To me, Kato Farm in Hidaka is a farm for the foodies, rather than the kiddies! It is a dairy farm that is quite small and, frankly, quite lackluster. But there is a reason their produce has won numerous awards over the years. They produce and sell premium milk andRead More →
In praise of Culture Cafe Grandir and 5 other reasons to visit “Little America”, Johnson Town, in Saitama Prefecture. Johnson Town Johnson town, at the site of the former American military Johnson Air base, is a collection of stores, cafes & restaurants and private residences in Iruma City, Saitama Prefecture.Read More →
Moominvalley park winter festival 2021 – 2022 ~ Information for the annual winter event at Moominvalley Park in Metsa, Hanno City, Saitama Prefecture. Winter festival Moominvalley park reopened for business today, Friday December 10th, after a short temporary closure for renovations. The winter festival started today with the reopening. TheRead More →
Autumn leaves at Sai no Mori Park, November 11th 2021. Sai no Mori Iruma Park Sai no Mori Iruma Park is located right beside the Japan Air Self Defense Force Iruma Air Base, famed for its annual air show. If you come by car and are using the official carRead More →
Moominvalley Park Harvest 2021 in the Moomin theme park at Metsa, Hanno, Saitama. This year it is called “Very Berry Harvest”. The featured image above is from the official Moomin Japan website. Update November 2021: due to its popularity, the Harvest “Balloon Sky” event has been extended until November 28th.Read More →
Koma Jinja aka Koma Shrine, Hidaka, Saitama Prefecture Many years ago my husband and I visited a shrine on the way home from Chichibu. I didn’t think too much of it to be honest. The thatched roof former residence – a nationally designated Important Cultural property – out the backRead More →
Kinchakuda is synonymous with red spider lilies in Saitama. Furthermore, it is the most famous of the three red spider lily festivals of Saitama. Moreover, the carpet of spiny red flowers is one of the most famous autumn scenes in all of Japan. However, there are also smaller red spiderRead More →
Along the scenic route 299 from Hidaka to Yokoze (Chichibu), there is a very picturesque temple – Chonenji – that scintillates in June with stunning hydrangea. I had this one saved on my Google Maps with a note “hydrangea”. However, I have absolutely no recollection of making that note orRead More →
Kinchakuda in spring: cherry blossoms, rapeseed (canola flowers) and purple flowers Kinchakuda needs little introduction. If you don’t know it by name, you’ll know it as the most famous place for red spider lilies in Japan. However, what you might not know about Kinchakuda is that it is not justRead More →
Forest and Lake and Fireworks – the 2021 Metsa Fireworks in Hanno, Saitama, were scheduled for Saturday September 11th and Saturday October 16th. However, unfortunately (but understandably) they were subsequently cancelled due to the Coronavirus. The featured image is from the official Metsa website. All information hereafter for the 2020Read More →