Tranquil night illumination in remote location, Kawajima Town – With such a variety of night illumination in Saitama, most people have access to a display within commutable distance. If you are feeling adventurous and / or want to travel a little further, or maybe choose a display on its merits,Read More →
Congratulations to Kawajima Town and the Toyama Memorial Museum for the designation of the old Toyama residence as an important cultural property of the country. This is one that is close to my heart. As it was the very first place I visited after moving in to my new homeRead More →
Kawamin House, play area in Kawajima – Kawajima is a little known town in the larger district of Hiki. It has become slightly more recognised in recent years as one of the newer exits on the Ken-o Expressway. However, it has quite a bit more to offer, including Japan’s longestRead More →
Nestled in the lush woods near the top of the 291 meter high Sengenyama, is the entrance to Saitama’s longest roller slide. The roller slide in Miharashi no Oka Park in the washi paper making town of Ogawa is 203 meters long. Moreover, if you can manage to slow yourselfRead More →
Natural Cafe Sora – Indoor / Outdoor child friendly restaurant with play areas. Relatively close to both Yoshimi Kannon and Hatchoko Park, which are best visited in Autumn for the leaves or spring for the cherry blossoms. Natural Cafe Sora The standard of restaurants and cafes is so high inRead More →
One of my friends famously said “If you’ve seen one temple, you’ve seen them all”. There is a truth in that. However, I am quite “into” temples (and shrines). And for me, the magnificence of a temple doesn’t always lie in its appearance, but rather in the history and meaning.Read More →
Shinrin Park (aka Musashi Kyuryo National Government Park) confirmed today, September 2nd 2022, that they are planning to host their annual Halloween night in the Forest again this year. They had it in both 2020 and 2021 too for the record, despite the record. And I for one was veryRead More →
JAXA Earth Observation Center is located in Hatoyama Town in the Hiki District of Saitama Prefecture. The town is probably the most famous place in Hatoyama, apart from the golf courses! To be upfront: my kids were too young the time we visited, so we ended up spending less thanRead More →
Heisei no Mori – or Heiseinomori – is a park in West Saitama in a town that has recently become better known, due to its exit on the Ken-o Expressway. Kawajima town, also referred to as Kawashima town, is beside the cities of Sakado, Kawagoe, Higashimatsuyama and Okegawa. The park hasRead More →
Tree climbing in Saitama – “Treeing” is the term the Japanese have coined for the sport of climbing trees with ropes and harnesses. In the Autumn of 2015, treeing came on my radar because one of my local parks started to offer it as a regular event. On further inspection quiteRead More →