A long term resident of Saitama Prefecture
The Motoara River Cherry Blossom festival, also known as the Fukiage Cherry Blossom Festival, is another of Saitama’s well known locations for hanami (cherry blossom festival). Especially with locals. The Motoara River in Fukiage may not be in the top 100 spots to view cherry blossoms, but it is in theRead More →
Minoyama Park straddles both Minano and Chichibu cities with 41 hectares of sprawling nature. Furthermore, it is just one part of the larger Prefectural Nature Park. Moreover, the park is located on a 581 meter high ridge which affords magnificent panorama views. The park has become increasingly well known forRead More →
Omiya Park Cherry Blossoms in 2022 – Omiya Park is a popular spot for locals, tourists and expats alike to enjoy hanami, cherry blossom viewing. Its proximity to Tokyo on top of the stunning scenery and lively atmosphere is one of the big draws of this annual festival which attractsRead More →
The Kumagaya Cherry Blossoms with rapeseed flowers along the riverbank is one of Saitama’s famous images. Furthermore, the cherry blossoms there have been celebrated since the Edo period. Moreover, the area is listed as one of Japan’s top 100 cherry blossom viewing spots. The Kumagaya Cherry Blossom Festival was cancelledRead More →
Until last year, 2021, there were two separate flower festivals in Nagatoro in winter. However, from this year they are merging them both and inaugurating the Nagatoro Winter Flower Story event. The flowers in question, or more accurately tree blossoms, are wintersweet and plum blossoms. Both of which grow onRead More →
Omiya Daini Park is one of Omiya’s three eponymous public parks. They are all located relatively close together, but Omiya Dai Ni, or Omiya second park in English, and Omiya Dai San, Omiya third park, are right beside each other. Omiya Dai Ni park is best known for its plum blossomsRead More →
Natural Outdoor Ice Rink, Tokigawa. At one point it looked like Tokigawa town wouldn’t be opening the Kasa Skate rink in the winter of 2022. But then around the middle of December, they tweeted to say that they would open after all. And they started the rink preparation then. OnRead 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. Thousands of people visit over those three days for the first prayers of theRead More →
Information for the 2021 Fresa Yoshimi Illumination. In 2020 the event didn’t go ahead due to the Coronavirus. But in 2021 it is going ahead exactly because of the Coronavirus. As their website says, “we thought that it was necessary to have the light up event, in order to brightenRead More →
The Otaki Ice festival, illuminated Misotsuchi Icicles in 2022 – One of the most famous, and beautiful, winter scenes of Saitama is at the Otaki Ice Festival. Located in the former Otaki village (now part of Chichibu city) in the Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park. The Misotsuchi Icicles are the only naturallyRead More →