6 Culture 400 Year Old Sakura Sherilyn Siy At the Koma Shrine in Hidaka City, Saitama Prefecture, a weeping variety of cherry blossom about 25 meters tall and believed t..
16 Spirituality of Mitsumine Shrine in Chichibu Cathy Cawood Mitsumine Jinja is a large and beautiful Shinto shrine in the Chichibu Mountains. It is an easy day trip from Tokyo and is dedicated..
Culture Bikkuri Hinamatsuri 2026 Feb 20th - Mar 7th The traditional "doll appreciation season" is just around the corner! Enjoy this hina-doll festival that is held in a historical..
8 Culture Shoden-in Temple Sherilyn Siy The Shoden-in Temple traces its history back 1300 years ago during a tumultous period in the Korean peninsula, when a large nu..
7 Food Ureshiimonoya Sherilyn Siy Ureshii means 'joyful', and Ureshiimonoya or 'the shop of joyful things' is the perfect name for this charming little..
8 Shopping Akai Factory Sherilyn Siy Akai Factory is an art space, gallery, workshop, museum and store rolled into one. It was originally a factory for bike parts dating..
Area Kumagaya Surrounded by mountains, bordered by rivers and blessed with space, Kumagaya (熊谷市, Kumagaya-shi) is a hidden jewel of Japan. Located just north of Tokyo in Saitama, the city continues its..
Food Kaiseki Restaurant Fukutomi Lynda Hogan Fukutomi restaurant near Hon-Kawagoe station is a traditional kaiseki restaurant. Servers are dressed in kimono and the food is..