Omiya Hana no Oka, or Omiya Hananooka Norin Garden as it is called on Google Maps, is a small but beautiful park in Saitama City with flowers every month of the year. Right now in January 2023 there are already plum blossoms in bloom. The pansies are in bloom too.Read More →
Seasonal blooms including daffodils, cherry blossoms, hydrangea, sunflowers and spider lilies at Gongendo Park, Satte, Saitama Gongendo Park Gongendo is a prefectural park located in Satte city in the North East of Saitama Prefecture. The park has three separate parts. Currently there is a number 1, 3 and 4 park.Read More →
Information for the winter and spring peonies and peony festival at Botanen, Higashimatsuyama. Botanen Park in Higashimatsuyama is the largest peony garden in all of Japan. However, more than just a peony garden, it is also a small park with several things to offer. In recent years, the winter peonyRead More →
Halloween Kitamoto – In a usual year; Trick-or-Treat, Halloween Photo Spots, Costume Competition and booths with food and hands on experiences in the Kitamoto Higashichuo Shopping district. However, the event did not go ahead in 2021. And as of September 29th 2022, it does not seem to be scheduled forRead More →
The Yamabuki no Sato Historical Park: One of the few Yamabuki (yellow rose) flower spots, and the most famous for Kerria Japonica, in the Kanto plain. Information for the 2023 ‘yellow rose’ Yamabuki Festival is included in this post. Yamabuki Yamabuki are a beautiful vivid yellow flower. The flower isRead More →
Daily Coronavirus updates sources of information for Saitama Prefecture in 2021 Saitama Coronavirus 2021 After 7 months of doing a daily report on the Covid-19 figures and coronavirus news for Saitama Prefecture, I regrettably have to give it up indefinitely. I am very sorry, particularly to those who’ve been followingRead More →
Kijin (Kidin) shrine: one of only four shrines nationwide dedicated to demon. Hot on the heels of the New Year celebrations, is Setsubun. Setsubun is a festival marking the end of winter and coming of spring. It is celebrated annually on the 3rd of February. Shrines and temples around theRead More →
January in Japan Have you always wanted to visit Japan, but its a little on the pricey side for you? Or maybe you’ve been to Japan several times and seen the cherry blossoms, autumn leaves and summer festivals. What next? Without a moment’s hesitation, after 20 years living in Japan,Read More →