What started out as a 100 participant parade in 2014 has grown exponentially with an estimated 1000 parade participants in 2016, and around 5000 spectators in 2017. By 2018 the event was the largest Halloween event in Saitama. In 2019 – the largest in Kita-Kanto! 2020 – cancelled. 🙁 TheRead More →
The Denjiro Science Show, live performance, report from Fresa Yoshimi, Summer 2019. Denjiro Yonemura Denjiro Yonemura is Japan’s “mad scientist”. You may have seen him on the TV, perform one of his magic like experiments or science projects. They are normally playful and involve the participation of at least oneRead More →
The Iwatsuki Ningyo Museum is opening on February 22nd 2020. Some really exciting news for Saitama city. A new dolls museum the “Iwatsuki Ningyo Museum” is opening next year, 2020. It makes perfect sense to have a ningyo museum in a town filled with doll manufacturing history and culture. AndRead More →
Kawagoe Remix is coming back in 2022 for the first time in 3 years. However, unfortunately, it is a lite version of the usual event. Essentially Kawagoe Remix is normally a music, art, food and light up event. In 2022, it is mainly just a music event. Kawagoe Remix inRead More →
It is unlikely that the Saitama Beer Festa will be on in 2021. The event was cancelled in 2020. Moreover, during the period of coronavirus events with alcohol have been strongly discouraged by the Prefectural Government. In a “normal” year, this event is generally held from the end of SeptemberRead More →
Kamitome Festival: Experience life like a local at this annual local traditional festival in Miyoshi Town in Saitama Prefecture. Read More →
Hemulen’s Playground at Moomin Valley Park. Moomin Valley Park is one of the two key areas of Metsa, a Finnish theme park in Hanno, Saitama. Moomin Valley Park has an entry fee, but it is a reasonable at 1,500 yen per person. The other area of the resort is MetsaRead More →
General information about wintersweet aka Japanese allspice aka Robai, as well as the latest information for the Wintersweet at Hodosan Robaien (Nagatoro) in January 2023. In this post: Wintersweet Wintersweet, also known as Japanese Allspice, or by its scientific name Chimonanthus praecox, is a winter blooming deciduous shrub that isRead More →
Inomata Hundred Light festival, or Inomata 108 lights, is one of 312 Important Intangible Folk Properties of Japan. It is held annually on the 15th of August in the Inomata area of Misato in the Kodama District of Saitama. Furthermore, it is the unique bon ceremony of the town withRead More →
The Nagatoro Funadama (Funatama) Festival is not open to the public in 2022. Moreover, they will only be carrying out the religious elements of the festival. There will be no boats or lanterns or fireworks. The festival was not on in 2021 either. On April 27th 2020, months ahead ofRead More →