Omiya Daini Park is one of Omiya’s three eponymous public parks. They are all located relatively close together, but Omiya Dai Ni, or Omiya second park in English, and Omiya Dai San, Omiya third park, are right beside each other. Omiya Dai Ni park is best known for its plum blossomsRead More →
Numakage Ice Rink – Each year, the summer pool in Numakage park, Minami Ward, is transformed into an 1800 square meter outdoor ice rink during the winter months. The rink opens late on weekends. If you just want to observe people skating you can enter the rink area for free.Read More →
Meat meets music fes – a six day meat and music festival in the heart of Saitama Prefecture. Saitama loves their meat ‘festivals’. Before I removed the events calendar from the blog, several annual meat festivals were featured. However, in 2020 on account of the Coronvirus none of them wentRead More →
Saitama Wabi Sabi Festival – Wabi Sabi is a two day cultural festival held in Omiya park annually since 2017. However, in 2020, on account of the Coronavirus outbreak it was held online and just for one day. Thankfully in 2021 its somewhat back to “normal”. The event will beRead More →
Cocoon City Christmas in 2021 – Cocoon City is just one part of Saitama Shintoshin. The whole area of Shintoshin is the most Christmassy location I have found in Saitama prefecture . Between the illumination, the markets, the concerts, candle night, crafts and Santa visits, it really is one ofRead More →
Cocoon City Illumination 2021 ~ 2022 – The annual illumination at Cocoon City will be switched on at 5 pm on Saturday the 13th of November 2021. After two years of “Wish upon Cocoon Star”, they’re moving to a new theme “Star Light, Star Bright, Cocoon star I see tonight”.Read More →
Have you heard about the Peacock Shrine in Saitama City? Or maybe you know it as the Quiz Shrine? It is one of those shrines that is very famous among Saitama residents and further afield among the history buffs. But it is off the tourist trail. Maybe the locals preferRead More →
Iwatsuki Hisaizu “the peacock” Shrine is a very photogenic shrine and one of Saitama’s largest. Moreover, it is the only one I know of with resident peacocks! The Peacock Shrine! Initially the shrine was gifted three peacocks from a member of staff of the Imperial Palace. Over the years, theRead More →
You hear so much about “ajisai dera” (hydrangea temples) at this time of year in Japan. But what about hydrangea shrines? Hundreds of shrines throughout Saitama have some hydrangea on their grounds, but for some reason its all about the hydrangea temples! Well there is an actual reason – hydrangea’sRead More →
Seven hundred year old wisteria, a natural monument of Saitama Prefecture, in spring and hydrangea backdropped by Japan’s tallest pagoda in summer. At Aobaen in Saitama City, just North of Tokyo. In the most unlikely of places in Saitama City there are three 700 year old wisteria that are aRead More →