Saitama Summer Pools 2021 – where is open and where is not. For all 20 pools open in a ‘regular’ year and mapped on Google see here. Update July 29th 20:18 JST.Saitama Prefecture announced today that Saitama will be under a State of Emergency from Monday August 2nd to TuesdayRead More →
Each year in early April, we are absolutely spoiled for choice for things to see in Saitama. There are so many flowers and blossoms in bloom. And accordingly there are literally hundreds of flower festivals on. Usually the cherry blossoms steal the limelight, but their ‘sister’, the peach blossoms, areRead More →
Tsuchiuchi Camping Grounds is deep in a valley in the former Otaki village in Chichibu. Pitched on the staggered sides of the ravine, the camp and cabin grounds are hugged by beautiful forest on all sides. Natural moss grows thick on craggy rock with fresh water rolling over forming beautifulRead More →
Unfortunately, even though the sunflower fields were scheduled to open in 2021, they have since decided not to open the fields to the public in 2021. They have quoted the increasing numbers of Coronavirus as the reason. Hopefully it is not setting a precedent for other sunflower fields. The HasudaRead More →
Saitama Aquarium in Hanyu It was a pleasant surprise revisiting Saitama Aquarium this past week. We hadn’t been in around eight years. And the last time was a bit of a disappointment so we left it this long to visit again. In the eight years since we’d been there thoughRead More →
Setsubun Saitama- Setsubun is a religious ceremony practiced every year on February 3rd. However, in 2021, for the first time in 124 years, Setsubun will fall on February 2nd. Due to the rarity of this, it is not common knowledge. As such, most people will probably still celebrate on FebruaryRead More →
Hanazono Forest: Cakes, pastry and sweets specialist, dairy free tofu sweets, sweets outlet, bakery, ice-cream, restaurant, rose garden, playground and free factory view Hanazono Forest, Fukaya, Saitama Hanazono Forest in Fukaya City is a type of wholesalers or outlet for confectionery and pastry. It is a very popular spot withRead More →
Visiting Japan’s largest lavender field at Sennen no Sono, close to Tokyo. Where the Ranzan Lavender festival is held annually in a beautiful rural town of Saitama Prefecture, Japan. (Please note that in 2021 there is no Lavender Festival and the fields are off limits). Sennen no Sono Lavender FieldRead More →
I’ve been itching to share our adventures at Moomin Valley Park. Yesterday was a precursor with information about the Umbrella Sky Project. Today, a teaser with information about just one attraction – the Kokemus Exhibition Facility. Moomin Valley Park (in Metsa) Moomin Valley Park is the part you pay intoRead More →
Metsa Village Umbrella Sky “Forest and Lake and Umbrella“ We visited the Forest and Lake and Umbrella Metsa Umbrella Sky Project in the summer of 2019. And we weren’t disappointed. Its coming back this year, 2020, even bigger and for longer than last year. (There are some really big changesRead More →