KAWAGOE, Saitama Prefecture A samurai parade held as part of the annual Koedo Kawagoe Spring Festival in the historic city will include non-Japanese participants for the first time.
NAGATORO, Saitama Prefecture A popular winter tradition here, “kotatsu-bune” boats equipped with kotatsu leg-warming floor heaters offer a warm respite from the winter chill.
KAMIKAWA, Saitama Prefecture A long-established food maker s vegan mayonnaise condiment made from tofu became so popular among locals that the company is now squeezing out sales of the product online.
KOSHIGAYA, Saitama Prefecture A space rock that fell to Earth here 121 years ago but was not formally classified as a meteorite until a few months ago is now on show at the National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo.
HIGASHI-MATSUYAMA, Saitama Prefecture A painting from a series that depicted the Hiroshima atomic bombing has been restored by repairing damage and removing stains.