Welcome to my Hometown! - Saitama, Japan - by Junya Kitaoka

Hi! ☺️ My name is Junya Kitaoka. I’m from Saitama prefecture, Japan. The word "prefecture" may not sound familiar to you, but it's meaning is close to 'a province'. 

Saitama is located next to Tokyo and covers an area of 3,797.75 square km with a population of 7,327,470. In terms of the day-night population ratio, the city ranks first in the country in daytime population outflow, at 88.5%, and has strong characteristics as a bedroom town. However, industry in the prefecture is also thriving, with wholesale and service industries being the main industries. It is also one of the top producers of confectionery and chocolate in the country and is one of Japan's leading sweet kingdoms.

My home town is culturally and historically important. In terms of culture, the Chichibu Night Festival and the Kawagoe Festival are essential. The Chichibu Night Festival is an annual festival of the Chichibu Shrine held in December and is registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Site. It is known as one of the three major Hikiyama (Japanese style float) festivals in Japan. 🎇 The Night Festival is a historic festival that has been handed down since the Edo period. The Kawagoe Festival is held in October, and is listed as a nationally designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property and a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Site. In historical terms, Saitama developed as the northern defensive stronghold of the Edo Shogunate. For this reason, it is known as a small Edo or 'Little Edo' and still retains its old townscape.

Chichibu Yomaturi (Chichibu Night Festiva)

Kawagoe maturi (Kawagoe festival)

Saitama has many rivers, mountains and natural sights, with many glamping facilities, nature parks and fishing areas. It is particularly famous for its autumn foliage. 🍁 🌿 The autumn leaves are spectacular to see while rafting down the river. On fine days, the autumn leaves are reflected on the surface of the water, creating a fantastic view.

Saitama has many local dishes, the most unusual of which is presented here. That dish is called loach hotpot. Live loach are sprinkled with a little sake and boiled in sugar and soy sauce together with chopped burdock root.

Saitama has also been the setting for several anime, the most famous of which are Crayon Shinchan, Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai (AnoHana: The Flower We Saw That Day) and Kokoro no Yakutatteiritante Datta (The Heart Wants to Cry). The places where the anime took place are a must-see for anime lovers, as you can relive the anime and find many souvenirs based on the motifs of the anime.

Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai (AnoHana: The Flower We Saw That Day)

Don't hesitate to visit my hometown and enjoy it!