Having       fun   in  SaitamaCity
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Published by the Saitama Tourism and International Relations Bureau (STIB)
International Exchange Center     

~Spring to Early Summer~

Why! not enjoy walking along the avenues coloredwith flowers in full bloom in Saitama?

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 There are many sites for flower viewing in Saitama. As for cherry
blossoms, which are designated as the Flower of Saitama City, Omiya
Park and Yono Park are famous places to view them.
 Not only can you enjoy viewing cherry blossoms in these major parks
but also in small parks, shrines, temples, and private gardens in yourneighborhood.
 Having your favorite cherry tree and going to see its flowers every year
is one of the best ways to enjoy flower-viewing season, don’t you think?
 Purara No. 39 showcases sites for viewing primroses, ume (plum)blossoms, roses, hydrangeas, water lilies and kwanzo daylilies as well as
cherry blossoms (the diamond mark (   ) indicates places where youenjoy cherry blossoms in addition to the main flowers mentioned).
Famous Flower-Viewing Sites and Promenades in Saitama!             Plum Grove where you can enjoy plum flowers         earlier than any other place in spring.
Omiya Daini Park.

Late February to early March

You can enjoy viewing plum (ume) flowers of various kinds including white, red, sidare, andmore. Omiya Daini Park has the only big Plum Grove in Saitama City.
The “Ume Festival” is held in this area during plum blossom season, just as outdoor foodvenders and pottery shops begin to open. Besides viewing plum blossoms, you can also enjoy
strolling around, checking out shops featuring pottery, ranging from the luxurious to theeveryday, produced from various kilns in Japan.
Cherry blossoms bloom in this area after the plum blossoms have finished. You can enjoy
walking beneath the cherry blossoms or put down a tarp and stretch out below them in this wideand spacious park.
<30minute walk from the east Exit of Omiya Station (JR) or 20minute walkfrom Omiyakouen Station. (Tobu Noda line) Free parking area is available. >Restored Kwanzo Daylily Site
BehindUrawa-Nishi High School along the Minuma Yousui (drainage canal)
Late June to early July

Here you can see Kwanzo daylilies (similar in shape to common lilies, but orange in color)which were brought back with the utmost care by a local group of community members.
From late June to late July, Kwanzo daylilies, whose flowers bloom only for one day, come outone after another along the 2km long canal named Minuma Yousui originating at the back ofUrawanishi High School. This is also a great site for cherry bloom viewing in the spring.
From here, you can reach the avenue to Hikawa Shrine, which is about 5 km long and is linedwith about 800 cherry trees, each around 30 years old, a fantastic sight when they are in fullbloom. Viewing the rape blossoms and cherry blossoms, historic Minuma Rice Paddies and thecomplex of high buildings in this area, you can feel the harmony established between urban
Saitama City and nature. Avenues have recently been improved so that you can walk and cycle
more comfortably, so why not take a stroll around this beautiful area on foot or by bicycle?
<25minute walk from the East Exit of Yono Station (JR). On the bus route from Shintoshin
Station (JR) to Urawa Nishi High School and a 3 minute walk from the bus stop. >  andp 
Hydrangea
Dogwood
Walking Path

‘Ajisai Road’ from Besshonuma Park to Musashi-Urawa Station
April to June
This promenade runs about 2km from Besshonuma Park to Musashi-Urawa Station. How about
taking a walk there?
Here cherry blossoms bloom in spring, flowery dogwoods are at their peak in early summer andhydrangeas come into full bloom during rainy season. The walking path is one step higher than
the road for traffic, so you can walk with small children safely.
Besshonuma Park, a popular recreation place for Saitama citizens, is also a great place to visit.
Although it is located in the city center, the park’s paths lined with giant Metasekoia trees andsmall lake featuring large water fountains make its atmosphere different from other parks in thecity.
<A few minutes’ walk from Musashi-Urawa Station or Naka-Urawa Station (JR) >The Rose Garden in Yono Park
About 3000 rose bushes of 170 different species
May to early June / mid-September to late October
The rose garden in historic Yono Park dates back to 1877. On the third weekend of May, theRose Festival is held here featuring open-air shops selling rose bulbs, rose seedlings and food.
This Park is also famous as a site for viewing cherry blossoms. It has been deemed as one of
the 100 best sites for cherry blossoms in Saitama Prefecture.
<10minute walk from Yono Station (JR) >                         Japanese AtmosphereIwatsuki Joshi ParkWater Lilies and Irises in Iris Pond. May Iwatsuki Park was once the site of Iwatsuki Castle during the feudal era. In May, you can enjoy
viewing water lilies and irises here from the vermilion bridge named Yatsuhasi built across Iris
Pond. This park is also a good cherry blossoms viewing site with 600 cherry trees. Thecombination of the vermilion bridge and cherry blossoms gives the park a traditional Japaneseatmosphere. Many seasonal events such as the local Cherry Blossom Festival are held here.
<23 minute walk from Iwatsuki Station (Tobu Noda Line) Community bus service is available. >                     Tajimagahara     Wild Primrose   Area  
1.5 million wild primroses(the Flower of Saitama City) Mid-April
The park located along the Arakawa River, is rich in water and greenery. In mid-April you canenjoy viewing 1.5 million wild primroses preserved as a nationally protected plant as well as about
300 cherry trees in full bloom.
The Arakawa Cycling Course runs nearby where you can safely enjoy cycling with your family.
<Near Sakurasou Kouen on the bus route from the West Exit of Urawa Station (JR)to Shiki Station’s East Exit>

The Japanese and Cherry blossoms
In Japan, the word ‘flower’ immediately calls to mind cherry blossoms. Cherry blossoms are
special for Japanese. Someiyoshino is one of the most popular species of cherry blossoms inJapan. Its blossoms bloom and after a while fall whirling down to the ground, and then younggreen leaves spout. When in full bloom, Someiyoshino trees are colored pale pink and are very
beautiful. Every year when spring is just around the corner, the expected time for the cherrytrees to blossom in each area is announced. Many Japanese feel the coming of spring throughviewing the blossoms of the cherry tree and look forward to this event every year.
                            

The 12th Saitama City Japanese Speech Contest for Foreign Residents.
~What I have seen and felt in Saitama~

Theme:“Something that I treasure”

Come join us and listen to speeches in Japanese by the foreign people living, working orgoing to school in Saitama. We expect that many people will attend this stimulating event.
Time: 8th (Sat) February 2014, 13:00~16:00
Place: Urawa Community Center Multi-purpose Hall (Comunale, 10F)
information  Publisher’s The Saitama Tourism and International Relations Bureau (STIB) International Exchange Center (IEC)
thPlace9 floor of the Comunale Complex, Higashi Takasago-cho 11-1, Urawa-ku, Saitama CityTEL048-813-8500  FAX:048-887-1505
E-mail : iec@stib.jp  URL : http://www.stib.jp/kokusai