Before the pandemic, the Saitama Bon Odori had been held in Yono for more than 45 years. It has been greatly missed the last few years, but thankfully it is coming back in 2022. In 2022, Ryohei Kondo, artistic director of the Sai no Kuni Saitama Arts Theater, will joinRead More →
Once an off the beaten path spot for Spider lilies (aka Lycoris, Cluster Amaryllis, Equinox flower etc) in Yoshimi Town in the Hiki District of Saitama Prefecture. Where they have not just one, but two separate spider lily flower displays. One of which blooms earlier than everywhere else. In 2021Read More →
There are a few different firework displays annually in Saitama City. For example, in July there is normally a fireworks display in Owada Park and in August at least two displays, one in Higashi Urawa and another in Iwatsuki. However, in 2022 those events, along with several other Saitama CityRead More →
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 →
The Miyashiro Town Festival is scheduled for 2022 for the first time in three years. Miyashiro Town is best known for being the home to Tobu Zoo and amusement park, which incidentally has a night zoo and small fireworks display on the same night as the Miyashiro Town Festival. MiyashiroRead More →
Information for the 10th annual Kasukabe Yusuzumi Festa at Koenbashi in Kasukabe City, the home of Crayon Shinchan! Yusuzumi is generally translated as “cool evening”. But for the record, it probably won’t be very cool at this summer festival at all! However, as the venue is by the river itRead 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 has opened yearly, during the dahlia season, despite the pandemic. Mt Ryokami Dahlia Garden The DahliaRead More →
The Toda Furusato Festival has not been on for the last three years, due to the pandemic. However, they did have an online event last year instead (it was completely cancelled in 2020). But this year, 2022, it is scheduled to take place at-venue again, on Saturday August 20th andRead More →
The Ina Summer Festival and fireworks is actually (currently) scheduled to go ahead in 2022 despite the pandemic. There have been many more summer festivals this year than the last two years combined, but most of them have been in cities rather than towns. It is lovely to see aRead More →
The Tatara festival is the largest annual festival in Kawaguchi with over 160 stalls and approximately 150,000 people attending. In 2019 three major changes were made to the festival. They are outlined below. At the time of announcing the 2019 changes, the organizers stated there will be no Tatara FestivalRead More →