The two newest-built sets, Ne201 and Ne202, underwent extensive refurbishment at JR East's Omiya Works and Tokyu Car Corporation's Yokohama factory to become 253-1000 series sets OM-N1 and OM-N2 for use on Nikkō and Kinugawa limited express services jointly operated with Tobu Railway from 4 June 2011, replacing the 485 series and 189 series EMUs currently used.
Yono Station and Saitama-Shintoshin Station on the Keihin-Tōhoku Line (the latter also on the Takasaki and Tōhoku Main Lines) straddle the border between Chūō-ku and other Saitama wards, but are officially located in Urawa-ku and Ōmiya-ku respectively.
In the northerly direction, there are trains just as frequently to Kasukabe and Ōmiya.
In January 2001, Omiya Ardija sent Kawashima overseas to train with Parma F.C. in the Serie A league in Italy.
Yamazaki consulted with Masutatsu Ōyama and Ōyama obtained clearance for Yamazaki to open a karate dojo at Ōmiya in 1977.