January 2020

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In: Life in Saitama, Seasonal, Things to do in Saitama, Things to see in Saitama, Winter
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January flowers, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. A week in photos. January 2020 week one. I say it often, because it is true, but my favorite month in Japan is January. There is so much to do in Japan in January. And as it is one of the driest months of theRead More →

New Year Races 2020

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In: New Years in Saitama, Seasonal, SPORTS, Things to do in Saitama
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New Year Races – It is very common in my homeland of Ireland, for people to attend horse races during the winter holidays. Around where I lived it is the Leopardstown Races on St Stephen’s Day. Here in Japan, Christmas is not a main event, but New Years is like ourRead More →

hatsumode saitama kitain hatsumode Japanese new year tradition

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In: Festival, New Years in Saitama, Seasonal, SHRINES & TEMPLES, This month in Saitama, Winter
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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 of new year celebrations in Japan. There are many shrines and also temples all around Saitama where you can practise Hatsumode. TechnicallyRead More →