Kaminuma and Shimonuma are two parks around marshes in urban Higashimatsuyama. They are a ten minute walk apart, but they are often grouped together as if one park. Kaminuma Park is larger and the main of the two. Neither are particularly exciting parks, but both are pretty in spring whenRead More →
The “Land of Dreams, Season 2”, is the sixth annual Higashimatsuyama illumination display. It is not particularly big, but it is particularly photogenic, as it is made up of several photo spots. Furthermore, it is not just in one location, but a total of four parks around Higashimatsuyama. This postRead More →
The Batou Kannon Ema market is an only in Japan festival. Actually, there are only a few places in Japan that have an ema festival or market, so this festival is quite unique even in Saitama Prefecture too. Ema are the wooden prayer plaques or votive tablets you see atRead More →
The Capybara Onsen, aka hot spring, is one of the (thee?) most popular annual events at the Saitama Children’s Zoo. Indeed the love of the Capybara Onsen in general is a phenomenon hard to explain – you just have to go and see for yourself. I guarantee you, even theRead More →
For the third year in a row, the Higashimatsuyama Fireworks have been cancelled on account of the pandemic. There will be no firework displays in Higashimatsuyama city in 2022. Official notification Higashimatsuyama Fireworks 2020 The 2020 Higashimatsuyama fireworks have been cancelled due to the Coronavirus Outbreak. The 2020 Higashimatsuyama summerRead More →
Iwadono Kannon is the most common name used for Shoboji temple in Higashimatsuyama. However, on Google maps its called Shōbōji and that is the name that has stuck with me. The legendary gingko tree at Shoboji is one of my personal favorite posts on this blog! But there is moreRead More →
Information for the winter and spring peonies and peony festival at Botanen, Higashimatsuyama. Botanen Park in Higashimatsuyama is the largest peony garden in all of Japan. However, more than just a peony garden, it is also a small park with several things to offer. In recent years, the winter peonyRead More →
Every November in Japan there are chrysanthemum festivals all around the country where you can see potted chrysanthemum displays. However, there are only a few places where you can actually see chrysanthemum flower beds. In Saitama anyway. One place you can see chrysanthemum growing in a manicured garden is theRead More →
When my children were smaller the Saitama Children’s Zoo was a fun place to bring them during the Halloween period as the zoo put up usually put up lots of Halloween decorations. Particularly in the Children’s Castle, which would transform to a Halloween Castle during the month of October! TheyRead More →
Higashimatsuyama is famous for pear picking. There are about 20 tourist pear farms in Higashimatsuyama City, Saitama Prefecture. However, in 2022 only three of them will offer picking. I am quite surprised by this as even last year, 2021, when things were stricter, there were 8 places you could pick.Read More →