Iroha water park (Iroha Shinsui Park) is located along the Shingashi River in Shiki City, Saitama Prefecture. There are sections of the park straddling either side of the river South of Iroha bridge. Apart from beautiful walkways and lanes, the Iroha Water Park area of Shiki has some significant pointsRead More →
You hear so much about “ajisai dera” (hydrangea temples) at this time of year in Japan. But what about hydrangea shrines? Hundreds of shrines throughout Saitama have some hydrangea on their grounds, but for some reason its all about the hydrangea temples! Well there is an actual reason – hydrangea’sRead More →
June Saitama 2021~ Some brand new ideas specifically for 2021 in the annual list of 15 things to do in June. The attached Google My Map has also been updated and this time, I’ve added numbers for easy reference. Number 1 on the map correlates with number one on theRead More →
Takinoiri is a countryside area in Moroyama Town in the Iruma-gun of Saitama Prefecture. This remote rural scenic town is only about an hour from North West Tokyo by car. Unfortunately, by public transport it is a little trickier to get to and takes considerably longer. However, if you wantRead More →
A couple of years ago on my way from Aina Water park to Kawagoe Water park, I thought I’d attempt to beat the traffic and take a back road. On the way I passed this beautiful temple with a wooden gate. I was so intrigued I actually turned the carRead More →
Did you know that Ogose has both an Hydrangea Road and hydrangea mountain!? Before you get too excited, unfortunately there is a bit of a tale of woe to divulge first…. Ogose Hydrangea The Ajisai-kaido (hydrangea road or hydrangea way) and Ajisaiyama (Mt Ajisai, ajisai is the Japanese for hydrangea)Read More →
Information on Hanashobu, Ayame, Kakitsubata Iris flowers in Japan. In addition, information on when and where to see them in Japan. Plus bonus information for Saitama Prefecture. Iris are quite a popular and significant flower in Japan. Their bloom is said to mark the start of summer. Irises were traditionallyRead More →
There is such an obsession in Japan in spring to see the cherry blossoms, then the wisteria, the moss phlox, the azalea, the nemophila etc. Its all about one flower or bloom. But come May, its open garden season. And people turn their attention from the large displays of oneRead 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 →
Another wisteria spot in Saitama for you today – this time in Kazo City. This time, one that is quite famous. Not Ashikaga famous, but locally famous. Tamashiki shrine in Kazo may not be nationally famous for its wisteria, but it is for its kagura. The Kagura of Tamashiki ShrineRead More →