Each year in August thousands of water hyacinth bloom at a roadside station in Kazo City. Doyono Furusato Otone Roadside Station attracts thousands of visitors each year when the water hyacinth are in bloom. Water hyacinth is native to the tropics. Supposedly they came to Japan in the Meiji era.Read More →
Iwatsuki Hisaizu “the peacock” Shrine is a very photogenic shrine and one of Saitama’s largest. Moreover, it is the only one I know of with resident peacocks! The Peacock Shrine! Initially the shrine was gifted three peacocks from a member of staff of the Imperial Palace. Over the years, theRead More →
Nagatoro spring leaves light up 2021 – In Japan they have a word for new leaves on a tree 新緑 “Shinryoku” which literally translates as ‘new green’. It is often translated into ‘fresh green’ in English. It is not a word we use in Ireland and it doesn’t really conveyRead More →
Hydrangea in the Minano area of Chichibu in 2021. The cherry blossoms in Minoyama Park, Chichibu, are one of Chichibu’s most famous scenes. It is nicknamed the Mount Yoshino of the kanto plain due to the 8000 blossoms atop the mountain. However, Minoyama Park also has some stunning hydrangea. AndRead More →
Sunflowers in Niiza City, Saitama Prefecture in 2021. In the Niiza Athletic Park there is a community field called Honda no Mori. Each summer in August, thousands of sunflowers bloom. However, in 2021 they have reduced the number of sunflowers. They don’t specify how many or why, but one canRead More →
To help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, Nogoji will be closed to the public from May 29th to July 4th 2021. Please note, that there are several places throughout Saitama that have decided to close to the public this year. Always check with the official source for any lastRead More →
The Naked Men Festival, Kamikawa, Saitama. Naked Men Festival The naked men festival is on the 19th of November annually, in Kamikawa town, Saitama prefecture. And during the time the festival is on there is also a winter cherry blossom festival on a ten minute drive away. The cherry blossomsRead More →
The Chichibu area is known for its Dahlia. The Dahlia Garden at Mt Ryokami Fumoto Hana no Sato is one of the largest and most popular places to see Dahlia in Saitama. The garden have confirmed that they will open to the public in 2021. Mt Ryokami Dahlia Garden TheRead More →
Yuruchara (Yurukyara) Mascot Summit 2020 – Kanto’s largest character and mascot summit with a Guinness World Record certificate to prove it! Last year, 2019, it celebrated its 10th anniversary. 311 mascots participated and 115,000 people came to celebrate with them despite the most atrocious weather that weekend! This year theRead More →
The 8th annual Sai No Kuni Cake show in Sonic City in Omiya, Saitama. From 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday the 1st of June and from 10 am to 4 pm on Sunday the 2nd of June. Several bakers and patisseries participate in this annual cake show. YouRead More →