The Kagura of Omiya Sumiyoshi Shrine is a designated intangible folk cultural property of both Saitama Prefecture and Japan. On February 23rd each year, they dedicate the first of three annual kagura performances at the shrine. Kagura is a type of ritual Shinto dance dedicated to the Gods. Historically, ShintoRead More →
Information for the annual Tsurugashima Cherry Blossom Festival and general information for Tsurugashima Sports Park. Tsurugashima Sports Park Tsurugashimashi Sports Park isn’t a particularly large park and, if you are not playing sports, nor is it a particularly engaging park. However, it has two things going for it; cherry blossomsRead More →
Short notice, but I just heard myself earlier today that the Daruma Market in Eigenji, Sakado will be on tomorrow. If you missed the Daruma Market in Kawagoe, here is another chance to buy a Daruma for this year. But don’t worry if you can’t make this one either, thereRead More →
Cherry blossoms along the Koma River at the Izumicho Sakura Embankment in Sakado City, Saitama. Koma River Cherry Blossoms Sakado There are several places you can see cherry blossoms along the Koma River in Saitama Prefecture. But perhaps the best known are those at the Izumicho Sakura embankment beside SakuraRead More →
Jigenji Temple and Sakado’s secret sakura spots Jigenji’s weeping cherry is a natural monument of Sakado City. It is also an image on a 2021 postal stamp! Honestly, while the weeping cherry is famous and attracts hundreds of visitors annually, it wouldn’t make any of my personal “top 10” orRead More →
Seitenkyu and other shrines and Temples – and a couple of other things to do – near the early blooming cherry blossoms of Sumiyoshi Sakura no Sato in North Eastern area of Sakado. And also near Meiji Chocolate factory. Please note that the cherry blossoms do not bloom every year.Read More →
Villa Napoli is a lively Italian Restaurant in Tsurugashima, close to Wakaba Walk. You can order individual dishes or a plan that includes all-you-can- eat pizza with sides. It is a great spot for an affordable, filling lunch with friends or family. On top of all that, the restaurant itselfRead More →
Information for the Sumiyoshi Sakura no Sato すみよし桜の里 / Sumiyoshi Kawazuzakura すみよし河津桜 in Sakado. Sumiyoshi Sakura No Sato is a riverside embankment walk in Sakado City, Saitama, about an hour from Tokyo. Along the embankment there are early blooming cherry blossoms called Kawazuzakura. Kawazu Zakura are one of the earliestRead More →
Stunning rose garden with cafe: Greenfinger Cafe, Tsurugashima There has been a steady rise of Instacafe spots all over Japan, but Greenfinger cafe in Tsurugashima might well win a prize for the most instagrammable cafe in all of Saitama. It is particularly the garden of the cafe that has createdRead More →
Information for the Nissai Sakura Matsuri and the Early blooming Kanzakura Cherry Blossoms, just North of Tokyo, at the Kitaasaba Sakura Zutsumi cherry blossom promenade in Sakado City. Kitaasaba Sakura Zutsumi Less than 50 kilometers north west of Tokyo you can walk under this 1.2 kilometer avenue or ‘tunnel’ ofRead More →