Saikasai – Asaka City Festival. For the last two years, due to the Olympics, they scheduled the Saikasai festival for Autumn. But in 2022 for the first time in three years, they are planning to have the festival in August again. This festival is on the first Sunday of AugustRead More →
For the first time in three years: the Oedo Niiza Festival is on this July. This is a relatively new festival. The last time it was on, in 2019, it was only its fifth year. However, it replaced the Niiza Awa odori festival, which ran for 32 years until 2014.Read More →
Iroha water park (Iroha Shinsui Park) is located along the Shingashi River in Shiki City, Saitama Prefecture. There are sections of the park straddling either side of the river South of Iroha bridge. Apart from beautiful walkways and lanes, the Iroha Water Park area of Shiki has some significant pointsRead More →
Sunflowers at the Honda no Mori sunflower field in Niiza City, Saitama Prefecture. In the Niiza Athletic Park there is a community field called Honda no Mori. Each summer in August, thousands of sunflowers bloom. However, in 2021 they reduced the number of sunflowers. Moreover, they state “from 2021 theRead More →
Seibuen or Seibu Amusement Park is a large amusement park with permanent as well as seasonal attractions in Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture. On this blog, the winter illumination and summer pool event posts are particularly popular. The winter illumination at the park is the largest in Saitama Prefecture. It wasRead More →
The Mizonuma Kids Pool in Asaka are open in 2022. However, just like last year, there are a lot of conditions. First and foremost – the pools are only open to residents of Asaka City. Furthermore, you can only go for a half a day – either the morning ORRead More →
Yanasegawa Cherry Blossoms – There are three main cherry blossom spots in Shiki: Shingashi River, Yanasegawa River, and Shikishima Shrine. The city hosts cherry blossom festivals too, including the Sakura Festa at Iroha park on Shingashi river near city hall. The sakura typically bloom the end of March to earlyRead More →
Asaka City Library has a really good selection of English books and magazines, better than most of the libraries I am member of. As it is not a public library and only a municipal library I am not able to borrow from there. It doesn’t stop me from visiting itRead More →
Hikarigaoka Park is a refreshing open space in Nerima ward in Northern Tokyo. However, it is right on the border of Wako City, literally a two minute walk on the west side. The park is also on the Tobu Tojo line that runs through central Saitama. For these two reasonsRead More →
Hiking in the Totoro Forest in Sayama Hills in Tokorozawa. Information on an easy hiking trail for families in the Totoro Foundation area of the Sayama Hills. Read More →