jumangoku

We tried these manju called Jumangoku, wagashi that is only sold in Saitama prefecture.

The outside is made from tsukune imo (a type of yam) and koshihikari (rice), the texture was like steamed manju...and filled with sweet bean paste

After trying it, I realized I didn't like the soft manju texture.

They also had these chocolat man, which reminded me of the ones we tried from Niigata.

Except that these had a yellow bean paste (white bean mixed with egg yolk) that was also mixed with condensed milk and wrapped with a thin manju then covered with chocolate.

My only peeve with this one was the outer chocolate and manju stuck to the wrapper & plastic container it was packed in, even when chilled

I ordered these online and I'm glad we tried these and would like to try other items from this maker the next time we are in Saitama.

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Yesterday, we went to Tokorozawa in Saitama Prefecture to check out several areas that we were interested in.
 

One thing I wanted to do was find the 3 different Pokemon manhole covers that are in Saitama. 

Luckily, all three are located around Tokorozawa.

This is Tokoron, the prefecture's mascot

We went to check out the Aviation Musuem, where apparently the first planes took off from in 1911.

There are many displays and explanations of the history of aviation (in Japanese) 

And many planes/helicopters displayed

 They were also having a festival, so it was pretty lively all around. (click on photo to view the video)

From Tokorozawa, we went to the Nishi Tokorozawa area to check out the Seibu Lions baseball stadium

It is right outside of the Seibu Kyujo (stadium) station

All kinds of photos and areas with the players displayed

From the stadium, we went to Higashi Tokorozawa to check out the Kadokawa Culture Museum

This museum was featured on a Red and White Song Contest back in 2021

The museum as seen from another angle

You can take photos (but not videos)

There are manga areas, as well as book areas.

If I am not mistaken all the books have been published by Kadokawa

The last of the pokemon for us to find in Tokorozawa

Taking a break with Sayama tea soda and soft cream

Sayama tea is the tea grown in Saitama.

Not an expert on tea, but this was similar to green tea we've had before.

Musashino Reiwa Shrine, modern looking shrine which was built in hopes for the continuing growth and development of Japanese culture 

Loved the reflection on the windows/walls of the shrine

It was quite a long day, the weather was nice (and hot).

Thankful wee got to see all that we wanted to.

Tokorozawa Aviation Museum

1-13 Namiki

Tokorozawa, Saitama

Open 9:30-17:00

Check their website for days that they are closed (only in Japanese)

Admission: 520 yen (tax included) per (adult) * cash only

Kadokawa Culture Museum

3-31-3 Tokorozawa Sakura Town

Tokorozawa, Saitama

Closed: Tuesdays

Hours: 10:00-18:00

Admission: depends on how you want to spend your time here. Standard admission, 1400 yen (tax included) per (adult)

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Since Satoshi wanted to check out Kinchakuda, we went on Saturday.

Unfortunately it was drizzling.

The flowers that V, K and I saw a little over a week before were starting to dry up.

A lot of the flowers were also turning from bright red to a light pink.

The area that V, K and I saw a little over a week before that was sparse, had bloomed and was a bright red.

The grounds were so wet and smooshy.

We grabbed a (relatively dry) bench and shared a yakisoba and takoyaki from a vendor...1100 yen (tax included)

Glad Satoshi got to check this area out.

Afterwards we went to Shinjuku and Harajuku, so he could see the photos of Otani Shohei.

Because it was the weekend, it was super crowded in these areas, so it was hard to view the photos without getting in the way of bypassers.

Before jumping back on the train, we went to Bubo, a chocolatier from Barcelona.

I had seen something on social media where their soft serve was discounted on Saturdays.

Unfortunately when we got there, the sign said that they had sold out.

I had not seen the sold out sign and asked about the soft serve, the staff working said that they had sold out.

Then, as we were about to leave, she came up to us and whispered, actually if you only want to buy one, we have enough for you.

So we bought one...Xabina (shah-bee-nah) is their dark chocolate soft serve flavored with spices like clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and black pepper, decorated with a little fruity olive oil and caramelized cacao nibs...500 yen (tax included) (price is actually 800 yen (tax included)

As we were going to take our cone outside to share, another staff member came up and said they could probably make one more if we wanted, we thanked them but told them to give it to whomever came in looking for their soft serve after us.

It was rich and delicious, one was definitely enough!

It was drizzly all day, but we got to do and see all that we wanted.

Bubo

5-6-5 Jingumae

Shibuya, Tokyo

Closed: Tuesdays

Hours: 12:00-20:00 (weekdays), 11:00-20:00 (weekends)

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Yesterday met up with V and her friend K, they had some free time, so we went to check out the spider lilies in Saitama, at a park called Kinchakuda

From Tokyo it was about two hours one way.

On their pamphlet, when in full bloom there are 5 million blooms!

When V& I were planning to check this place out, the flowers had just begun to bloom because of the l-o-n-g summer heat

I saw on the news where these spider lilies need at least 20C (68F) to start blooming

Luckily, there were a lot of people going to check it out, so we followed them to the park from the train station.

It was about 30% in bloom when we went.

Also, luckily it was a weekday, it was still crowded, but not krazy crowded 

There were food stands and merchants selling crafts and other items.

It was my first time out here and would definitely like to come back here next year

Thanks for today V & K!

Kinchakuda

125-2 Komahongo

Hidaka, Saitama

*admission: 500 yen (adults)

gongendo & ueno

From where we live it was about 2 hours to Gongendo, which is located in Satte city, Saitama.

Along the 1 kilometer (0.62 miles) long bank there are supposedly 1000 cherry trees.

The volunteers that take care of this area, plant the rapeseed (the yellow flowers) to bloom at about the same time as the sakura.

This area reminded me of Yawata in Kyoto.

This looked like a river with petals floating on it, you aren’t allowed to go down, but I think it was a dry riverbed.

We brought breakfast (a musubi which we ate on the train) & lunch : tonkatsu + cabbage + yukari musubi because I wasn't sure if they would have vendors...FYI there were a lot of vendors

I found a vendor selling baby castella that was in the shape of Hello Kitty...12 for 400 yen (tax included)

There were 2 other vendors selling baby castella too!

We also had coffee and yomogi dango from another vendor (no photo)

There were quite a lot of people, even if my photos don't show it.

We want to come back to see the hydrangea in June and the spider lilies in September.

On the way home, we stopped at Ueno Park because Satoshi wanted to see this area during this season as reasearch for tour guiding...which was a mistake...it was krazy!

We tried to get out of there as soon as possible!

Still the weather was nice, so it was nice to be out and about.

Photos/videos here if you are interested.

kawagoe

The city of Kawagoe in Saitama prefecture is about 2 hours away from where we live.

We left at about 9-ish and got there around 11-ish.

When we arrived we popped into a restaurant called Kasuga for lunch.

I ordered their Manpuku set...sweet potato noodles in a shoyu broth that also came with some grilled dango (dumplings).

The dumplings weren't sweet but savory.

I enjoyed the noodles too which were like somen (capellini). There was only 30% sweet potato in them so the sweet potato flavor wasn't pronounced, this was delicious.

Satoshi had the Tsubasa zen...his noodles were like mine, but his lunch also came with tororo gohan (rice covered with chinese yam) and naruto kintoki sweet potato ice cream.

I'm glad we ate lunch kind of early because the lines we saw after we came out of the restaurant were kind of crazy!

After lunch, we walked around the Kurazukuri Area.

Lots of wooden buildings from the past.

The bell tower wasn't working because of the recent typhoons.

Fancy Starbucks made to look like one of the older buildings.

Honmaru Goten is the only remnant of the Kawagoe Castle.

There was a kiku matsuri (chrysanthemum festival) at Kitain.

Amazing to see.

We also looked that the home that 3rd shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu was born.

There is also an area where there is 500 rakan (arhat).

Arhats are "those who has gained insight into the true nature of existence and has achieved nirvana".

According to the pamphlet I received on entrance to the area, there are actually 540 arhats which were carved between 1782 and 1825 with no two statues alike.

There was also a kind of creepy "story" on the pamphlet regarding these arhats...it was said that if you felt these arhats in the middle of the night, one would be warm.

Mark the "warm" arhat and come back the next day...the arhat would resemble you.

We've also seen rakan in other areas of Japan, here and here.

Since we had an early lunch, we were kind of hungry, so we stopped into Patisserie Potager for something sweet.

Satoshi tried the Potager Roll which was filled with fruits.

I tried the no bake cheesecake, which was a whipped cream cheese, light and airy.

The craft beer of this area is the Coedo brand.

I bought the Beniaka, an amber beer made from sweet potatoes and the Sumatera, a pale amber made from LCF Mandheling Coffee.

We tried the coffee beer with dinner on Sunday.

Lots of coffee flavor...smooth and delicious.

We also bought a small bottle of sake called Akiagari by Koedo Kagamiyama.

We also bought some prosciutto from Mio Casalo, a local maker of sausage and hams.

We also had some of this with dinner on Sunday.

Wrapping sliced kaki (persimmon) with it.

Delicious.

While we were glad to explore the area, we were a little disappointed with Kawagoe it is kind of touristy like Arashiyama in Kyoto, also most shops only take cash.

If you are interested in seeing a few more photos, please look here.

Kasuga
6-1 Saiwai-cho
Kawagoe, Saitama
Phone: 050.5590.8707
Hours: 10:30-20:00

Patisserie Potager
1-17-3 Matsue-cho
Phone: 049.223.6232
Hours: 9:00-20:00