Places to see / smell wintersweet in Saitama Prefecture in 2023. On December 22nd 2022 Nagatoro tourism association reported that the wintersweet have started to bloom on Mt Hodo. They are usually the first, but it won’t be long until the other wintersweet in the prefecture start to bloom. ByRead More →
Seasonal information for the Plum Blossoms at Shinrin Park. Also, information for February flowers in the park was added to this post on January 31st 2022. Shinrin Park Plum Blossoms Shinrin Park have a type of early blooming plum blossom that flowers around mid January. They have other varieties thatRead More →
Latest update December 2022 – This event is not on in 2022. And it doesn’t look like it will be on in January 2023 either. Valley of Light is Saitama Prefecture’s brand new illumination display. Every year when I’m writing up the “ten places to see illumination” in Saitama, I’veRead More →
Nosaka-ji (Nosaka Temple) the 12th stop on the Chichibu 34 temple pilgrimage, 秩父札所十二番 野坂寺. Nosaka-ji A few years ago while at Hitsujiyama Park for the moss phlox, my family and I went for a hike in the area. We found this stunning temple on our way. Furthermore, it had beautifulRead More →
Every year on January 3rd, Kitain temple in Kawagoe have a Daruma market as part of their New Year celebrations. January 3rd marks the final day (of three) of the official New Year period at Kitain. Approximately 440,000 people visit Kitain over those three days for the first prayers ofRead More →
Onouchi Icicles are one of three icicle winter spectacles of Chichibu. The icicles are located in Ogano Town, deep in the Okuchichibu mountain range. Until 2021 they were called Onouchi Hyakkei. “Hyakkei” means hundred and the Saitama Prefectural Tourism website translated the icicles name as Onouchi Hundred Icicles. However, theyRead More →
Everyday UFO Catcher Amusement, a crane game center in Gyoda City Saitama Prefecture, claims to hold the world record for the most crane games in one store. Tripadvisor says that it is a Guinness World Record, but the official website does not claim it as a “Guinness Record”. Moreover, theRead More →
Information for the Kotatsu Boat Nagatoro in 2023, one of several winter only activities in Nagatoro in the Chichibu district of Saitama Prefecture. Its all happening in Nagatoro and Chichibu in January! Icicles, strawberry picking, wintersweet festival and a truly only in Japan activity of Kotatsu boat riding! From JanuaryRead More →
The Fukuda area of Kawagoe is the main home of the Kawagoe Satoyama Initiative. As part of the initiative they have several seasonal events in the area. Most of which are free. I wrote about the Strawberry Candle and Lotus grass before, but I didn’t get around to writing (inRead More →
If you are looking for somewhere to meet Santa Claus in 2022, the list is now ready: Places you can meet Santa Claus in 2021 Santa Claus is coming to the Greater Tokyo area in December 2021. However, due to the pandemic, he can only make a few public appearancesRead More →