Kita-in / Kitain Temple sakura matsuri and cherry blossom spot in Kawagoe

Kitain Temple Cherry Blossoms in Kawagoe City, Saitama, Japan. Kitain is a stunning Buddhist temple with pagoda in the tourist city of Kawagoe – a popular day trip destination from Tokyo. It is an ideal location for combining Japanese culture, history and cherry blossom viewing. Kitain Cherry Blossoms Kitian hasRead More →

Shiroyama Park

We’ve been hanging out in Shiroyama park quite a lot recently. Thanks to the Family Walker magazine featuring the new piece of playground equipment (the red and white pirate ship pictured below) and suggesting it as a hanami location. We had visited a few times in the past, but it didn’t make that much ofRead More →

CHerry blossoms Mihashi park

Mihashi Park –  Mihashi Recreational Park, 三橋総合公園, is a park enjoyed by locals in Nishi ward. Unlike other parks in the area it has plenty of free parking and for the most part it is free to play in, but the sporting facilities have a nominal fee. They also haveRead More →

Witch-hazel flower

Suitable for a day trip from Tokyo, Chikozan park is a Multi-purpose park with Campsite, BBQ, Zoo, Fishing, Sport facilities, Athletic Playground, Multi-use Playground, Beautiful Flora and Fauna with seasonal flower festivals Chikozan Park Chikozan Park in Sayama is a beautiful, vast park with lots of attractions for all typesRead More →

A monkey in a hot spring in Saitama Prefecture for a Monkey onsen event all winter

Information for the small, but affordable Chikozan Park Zoo in Sayama City, Saitama Prefecture. Also included: information for the animal onsen – monkeys and capybaras – each winter at the zoo. In addition, new (on this post) in 2023: the Hina Dolls Display, Guinea Pig version! With the excellent SaitamaRead More →

Enomoto Dairy Farm

Enomoto Dairy Farm – family run, amiable dairy farm in rural Ageo, Saitama, but close to big cities and even Tokyo itself. The Enomoto Dairy Farm reminds me of the farms at home in Ireland. Its most famous acclaim is its delicious ice-cream, or as they call it ‘gelato’, which hasRead More →