New in Saitama in 2022: Crayon Shinchan play area in Lalaport, Fujimi. Unfortunately, the very first “permanent” (the irony) indoor TeamLab Islands in Lalaport Fujimi, closed permanently on January 17th 2021. The space were it once held a place in the heart of Lalaport, was empty for a year andRead 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), it is said by many, is 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, whichRead More →
The latest information for the hanachozu floral fonts, light up and other events by a local, regular visitor of the temple. Saimyouji (Kawagoe, Saitama) is an 800 year old temple, known as a LGBTQ+ friendly, discrimination free temple. Saimyouji, Kawagoe The temple is also known as Yokoyama Saimyouji, or SaimyojiRead More →
Donguri Yama Totoro in Tokigawa is one of at least five Totoro spots in Saitama Prefecture. 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 beRead More →
A floor by floor guide of the Kadokawa Musashino Museum, also known as the Kadokawa Culture Museum or Kadcul for short. Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture. The Kadokawa Musashino Museum is a fusion of museum, art gallery, culture and library. It opened on August 1st 2020. The museum is from oneRead 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 →
A succinct guide to Tokorozawa Sakura Town, Japan’s newest and coolest pop culture town. Sakura Town Shin Tokorozawa is part of the Cool Japan Forest Project, an initiative between Kadokawa Corporation and Tokorozawa city. It is located in Saitama Prefecture, very close to Tokyo. The development includes a library museumRead More →
An account of visiting the Umbrella Sky “Forest and Lake and Umbrella“ aka Umbrella Sky Project / Umbrella Street in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. The umbrella sky in Metsa* is one of the most famous and most popular summer events in Saitama Prefecture annually. (Since 2023 it is now in springRead More →