2022 Information for the annual wind chimes and glistening river at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. The Enmusubi Wind Chimes at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine are generally displayed from around the first weekend of July to the first week in September. They follow the lesser known pinwheel event. I have visited the windRead More →
Have you heard of Yoko Sakura 陽光桜 or, in English, Sunlight Cherry Blossoms? They were made relatively better known thanks to a movie about their creator in 2015. I say creator, because they are manmade. Cultivated by a school teacher, by crossbreeding the Taiwan and Amagi Yoshino cherries, in memoryRead More →
The Kasukabe Wisteria Festival was cancelled in both 2020 and 2021. However, the Wisteria of Ushijima – Tokaen, which is just one location of the Kasukabe Wisteria Festival, was open to the public. It is opening in 2022 too: from April 11th to May 5th. Update May 2nd 2022: TokaenRead More →
Ten cherry blossom spots in Kawagoe, 2022 list. The 2022 list includes “famous” locations as well as off the beaten path cherry blossom spots in Kawagoe. Some of 2022’s locations are brand new to the “insaitama” Kawagoe sakura round up post! All are mapped in a Google My Map atRead 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. (Last update: April 8th 2022) The KumagayaRead More →
Ten places for night illumination in Saitama Prefecture in the winter of 2021 / 2022. Despite the fact the vast majority of night illumination events went ahead during the pandemic in 2020 – 2021, this winter (2021 / 22) several places have opted out of winter illumination. Thankfully, although someRead More →
The Ashigakubo Icicles in 2022. The icicles are open to the public from Saturday January 8th to bank holiday Wednesday February 23rd Sunday 27th 2022. There are years when the weather interferes! For example, in 2020, due to warmer than normal weather, the event ended up starting late and endingRead More →
Seven hundred year old wisteria, a natural monument of Saitama Prefecture, in spring and hydrangea backdropped by Japan’s tallest pagoda in summer. At Aobaen in Saitama City, just North of Tokyo. In the most unlikely of places in Saitama City there are three 700 year old wisteria that are aRead More →
Saitama’s best Kawazu zakura spot? Its funny, all these years I thought Saitama didn’t really have a particularly head turning kawazu zakura spot. And then last year, I realized that we do, its just not been marketed very well. I have dozens of books about Saitama – not one hasRead More →
Seasonal blooms including daffodils, cherry blossoms, hydrangea, sunflowers and spider lilies at Gongendo Park, Satte, Saitama Gongendo Park Gongendo is a prefectural park located in Satte city in the North East of Saitama Prefecture. The park has three separate parts. Currently there is a number 1, 3 and 4 park.Read More →