Yamada Spring Festival is held annually in March in the Chichibu area of Saitama Prefecture. It is on in early March, usually on the second Sunday of the month. In 2023, that will be Sunday March 12th. They say the festival marks the coming of Spring. This will be theRead More →
Each year Renkeiji plays a pivotal role in the opening ceremony of the annual Koedo Kawagoe Spring Festival. This year, they have a special treat for the 2023 opening weekend of the spring festival; a wine festa! Lots and lots of wine. This is insider information for this event asRead More →
Information for the 2023 sakura boat ride on the Shingashi River at the back of Hikawa Shrine. One of the most popular events of the larger Koedo Kawagoe Spring Festival. Quick update 3.45 pm March 8th: the tickets for the boat ride sold out in less than two hours! ThereRead More →
Information for a Lego Festival in select Lego stores in Saitama Prefecture in 2023. From public holiday Thursday February 23rd to Sunday February 26th four branches of the Lego Store in Saitama Prefecture are having a “Lego Festival” for children. In addition, a branch in Tsuchiura in Ibaraki and anotherRead More →
Kitamoto City has dozens of cherry blossom spots, including one of the five great sakura of Japan. They also have several cherry blossom festivals in different areas of the city, but this one – The Kitamoto Cherry Blossom Festival – is the main one. Throughout the pandemic, at least oneRead More →
Hodoji in Shiki City will hold their third Hodoji Market on the Emperor’s birthday, Thursday February 23rd 2023. Hodoji or Hodo Temple (also spelt Houdoji) is a popular place for tree blossoms in Shiki City. Both the plum blossoms and the cherry blossoms are well known at the temple. ThisRead More →
The Kagura of Omiya Sumiyoshi Shrine is a designated intangible folk cultural property of both Saitama Prefecture and Japan. On February 23rd each year, they dedicate the first of three annual kagura performances at the shrine. Kagura is a type of ritual Shinto dance dedicated to the Gods. Historically, ShintoRead More →
Ageo City have confirmed they will once again have their cherry blossom festival in 2023. They were one of the few that had it in 2022 too, after two years of being cancelled. The Ageo Cherry Blossom Festival is held in two different locations in the city… Ageo Cherry BlossomRead More →
Hanno Hina – Almost every city and town in Japan display Hina dolls for the dolls festival leading up to girls day, March 3rd, annually. But some towns or cities celebrate the dolls festival in a bigger way. In Saitama the four cities best known for their dolls festival hinaRead More →
Information for the annual Tsurugashima Cherry Blossom Festival and general information for Tsurugashima Sports Park. Tsurugashima Sports Park Tsurugashimashi Sports Park isn’t a particularly large park and, if you are not playing sports, nor is it a particularly engaging park. However, it has two things going for it; cherry blossomsRead More →