Each year after the Kawazuzakura and before the Somei Yoshino bloom, the striking Jindai Akebono variety showcase their beautiful pale pink petals. For several years, I have visited a secret spot in Kumagaya for Jindai Akebono. When I say “secret”, it wasn’t that I was keeping them secret, but thatRead More →
Information for the Soka Cherry Blossoms / The 35th annual Soka Cherry Blossom Festival. In both 2020 and 2021 the Soka Cherry Blossom Festival was cancelled on account of the pandemic. In 2022, it was on for the first time in three years, but without festival stalls. This year, 2023,Read More →
The Trick Art exhibition at Sayama City Museum is back and looks even better than the last one in 2018! As we have not yet been to the 2023 version, the photos in this post – apart from the official flyer – are from the 2018 exhibition. The Sayama MunicipalRead More →
An Air Base Cherry Blossom Festival in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Between 2020 and 2022 the cherry blossom festival at Kumagaya Air base was cancelled on account of the pandemic. However, they actually set a date for the 2022 cherry blossom festival. They announced it really early on too, in theRead More →
Cherry Blossoms and boat ride, Shingashi River – Kawagoe is just 31 minutes from Ikebukuro, Tokyo, on the Tobu Tojo line. It is a popular tourist town. One of Kawagoe’s most spectacular spots to enjoy “sakura” is out the back of Hikawa shrine, where the cherry blossoms line the Shingashi River. UntilRead More →
For the first time in four years, Hanno will host their popular spring, aka cherry blossom, festival in 2023. Within Hanno, Hanno Central park and the area around Mt Tenran are particularly well known for their beautiful sakura trees. The festival is on in the former: Hanno Central Park. InRead More →
Cherry blossoms and rapeseed, aka Sakura and Nanohana, Saitama Prefecture 2023. There are so many somei yoshino cherry blossoms – here, there and everywhere. And indeed rapeseed, aka canola flower or nanohana, here, there and everywhere too. But the combination of both… a sight to behold! There are plenty ofRead More →
Ten cherry blossom spots in Kawagoe. The list includes “famous” locations as well as off the beaten path cherry blossom spots in Kawagoe. All locations are mapped on a Google My Map at the bottom of the page. There is another very special and completely off the beaten path cherryRead More →
Konosu Park is located beside Shouganji¹ temple, which is a famous doll temple. The temple is renowned for its unique “Doll Memorial Service”. Konosu Park is relatively small, but during the cherry blossom season it attracts hundreds of visitors for its mature cherry blossoms. The scene of the temple gatesRead More →
The Kasukabe Wisteria Festival was cancelled between 2020 and 2022. However, the Wisteria of Ushijima – Tokaen, which is just one location of the Kasukabe Wisteria Festival, was open to the public. And it is opening in 2023 too: from Saturday April 15th to Friday May 5th. Please note, itRead More →