Iruma Mando Festival – Mando or Mandou 万燈 means 10,000 lights and is a type of Japanese lantern. For this, the biggest annual festival held in Iruma, the festival field is decorated with Mandou (pictured). There are a huge amount of events you can enjoy from traditional floats and music to modernRead More →
The Urawa Misono Festival¹ and fireworks were cancelled in both 2020 and 2021. I am so happy they are back in 2022. For one, the day time event is a railway festival, held in and around Urawa Misono Station. Who doesn’t love a railway festival!? Moreover, at night fireworks areRead More →
A notable absence from the blog all these years, the cosmos at Kazo Miraikan has been on my “must visit” list for far too long! I finally visited yesterday. And while they were nothing like I had expected, that is not necessarily a bad thing! From the photos I’ve seenRead More →
You can find one of the official top 100 Natural Scenic Spots of Saitama, a manjushage* colony, in Kawagoe. It is on the outskirts of Kawagoe in an area called Hiratsuka Shinden. It is located along the Iruma river, between Ochiai bridge on route 254 and Hiratsuka bridge on routeRead More →
The Shiki Halloween Fair, or Halloween ennichi ハロウィン縁日 in Japanese, is scheduled to take place at Pair Mall for the first time in three years. Pair Mall is in Shiki City, close to Yanasegawa Station. This is an area known for its beautiful cherry blossoms in spring, which also featureRead More →
Anitamasai – Saitama’s largest Anime / Manga festival normally takes place in October annually in Omiya. Entry to the grounds is free. However, in both 2020 and 2021 on account of the Coronavirus the event was moved online. The organizers have confirmed that the 10th annual Anitamasai is scheduled forRead More →
Yuruchara (Yurukyara) Mascot Summit – Kanto’s largest character and mascot summit. Formerly, the world’s largest mascot event with a Guinness World Record certificate to prove it! In 2022, for the first time in three years, the event will be held at-venue. Although, its a different venue to normal! In 2020Read More →
Information for the Cainz Super Mall, Kawajima Interchange, and its annual Rainbow Festival. The Rainbow Festival is a small local type mascot event, with the mascots from each of the Rainbow Cities of Saitama Prefecture. The Rainbow Cities are Kawajima, Kawagoe, Moroyama, Ogose, Sakado and Tsurugashima. More information about theRead More →
Cosmos and fireworks, say no more! Cosmos Fireworks The former Okabe town, which is now part of Fukaya City, is renowned for its cosmos fireworks. Thankfully both the fireworks and the festival will be back in 2022 for the first time in three years. Moreover, apart from being able toRead More →
Akimode and Yatagarasu Suzu no Wa at Kawagoe Kumano Shrine, Autumn 2022. The three legged crow lanterns are up! The ring of bells is waiting to be unveiled. And the paper dolls are prepped and waiting to go. This is the scene at Kawagoe Kumano Shrine tonight, in preparation forRead More →