A special Thomas the Tank Engine Steam Adventure exhibition is coming to the Kadokawa Culture Museum in Tokorozawa Sakura Town this summer. The official website has not yet been updated with the event information, but the official Twitter account has the links. You will also find them below. The fullRead More →
A giant cedar with seasonal flowers and a Catbus Bus Stop in the Hiki District of Saitama Prefecture. Thanks to volunteer work I do with a team of fellow “Hikijin” and Hiki District lovers, I heard about this completely off the beaten path nature spot in the mountains of TokigawaRead More →
In the most unlikely of places, in an old run down park in Ogano town, there is currently a Doko Demo “Anywhere Door”. An “Anywhere Door”, or doko demo door is one of the gadgets in the highly popular Doraemon cartoon in Japan. It is a bright pink door thatRead More →
Washinomiya Shrine (previously Washimiya Shrine) is known as the oldest shrine in the Kanto region. It is located in Kuki City, Saitama Prefecture, just North of Tokyo. There is a lot a debate over the age of the shrine. Some put it at 1900 years old, which actually wouldn’t makeRead More →
EJ Anime Hotel opened within the “cool Japan” Sakura Town Shin Tokorozawa in Autumn of 2020. The Sakura Town is a project by the Kadokawa Corporation- one of the largest publishing companies in Japan – and Tokorozawa city. Apart from books, mooks, magazines and manga, Kadokawa also produce games, animeRead More →
The latest information in English on the web for LGBTQ+ friendly, discrimination free 800 year old Saimyouji, Kawagoe. Includes information for seasonally themed floral water fonts, temple illumination and new in 2021 – wind chimes. New in 2021 The latest addition to the temple, May 2021, are wind chimes. ItsRead More →
Donguri Yama Totoro in Tokigawa is one of three Totoro Instaspot in Saitama. That is, places with characters from the Ghibli Movie My Neighbor Totoro. The one at Donguri Yama Totoro is just a quick stop for a photo opportunity with Totoro, if you happen to be in Tokigawa. ItRead More →
Metsä Village – Metsa Village opened in Hanno City in Saitama Prefecture on November 9th 2018. Metsa Village is the free part of the larger “Metsa”, a Finnish leisure park around Miyazawa lake. The charged area is a Moomin theme park Moominvalley Park. The resort encompasses relaxation, activities, shopping andRead More →
Hemulen’s Playground at Moomin Valley Park. Moomin Valley Park is one of the two key areas of Metsa, a Finnish theme park in Hanno, Saitama. Moomin Valley Park has an entry fee, but it is a reasonable at 1,500 yen per person. The other area of the resort is MetsaRead More →
I’ve been itching to share our adventures at Moomin Valley Park. Yesterday was a precursor with information about the Umbrella Sky Project. Today, a teaser with information about just one attraction – the Kokemus Exhibition Facility. Moomin Valley Park (in Metsa) Moomin Valley Park is the part you pay intoRead More →