Information for the Kasukabe Shishimai performance at Choshi guchi Katori shrine annually in January. Choshiguchi Shishimai Choshiguchi shishimai (lion dance) was brought to Kasukabe from the current Koshigaya city in 1697. It is a lion dance to music with three single “lions” performed at Choshiguchi Katori shrine in Kasukabe. ThreeRead More →
Across a large pedestrian bridge on the North end of Tokorozawa Sakura Town is the interesting Tokorozawa city promotional facility YOT-TOK. In English it is called “Tokorozawa City Tourism Information and Local Products”. The YOT stands for Yoimono, Oshimono and tanoshimono, which sums up what the facility is about. YoimonoRead More →
This post is mainly about the annual Daruma Market, but you will also find information for the temple’s main ‘hanamatsuri’ festival, on May 5th annually, in the paragraph before “information”. Original post If you missed the Daruma Market in Kawagoe, here is another chance to buy a Daruma for thisRead More →
Saitama City Dezome Shiki – Dezome / Dezome Shiki is one of the those truly unique-to-Japan events. It is a ceremony and festival of sorts for and by firefighters, celebrating the coming of the New Year. But it is also a way to heighten safety awareness. Firefighters put on anRead More →
The Minami Otsuka Mochitsuki Dance, with a history of more than 200 years, is held every year on the Sunday before Japan’s Coming-of-Age day. However, the event was not on in 2021 or 2022 due to the pandemic. This is the first time in three years that the event willRead More →
Koedo Kurari is a small shopping area with food and souvenirs housed in three former sake breweries. They host several events and markets throughout the year. At New Year, they generally have a small New Year market on January 3rd as well as live Taiko performances, known as the New YearRead More →
Thank you for 2022, Toshikoshi and Toshikoshi Oharai and Happy New Year – the year of the rabbit. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your readership and support in 2022. Thanks to you, “In Saitama” had its best year yet, in its 16 year historyRead More →
Hatsu hinode is the wonderful Japanese tradition of watching the first sunrise of the New Year. Only three sleeps to go! Until we embrace the New Year with a crisp start! Because whenever we can, we start our New Year in the freezing cold of dawn to watch the firstRead More →
Twenty places for night illumination in Saitama Prefecture in the winter of 2023. Page 1 of 2 The public Christmas lights have been taken down in the vast majority of places in Japan as people look to the New Year festivities and celebrations. However, there are more winter illumination thanRead More →
The Japanese New Year tradition of Hatsumode… Hatsumode is the first visit of the year to a shrine or a temple, an important and much practiced tradition in the New Year in Japan. There are many shrines and also temples all around Saitama where you can practise Hatsumode. It doesn’tRead More →