Both the spring and autumn versions of the bi-annual Keyaki Hiroba Beer Festival were cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. However, in spring 2022 the event came back with a vengeance, much to the delight of all and sundry. Because this is one of the most popularRead More →
To me, Kato Farm in Hidaka is a farm for the foodies, rather than the kiddies! It is a dairy farm that is quite small and, frankly, quite lackluster. But there is a reason their produce has won numerous awards over the years. They produce and sell premium milk andRead More →
Bara no Komichi is an atelier and garden cafe in Ageo City in central Saitama. Bara is the Japanese for rose and Komichi means pathway or small passage. As you might guess from the name, the showpiece of the garden is its roses. But the garden and cafe are openRead More →
The summer Afternoon Tea at Shikitei Cafe looks good enough to dive into! The cafe and restaurant in Omiya Rikyu Saitama City, is offering a lagoon themed princess afternoon tea for their summer season in 2022. Omiya Rikyu is a wedding venue, so the building and gardens are beautifully kept.Read More →
Komonoyasan means accessory shop. But this little gem along the Toki River is actually an outdoor cafe, rich in character and charm. Furthermore, it is a particularly photogenic cafe; in a scenic natural setting with dozens of photo props. Currently, you can get a front row seat to the yaezakuraRead More →
The Sweet Potato Expo is annual food event in February at Saitama Shintoshin in Saitama City. It is the largest sweet potato fair in all of Japan. Furthermore, it is one of few food events that was not cancelled due to the pandemic. Moreover, in 2022, they have a summerRead More →
In praise of Culture Cafe Grandir and 5½ other reasons to visit “Little America”, Johnson Town, in Saitama Prefecture. Johnson Town Johnson town, at the site of the former American military Johnson Air base, is a collection of stores, cafes & restaurants and private residences in Iruma City, Saitama Prefecture.Read More →
Meat meets music fes – a six day meat and music festival in the heart of Saitama Prefecture. Saitama loves their meat ‘festivals’. Before I removed the events calendar from the blog, several annual meat festivals were featured. However, in 2020 on account of the Coronvirus none of them wentRead More →
A new gelateria “Japan Gelateria Asanoha”opened in Kawajima town on Friday July 30th. The gelateria is just one of four businesses in what they have called “Ebisu 1st Place”, an initiative by the Soh Corporation. The other three are a barbecue service, a fish restaurant “Jiro Charcoal Grill” and aRead More →
‘Tapioca and Tart’ at Layer cafe, located along the Arakawa riverbed on the grounds of a Karinto factory in Fukaya. Layer Cafe Layer cafe opened on the grounds of Asahi Karinto’s Hanazono factory in April 2020. Karinto is a type of sweet deep fried traditional Japanese snack food. The frontRead More →