OM TERRACE is a public facility of hospitality, created by UDCO (Urban Design Center Omiya).
It seems to have been established with the aim of promoting tourism in Omiya and in anticipation of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
To get to OM TERRACE, go from the East Exit of Omiya Station and you'll find it past the police box in the rotary in front of the station.
If you're unsure, please refer to the route search or map at the bottom of the page.
The exterior has a truly urban design and looks great!
By the way, what kind of "hospitality" does it offer?
There's a share cycle port, toilets with warm water washing seats, and free Wi-Fi!
For information on how to use the free Wi-Fi, please refer to the "Saitama City Official Page."
It seems like there's a place to sit and rest on the 2nd floor, so let's go check it out!
If you access from the East Exit of Omiya Station, you'll see these external stairs, so go up them.
There's also an elevator on the cycle port side of the facility.
When you go up the stairs, it looks like this!
There are 10 benches, each seating 3 people.
The gray terrace and gray benches give it an inorganic impression, and it might look better with a wooden deck, but perhaps there are durability issues.
However, having a spacious rest area near the East Exit of Omiya Station is convenient.
It seems like a good place to meet up in Omiya or to eat your lunch!
This is the view of the East Exit of Omiya Station from the end of the deck.
Hmm, it was a bit underwhelming, haha.
If you wave your hands, it's easy to spot as a meeting place.
By the way, this is what the night view looked like (visited in November 2024!)
I actually sat on the bench!
The seat is firm and not very comfortable, but the benches are spaced wide apart, making it easy to use even with a large number of people.
And, the view from the bench is a pity, as you can clearly see the job advertisement sign for "Vanilla Vanilla" haha.
This is the view behind the terrace.
Perhaps to dispel the inorganic impression, a green wall was provided to some extent on the building side.
By the way, Omiya Minami Ginza, also known as Nangin, is right behind it and is a bustling entertainment district.
There are many catchers at night, and the area isn't very safe.
This rest area seems better to use during the daytime, as it might attract some unsavory characters in the early morning and late night hours.
Now, when you go down to the 1st floor, there's a cycle port.
I visited during the Obon holiday, and quite a few people were renting them.
It seems like a good idea for a walk around Hikawa Shrine and Hikawa Sando.
[Related] Benches surrounded by the green of Hikawa Sando
There were notices posted.
No camping or smoking is allowed.
UDCO, which created the terrace, seems to be working on other projects as well.
The sidewalks near the Omiya Ward Office, with their randomly placed guardrails, might also be reborn with an advanced design.
What do you think?
It's close to Omiya Station and has free Wi-Fi, so it's quite convenient.
However, being in front of the station, the environment and scenery of the rest area were not the best.
There are many seats and a decent amount of space, so it seems like it would be good for families with children who want to take a break during the daytime.
By the way, there is no roof, so please be careful.
So, how about using it as a resting place around Omiya?