Toryu bridge (also called Toryumon) is over the Ara River (Arakawa) in the Mitsumine area of the former Otaki Village in Chichibu, Saitama. Toryu Bridge Toryu Bridge is a footbridge at the start of the “omotesando”, the sacred trail, to the famous Mitsumine Shrine. The hike from the bridge toRead More →
Summer flowers around the central gate of Shinrin Park, Namegawa, in 2020. The weather forecast predicted a cloudy day, not ideal for photographing flowers, but great for avoiding sunburn and sunstroke. I thought it would comfortable weather for a five kilometre walk to take in the summer flowers in ShinrinRead More →
Nolla Naguri is the latest Scandinavian themed leisure area to open in Hanno City in Saitama Prefecture. Hot on the heels of Metsa and Moominvalley park, Nolla Naguri is making full use of the Nordic vibes of the Naguri area of Hanno to promote yet another “Scandinavian living” type resortRead More →
Oh! (Fermentation, Health, Food Magic!!) is the name of the latest 10,000 m² food theme park coming to Hanno City in Saitama Prefecture. Originally supposed to open this spring, the date was pushed back to summer initially. It was further pushed back on account of the Coronavirus. In addition, onRead More →
The 2021 Inohana Amazake Festival is cancelled. Inohana Amazake Festival or Inohana Sweet Sake Festival is one of those “only in Japan” type of festivals. And even within that category it is one of the more unusual ones. Near naked men, donning only a lion cloth, throw sake at eachRead More →
Summer sunflowers AND Autumn sunflowers, Ancient Lotus, Cosmos and Hydrangea in the Isanuma area of Kawagoe. At Isa Marsh and the Isa marsh East Bank Flower Garden or Isanuma Tōgan Hanabatake in Japanese. Jump to Autumn Sunflowers. New cafe with a great outdoor seating area added in spring 2021. IsaRead More →
Kotoku Temple (Kotoku-ji Temple) is a temple belonging to the Shingon sect Toyozan school. According to official records the temple den, the main hall and the monastery were destroyed by fire in both Shoho (1644 – 48) and Kyoho (1716 – 1736) eras. However, incredibly and luckily for us exceptRead More →
Kumagaya is hot, hot, hot! But this is the coolest idea ever! A sunflower maze to put a smile on any face. Endo farm have posted that the “dai ichi” sunflower field is blooming now (July 27th) but is temporarily closed due to the typhoon. They will open again fromRead More →
Summer in Saitama 2021 – Just like last year, summer will be quite different to life before the pandemic. We are still in the shadow of the Coronavirus outbreak in Japan. And with vaccinations having only really begun in May 2021, many of us will not get be able toRead More →
This is one post I am particularly happy to be bringing you! We have been trying to stay at Kinomura Camp in Tokigawa for the last five years. However, as it is extremely popular we have never been able to secure a booking for a date we wanted. This year,Read More →