Named “Sole”, as in the Italian for sun, this community play center in Higashimatsuyama is particularly nice. In Japanese, these type of children’s community center are called either a Jidokan 児童館 or a Jido Center 児童センター. In Higashimatsuyama, they refer to them as Jidokan. More often than the children playRead More →
Best of Saitama: the sprawling lush Musashi Kyuryo National Government Park, aka Shinrin Park: Musashi Kyuryo National Government Park West Gate Central Gate North Gate South Gate The Playgrounds of Shinrin Park Adventure Playground Musashi kids dome Giant Ball Area Ponpoko Mountain (Water play areas are included in seasonal attractionsRead More →
Named after the flower of Okegawa, Benibana Walk is a mall by the supermarket Apita. They have a better known sister mall in Higashimatsuyama called Peony Walk. Benibana is lesser in every way: smaller, less shops, fewer play areas and services. Benibana Walk It opened in November 2014 and weRead More →
Yasai Shokudo Cafe, Books, wood museum, play area and Suichurakuen Aquarium – Tokinosumika, Gotemba, Shizuoka Prefecture Formerly called “Books and Cafe”, the Books and Aquarium is a leisure area of the excellent Tokinosumika resort in Gotemba. The books area is part of a cafe now called Yasai Shokudo Rafu. IfRead More →
The Japanese sougou 総合 is used to indicate a multi-purpose park and that is exactly what Hidaka Sougou park is. It is often translated into Hidaka Total Park in English. The park is free in, with free parking. It is close to the golf course for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. HereRead More →
Saitama Museum of Rivers, as the name implies – a river museum, is located in Yorii town. It is home to the largest water mill in Japan. It has a number of facilities available under the general admission price including their main educational hall where children can learn about rivers inRead More →