The latest information in English on the web for LGBTQ+ friendly, discrimination free 800 year old Saimyouji, Kawagoe. Includes information for seasonally themed floral water fonts, temple illumination and new in 2021 – wind chimes. New in 2021 The latest addition to the temple, May 2021, are wind chimes. ItsRead More →
Kawagoe is famous for many things, not least its sweet potatoes. Even the city’s main mascot Tokimo is a mash (if you’ll pardon the pun!) of the sweet potato “imo” and the symbol of Kawagoe the bell tower “Toki”. Moreover, there is even a “Kawagoe Imo” which refers to sweetRead More →
Homemade bakery Nicori Kawagoe is a small, but popular take-out bakery in ‘local’ Kawagoe; outside the tourist area. It is only open a couple of years (since 2018), but is well established in the neighborhood. It attracts custom from out of town too. Whenever we visit I have seen regRead More →
This is a long overdue post about the famous Starbucks on Kanetsuki Street in the old warehouse district of Kawagoe. The branch opened in March 2018 and most of the photos in this post are actually from back then! But it hasn’t changed much in the two years since itRead More →
Summer sunflowers AND Autumn sunflowers, Ancient Lotus, Cosmos and Hydrangea in the Isanuma area of Kawagoe. At Isa Marsh and the Isa marsh East Bank Flower Garden or Isanuma Tōgan Hanabatake in Japanese. Jump to Autumn Sunflowers. New cafe with a great outdoor seating area added in spring 2021. IsaRead More →
Hachimangu is one of several shrines in Kawagoe with a long rich history. It is a “ichinomiya” meaning it was the first shrine of the Hachimangu sect in Kawagoe. (There are older shrines, such as Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, in Kawagoe). Kawagoe Hachimangu was founded in 1030 A.D. by Minamoto Yorinobu.Read More →
Chinowa Kuguri 2021 Kawagoe. I find the summers in Japan very tough. Its not so much the heat as the humidity. That is why we always escape back to Ireland. However, in 2020 due to the Coronavirus outbreak we were stuck in Japan for the summer. I felt the needRead More →
Kawagoe Aquatic Park aka Kawagoe Suijo Kouen, or Kawagoe Water Park, is one of the bigger summer pools in Saitama. Like all the other seasonal pools, it only opens for 7 weeks over the summer holidays. However, in both 2020 and 2021 it didn’t open at all, due to the Coronavirus.Read More →
Continuing with the take-out series, today I am introducing Modesty a creative cuisine restaurant in local Kawagoe. I say local, because this is one is off the beaten tourist path of Kawagoe. It is in Crea Mall, a pedestrianized shopping area, that is popular with locals for shopping, entertainment andRead More →
Kawagoe Bakery Raku Raku is possibly the most popular bakery in Kawagoe. It is certainly one of the busiest and most famous. Raku Raku is one of dozens of eateries in Kawagoe offering take out and delivery services during the Saitama State of Emergency due to the coronavirus outbreak. Furthermore,Read More →