house in Tokorozawa. With just 80 people, this small venue creates a close distance between sound and people. While Tokorozawa is known as the home of the Seibu Lions baseball team, it also has a local music scene. Its location, just under 30 minutes from Ikebukuro on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line, makes it easy to form bands with Tokyo members as well.
Koshigaya, Urawa, and Nishi-Kawaguchi Areas — Southern Saitama Hidden Gems
Saitama's band scene isn't limited to Omiya. Individual and distinctive live houses exist in areas like Koshigaya, Urawa, and Kasukabe.
EASYGOINGS
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Capacity | Approximately 300 people |
| Genres | Rock, Punk, Pop, Alternative |
| Location | B1F, N Building, 3-43 Yayoicho, Koshigaya City, Saitama Prefecture |
| Access | 5-minute walk from Tobu Skytree Line Koshigaya Station |
| Official Website | easygoings.jp |
A live house supporting Koshigaya's indie scene. Centered on rock, punk, and alternative, young bands are actively performing. Strong horizontal connections between performers are characteristic, and band members sometimes meet as a result of bill-split performances. South Koshigaya has good access to Tokyo, with frequent bill-splits with Tokyo bands.
Narcys
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Capacity | Approximately 250 people |
| Genres | Rock, Punk, Hardcore, All genres |
| Location | B1, 2-1-5 Takasago, Urawa Ward, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture |
| Access | 4-minute walk from the West Exit of JR Urawa Station |
| Official Website | narcys.jp |
A live house in Urawa. Centered on rock, punk, and hardcore, promoting edgy music. While Urawa is known as a soccer town, the music scene definitely exists here. A venue where local bandsmen gather at 100 people capacity. Its location, 30 minutes from Tokyo on the Keihin-Tohoku Line, is appealing, and there's frequent interaction with Tokyo bands.
Nishi-Kawaguchi Hearts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Capacity | Approximately 300 people |
| Genres | Rock, Pop, Idol, All genres |
| Location | 2-10-25 Namiki, Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture |
| Access | 5-minute walk from the East Exit of JR Keihin-Tohoku Line Nishi-Kawaguchi Station |
| Official Website | hearts-web.net |
A 300-person capacity live house in Nishi-Kawaguchi. With good access via the Keihin-Tohoku Line, many Tokyo bands perform here. National tours sometimes have Saitama performances at this venue, featuring a wide range from indie to major label acts. 15 minutes from Ikebukuro, 5 minutes from Akahane — this location makes it easy to gather with Tokyo members.
Rehearsal Studios — Saitama's Studio Scene
Rehearsal studios are essential for band activities. Saitama tends to have cheaper studio rates compared to Tokyo, and the Omiya area in particular has plenty of chain and independent studios. After understanding the basics covered in How to Choose a Rehearsal Studio, let's check out Saitama's studio situation.
Studio Penta Omiya Location
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Price Range | Band practice: approximately ¥1,300 per hour and up |
| Location | Omiya Ward, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture |
| Access | Walking distance from JR Omiya Station |
| Official Website | studio-penta.com |
Studio Penta's Omiya location, part of a chain with numerous outlets in the Kanto region. Compared to Tokyo locations, the rates are more affordable. Solo practice can sometimes be done for around ¥500 per hour during certain time slots. With good access from Omiya Station, it's convenient for combined practice sessions with Tokyo members.
Sound Studio Noah Omiya Location
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Price Range | Band practice: approximately ¥1,500 per hour and up |
| Location | Omiya Ward, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture |
| Access | Walking distance from JR Omiya Station |
| Official Website | studionoah.jp |
The Omiya location of "Noah," Japan's largest rehearsal studio chain. The equipment is impressive, and room variety is abundant. It's appealing that the rates are slightly cheaper than in Tokyo.
Saitama vs. Tokyo: Studio Price Comparison
| Item | Saitama (Omiya) | Tokyo (Metropolitan Area) |
|---|---|---|
| Band practice (2 hours) | Approximately ¥2,600–¥5,000 | Approximately ¥4,000–¥8,000 |
| Solo practice (1 hour) | Approximately ¥500–¥800 | Approximately ¥800–¥1,200 |
| Late-night pack (5 hours) | Approximately ¥5,000–¥8,000 | Approximately ¥8,000–¥12,000 |
As mentioned in The Reality of Money Spent on Band Activities, studio fees are the largest fixed expense in band activities. Saitama tends to be 20-30% cheaper than Tokyo. If you practice twice a month for 2 hours each, the annual difference amounts to tens of thousands of yen. Forming a band with Tokyo members and setting practice locations in Saitama is an extremely rational choice cost-wise. Use the savings for equipment investment or live performance fees.
Jam Sessions — Places to Meet Musical Companions in Saitama
There are bars and live spots in Saitama that host sessions.
Session Bars in the Omiya Area
Session bars hosting blues and jazz are scattered around Omiya Station. If you regularly attend sessions, naturally you'll start thinking "that person's really good" or "I'd like to play together." Blues sessions are particularly welcoming to beginners and are perfect opportunities for those looking for bassists or drummers.
Session and Live Cafes in Kawagoe
Kawagoe also has cafes hosting jazz and acoustic sessions. Because it's a tourist destination with lots of traffic, you can meet players from outside the area. Session information is posted on each venue's SNS, so check regularly.
Saitama session information can be found on venue SNS and music information websites. While it's fine to go to Tokyo sessions, local sessions are where you find "neighborhood friends." It's much easier to adjust band practice schedules when members live nearby.
Famous Bands and Artists from or Associated with Saitama
Saitama has produced many bands and artists representing Japan's music scene. Understanding what kind of music this prefecture has created is important.
- ACIDMAN — Formed by Shigeo Oki (Kawagoe City), Masatoshi Sato (Fujimi City), and Ichigo Urayama (Tokorozawa City) in the light music club of Seibu Gakuen Bunri High School. With songs like "Red Orange" and "Artificial Flowers Laughing," they have a devoted fanbase with their expansive, grand-scale rock. With Shigeo Oki appointed as "Koedo Kawagoe Ambassador" in March 2026, they are a genuinely authentic Saitama band
- THE ALFEE — Toshihiko Takamizawa (from Warabi City) and Satoru Sakurai (from Chichibu City) — 2 of the 3 members are from Saitama Prefecture. "Merry Ann" and "Star Distance" are etched in rock history. The fact that this legendary band with over 50 years of career was born in Saitama speaks to the prefecture's musical strength
- REBECCA — Vocalist NOKKO (Nobuko Yamada) was born in Urawa City (now Saitama City). The band itself was formed by gathering amateur musicians in Saitama. "Friends" and "Raspberry Dream" are iconic songs of the 1980s. REBECCA symbolizes a Saitama band that rose from local to national success
- Hoshino Gen — Born in Warabi City, raised in Kawaguchi City. From "Love" to "SUN" and "Wonder," he's created numerous hit songs that became social phenomena. He developed his musical foundations at Jiyuno Mori Gakuen (Hanno City). A multi-talented artist that Saitama is proud to call its own, also active as an actor
- CHARA — Born in Kawaguchi City. With songs like "Swallowtail Butterfly ~Love Song~" and "Gentle Feelings," her unique voice and world view make her one-of-a-kind. She's been active on the front lines from the 1990s to the present
- the telephones — Formed in Kita Urawa, Saitama City. With "Monkey Discooooooo" and "Love&DISCO," they swept the nation with dance rock. Vocalist Akira Ishige is from Saitama Prefecture, a band that climbed from Saitama's live house circuit
- Syrup16g — Vocalist Takashi Igarashi is from Urawa City (now Saitama City). With "Reborn" and "Tomorrow Falls Away," his introspective rock has devoted fans. A legendary band born from Saitama's underground scene
- dustbox — SUGA and JOJI are from Soka City, based in Koshigaya. With songs like "Right Now" and "Here Comes A Miracle," they're recognized highly as melodic punk leaders both domestically and internationally
Just as ACIDMAN was formed along the Seibu Line, REBECCA launched from Urawa to go national, and Hoshino Gen created social phenomena from Warabi and Kawaguchi, Saitama has its own unique musical soil different from Tokyo's mainstream. As mentioned in How Foreign Musicians Find Band Members in Japan, each region of Japan has its own music culture. Saitama has a fascinating "half-step outside the mainstream" appeal precisely because it's close to Tokyo.
Overall Cost Picture of Band Activities in Saitama
| Expense Item | Monthly Estimate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Studio Practice | ¥2,500–¥7,000 | 4 times per month × 2 hours, split among members |
| Live Performances | ¥0–¥15,000 | If ticket quota system. Some events have no quota |
| Transportation | ¥1,000–¥5,000 | Cheaper if confined to Saitama. Train fares if with Tokyo members |
| Strings and Consumables | ¥1,000–¥3,000 | Guitar string replacements 1–2 times per month expected |
| Session Participation | ¥0–¥3,000 | Session bar charges, etc. |
| Total | ¥4,500–¥33,000 | 20-30% cheaper than Tokyo |
Band activities in Saitama can be kept 20-30% cheaper than Tokyo, primarily through lower studio rates. Particularly significant is that even when forming a band with Tokyo members, if you set up practice in Omiya, studio costs are saved. From Omiya, Ikebukuro is about 30 minutes away from any major Tokyo terminal. The style of "a Tokyo band that practices in Omiya" is actually very practical.
Conclusion — Saitama is "Tokyo's Closest Hidden Gem"
As I wrote at the beginning, I have no memories related to Saitama's music scene. However, having written this article, I'm convinced of one thing: Saitama is one of Japan's best places to find band members.
The reason is simple. Tokyo, the city with Japan's largest population of bandsmen, is just 30 minutes away by train. Saitama member candidates + Tokyo member candidates. This "access to both" location is a strength unique to Saitama, something Osaka or Nagoya don't have.
ACIDMAN from Kawagoe, Fujimi, and Tokorozawa; REBECCA from Urawa; THE ALFEE from Warabi and Chichibu — they delivered music across Japan. As they've proven, music born in Saitama has a "going its own way" power different from Tokyo's mainstream.
First, try checking Membo for member recruitment in Saitama. Then go see a live performance at Hisomine or HEAVENS ROCK this weekend. You can create memories from now on.
