What to do and see in Saitama, Kanto: The Best Events

The Dai-Bonsai Festival is held each year from May 3rd to 5th in the Omiya Bonsai Village, which is known as the mecca of bonsai. This event draws numerous bonsai fans from across the country. About 120 retailers participate in this bustling festival alongside an exhibit of famous and local bonsai trees and the exhibition and sale of bonsai and bonsai pots. It is an excellent opportunity to get closer to the history and practice of bonsai cultivation.

"Daito Festival" is held on December 10th every year at the headquarters of the more than 200 Hikawa shrines, the Musashi Ichinomiya Hikawa Shrine in Saitama City. The origin of "daito" (large boiling water) that has been handed down is that water was boiled in a kettle and the hot water was used for purification. During the main festival on December 10th a Rake Fair is also held, which is also known as the Toka Fair or the Kumade Fair. Many worshipers visit to buy kumade, ornamental bamboo rakes, for good luck and safety in the home.

This summer festival is held in the Urawa Ward of Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture. The festival features various sport, food, and music parks distributed among numerous venues and is particularly popular among families. There will also be a number of extravagant events including an Urawa dance performed by local dancers, mikoshi (Japanese palanquins), and a musical parade featuring elementary, middle school, and high school performers. Of particular interest is the Urawa Yosakoi held in the Minami Urawa venue, where some 40 groups from inside and outside the city will compete for the attention of the audience with their unique dance moves and costumes.

Juninchi Machi is a New Year's Eve Market dating from the Meiji Era and is held every year on December 12th in the Tsuki Shrine and its surroundings. The items on sale include small rakes known as "kakkome" which are said to bring good luck, as well as food and drink and goldfish scooping competitions. In all, some 1,000 street stalls set up shop in and around the Tsuki Shrine and attract some 150,000 visitors each year.

Iwatsuki Ward, where the Iwatsuki Girl's Festival takes place, is famous across the country for its high-quality dolls. The festival events include such Iwatsuki specialties as giant Hina-dan (traditional tiered doll stands), costume parades where the participants dress up as dolls, mikoshi (traditional Japanese palanquins) carrying for children and adults, the Iwatsuki Kuroyakko procession, and yosakoi dancing. This premier Iwatsuki midsummer event draws some 100,000 visitors each year.