Jan 27, 2026

February joys

February is just around the corner. January brought New Year festivities, wintersweet, tulips, snow, dondoyaki and so much more. What are you looking forward to in February? Be it weather related, traditions, festivals, flowers, seasonal food etc.- what you are looking forward to this February.

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BigfamJapan

Former nickname was "Saitama". Changed it to save confusion on place review posts! Irish, 20+ years in Japan! I also write on my personal website: insaitama.com

6 Answers

genkidesu

on Jan 28

February is one of the months I struggle with most here, since it's still very much winter out here! We don't start seeing signs of spring until later in March if we're lucky. Some things I do love about February, though: - Free play outside for my kids, who just love all things snow - Strawberry picking for my fave Echigohime strawberries (thankful for indoor greenhouses!) - The Tokamachi Snow Festival is on! A nice local festival with some really cool sculptures! (Feb 20-22 for this year)

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genkidesu

on Jan 28

One other thing I'm looking forward to (from a distance!) is the opening of Pokepark Kanto. We're going to hold off going for a bit since the beginning hype is probably going to be crazy, but hopefully once it settles down we'll go. If it ever does!

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TonetoEdo

on Jan 28

For teachers like me at private high schools and universities, it's prime reflection and research time, as many events preclude instruction. It's also kind of tense as we anticipate student intakes after the entrance tests.

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genkidesu

on Feb 4

One of my favorite local festivals is on this weekend! https://seinenbu.uonumakoide.com/yuki/

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TonetoEdo

on Feb 4

Onis for Setsubun! Yesterday, around noon, there was one crouched at the gate of the kindergarten across the road for the annual bean pelting. The neighbour's dad got really into the role in the evening, roaring to get the kids squealing. It was fun to see and listen to.

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JTsu

on Feb 20

February is usually really hard on me though this year it hasn't been as bad as usual. Things I have been looking forward to: * The sound and feel of snow crunching underfoot on a short walk * My kid being done with the last of her big tests for the school year (finally!) * Everyone being well enough to get back to business as usual * The occasional midday nap under my kotatsu

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Awaiting More Answers

2 Answers

Japan's biggest oversells?

I mentioned in a Q&A recently that I went to a place several years ago called Minetopia Besshi in Ehime, which branded itself as Japan's Machu Picchu. It was a big oversell! BigFamJapan also mentioned that there's a place in Saitama branded as Japan's Cappadocia, which also might be a bit underwhelming for some! It doesn't have to be somewhere necessarily compared to another world famous spot, but have you found many places here that oversell themselves? I'm not often disappointed when I visit places here, so when I am it's probably all the more noticeable.

genkidesu

on Feb 25

2 Answers

Your favorite pottery type in Japan?

I have really gotten into all things pottery since living here, and I have a soft spot for both Kutani ware (the first pottery type I discovered here, and it's so vibrantly colored!) and Arita ware. ToneToEdo mentioned Tobe-yaki in recent Q&A about things we associate with Ehime, and it's a pottery type I didn't know much about beforehand. If you're into pottery here, do you have a favorite type?

genkidesu

on Feb 23

13 Answers

What do you most associate with Ehime Prefecture?

Today, February 20th, is Ehime Prefecture Day. What do you most associate with Ehime Prefecture, what is the very first thing that comes to mind when I say "Ehime Prefecture"!?

BigfamJapan

on Feb 20

6 Answers

What's your favourite seasonal scent?

Japan's got so many scents of seasons. Which one do you like best? Are there any that turn you off? The photo is ロウバイ robai, wintersweet, spotted, and inhaled in suburban Chiba Prefecture.

TonetoEdo

on Feb 18

4 Answers

What do you most associate with Fukui Prefecture?

It is "Hometown Day" in Fukui Prefecture today. Whether you have been there or not, what do you most associate with Fukui Prefecture?

BigfamJapan

on Feb 7

6 Answers

Living on Japanese time?

Do you eat with your family at a particular hour? My interactions with neighbours and friends suggest their dinner time is much later than mine. I tend to aim for 7 p.m. Tell us about your dinner hour and the constraints of your work hours, family schedule. Gratuitous pic of summer soba prepared by my Japanese ojisan neighbour.

TonetoEdo

on Feb 5

6 Answers

February joys

BigfamJapan

on Jan 27

8 Answers

Do you have a favorite mascot?

The other day, on "Strawberry Day" I wrote about "Yoshimin", the strawberry mascot of Yoshimi. I thought it might be fun to introduce a few others, so I've just written about "Tokimo" the mascot of Kawagoe. And I plan to introduce a couple of my favorites. It begs the question, do you have a favorite mascot? And how about writing a post on City-cost about your favorite or a local mascot? Pictured "Umerin" who I plan to write about next!

BigfamJapan

on Jan 17

8 Answers

Who is your hero!?

Today, January 16th, is Hero Day. Who is your favorite hero, fictional or otherwise? The first one who comes to my mind for me is a real life person; Mary Robinson, a former president of Ireland (moreover, the first female president), and a former United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights, among other impressive roles. I had the great pleasure of meeting her in December, a dream come true. I was trying to think about who my favorite fictional hero is. I have not come to conclusion yet! There is such a choice. Do you have one?

BigfamJapan

on Jan 16

4 Answers

Recommendations for next Christmas?

While its somewhat fresh in your mind, what gifts came into your house this Christmas and / or New Year, that you thought were really nice things to receive and / or really good buys, that you think might make a good present for someone else in the future? As you might see in the product reviews, I am going through some of the things I bought for the kids this year and thinking of what I was really happy with. And already thinking of next year!

BigfamJapan

on Jan 11

4 Answers

Growing Mushrooms

Here's for a weird hobby. I just saw a video by an American Youtuber that I plan to watch about growing shiitake mushrooms. From what I've seen, it probably needs a bit of space. There was a local market in Fukuoka Prefecture that had a "mushroom room" where they grew and sold mushrooms like maitake and eringi. I also saw a video of a couple in Paris that built a mushroom growing shower room! The local hardware store sells "seeded" logs and shiitake mushroom growing kits. I have seen the logs around people's homes on occasion. It seems like a very odd, but sustainable hobby. Has anyone tried it, or is anyone interested to try this? I wonder how involved or beginner friendly it is.

helloalissa

on Dec 29

2 Answers

Japanese Christmas songs

Do you like any Japanese Christmas songs? If so, what is your favorite Japanese Christmas song? Or maybe you like the Japanese version of a traditional Christmas carol?

BigfamJapan

on Dec 19

February joys

6 Answers

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