The Kumagaya Fireworks are normally on in August annually. However, in 2020 they intentionally scheduled them for June, so as not to clash with the Olympics. Then… the pandemic happened! And the 2020 Kumagaya fireworks, like so many other, were completely cancelled. In 2021, they scheduled the fireworks for anRead More →
Spectacular views at Kodama Senbonzakura Park where approximately 1100 cherry blossoms line the Koyama River for an (approximate) five kilometer stretch. Kodama Senbonzakura Park Senbonzakura means “a thousand cherry blossoms” in English. Sen means “a thousand”, bon is a counter – in this case for trees. And zakura is howRead More →
Have you heard of Yoko Sakura 陽光桜 or, in English, Sunlight Cherry Blossoms? They were made relatively better known thanks to a movie about their creator in 2015. I say creator, because they are manmade. Cultivated by a school teacher, by crossbreeding the Taiwan and Amagi Yoshino cherries, in memoryRead More →
The Wakaizumi area of Honjo has three “Wakaizumi” parks; Wakaizumi Dai Ichi, Dai Ni and Wakaizumi sports park. Dai Ichi and Dai Ni are right beside each other, both quite small independently, but together they make a nice medium sized park. The Wakaizumi Park is a lovely park for childrenRead More →
Although I’ve never seen them in their prime, Hannomori Park is my absolute favorite place for Kawazuzakura in Saitama Prefecture! But it also has Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms too. I have wanted to introduce them on the blog for a long time now. But I just didn’t have the rightRead More →
Early blooming “Kawazuzakura” Cherry Blossoms at Kumagaya Sakura Undo (Sports / Exercise) Park Bad news about the Kawazuzakura in Saitama Prefecture unfortunately. This year, although they only really starting blooming last week, they are already turning green. The bloom on average (of monitoring 20 different Kawazu zakura spots) was onlyRead More →
A selection of 10 Strawberry Picking farms in the Northern area of Saitama, including Chichibu, for the 2022 strawberry picking season. Strawberry Picking Chichibu and Northern Saitama The Strawberry picking season was late to start this year, due to the pandemic. Many farms that normally open in winter opted toRead More →
A village of hidden gems near the Honjo Agriculture Tourism Center in Northern Saitama. The Honjo Agriculture Tourism Center is quite different to any other location I have visited in the last few years. It reminds me greatly of the remote villages in Ibaraki I had the pleasure of visitingRead More →
The Kumagaya Cherry Blossoms with rapeseed flowers along the riverbank is one of Saitama’s famous images. Furthermore, the cherry blossoms there have been celebrated since the Edo period. Moreover, the area is listed as one of Japan’s top 100 cherry blossom viewing spots. (Last update: April 8th 2022) The KumagayaRead More →
Seien Park illumination in Fukaya is a relatively new addition to “In Saitama”. I’m not sure when the very first display was, but the event has been around for at least three years. But it has only been on the radar since 2019. It starts on public holiday November 3rdRead More →