Jomine Park in the unassuming Kamikawa Town in the North of Saitama is one of Japan’s most famous winter cherry blossoms spots. Moreover, it is one of only a handful of places in Japan where you can see red maple leaves and cherry blossoms at the same time. Normally, theRead More →
Information for the plumed cockscomb, also known as Celosia (or Keito in Japanese), at Shinrin Park aka Musashi Kyuryou National Government Park, Namegawa in Saitama Prefecture. One of the highlights of Autumn at Shinrin Park is the field of plumed cockscomb, or Celosia, plants that grow in September and October.Read More →
Information for one of Saitama’s most famous campsites: the scenic, riverside Nagatoro Autocamp. Chichibu is one of my favorite areas in Saitama due to the abundance of nature. It is a very beautiful part of Saitama, and indeed the Kanto area. And due to its accessibility from and proximity toRead More →
Parks in Kawagoe – Oisezuka Park on the outskirts of Kawagoe, near Tsurugashima and Sakado Cities. It is relatively close to Kawajiama Town too. It is neither the largest nor the most popular, but it has a few things going for it that bring a regular stream of visitors. Moreover,Read More →
One of my friends famously said “If you’ve seen one temple, you’ve seen them all”. There is a truth in that. However, I am quite “into” temples (and shrines). And for me, the magnificence of a temple doesn’t always lie in its appearance, but rather in the history and meaning.Read More →
Gojo waterfall, Hidaka. When I first wrote this post in 2016 there was no information in English anywhere around the web. I looked up information in Japanese and it said that the falls are named after The five virtues of Confucius, which is written “gojou” or “gojyou” in English. ButRead More →
Shinrin Park (aka Musashi Kyuryo National Government Park) confirmed today, September 2nd 2022, that they are planning to host their annual Halloween night in the Forest again this year. They had it in both 2020 and 2021 too for the record, despite the record. And I for one was veryRead More →
Kuki Shobu Park is a prefectural park that is best known for the lake that it is centered around. It is quite picturesque so you often see photos of it on Instagram. Particularly since they put in an “Anywhere Door“. Although, it is not very big and there isn’t aRead More →
Ukishima Inari Shrine is an unassuming shrine you pass on the walking route from Miyoshino Shrine heading to Naritasan and Kitain Temple. It is not particularly well known or adorned, but it has some beautiful trees including some gingko trees and other trees that are golden in November and create aRead More →
Heisei no Mori – or Heiseinomori – is a park in West Saitama in a town that has recently become better known, due to its exit on the Ken-o Expressway. Kawajima town, also referred to as Kawashima town, is beside the cities of Sakado, Kawagoe, Higashimatsuyama and Okegawa. The park hasRead More →