Isanuma Park Cherry Blossoms – Isanuma park in Kawagoe is a popular spot to enjoy Hanami for locals. There are cherry blossoms along the river at the playground as well as cherry blossoms lining the street that separates the lake from the park. The park usually has a cherry blossom festivalRead More →
Ukishima Inari Shrine is an unassuming shrine you pass on the walking route from Miyoshino Shrine heading to Naritasan and Kitain Temple. It is not particularly well known or adorned, but it has some beautiful trees including some gingko trees and other trees that are golden in November and create aRead More →
The Tanabata Festival (Star Festival) is normally held from August 4th to August 7th annually in Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. The main date of the festival is August 7th and they have additional events that day. Sometimes they put up the tanabata decorations earlier, like in 2015 when this post wasRead More →
Kawagoe Park, also known as Kawagoe Water Park, Kawagoe Suijo Kouen, or Kawagoe Aquatic Park, is a great all year round park in a rural area of Kawagoe. Kawagoe Park is home to one of Saitama’s largest aqua parks which opens seasonally in summer. The park is particularly renowned forRead More →
Kitain Temple Cherry Blossoms in Kawagoe City, Saitama, Japan. Kitain is a stunning Buddhist temple with pagoda in the tourist city of Kawagoe – a popular day trip destination from Tokyo. It is an ideal location for combining Japanese culture, history and cherry blossom viewing. Kitain Cherry Blossoms Kitian hasRead More →
Miyoshino Shrine, Kawagoe 三芳野神社、川越- 日本語 Miyoshino Shrine The Miyoshino shrine features in a famed traditional song (Warabe uta) that is known by Japanese people all over Japan. The song name is “Tooryanse”. As such, the shrine is much beloved by many, particularly the proud locals. A monument was erected toRead More →
Kawagoe Sports Park or Kawagoe Undo Koen in Japanese. Written in 2013, updated in 2017. The first time I visited Kawagoe Sports park (川越運動公園）I wasn’t all that enamored with it. From the point of view of a parent, there is little to entertain older children and it is most suited to aRead More →
I went to Hikawa Jinja in Kawagoe today, in the hope of enjoying some vibrant Autumn Leaves. I didn’t time it very well; I was too early with the autumn blooms still nowhere in sight. Also, the higanbana that also in Autumn on the Shingashi river where gone by then.Read More →
Kawagoe Kodomo No Shiro – a “jidokan” community play center in Kawagoe. Kawagoe Play Center One of the many things I love about life in Japan, is the multitude of free playgrounds, play centers and activities available to all children. Below is a photo of my son climbing at Kawagoe KodomoRead More →