Video Introduction of "Toda" Candy Store in Fukaya City, Saitama Prefecture This video, titled "[Japan's Old-Time Dagashiya] A Look at Toda in Fukaya, Saitama" (【昔ながらの駄菓子屋さん】埼玉県深谷市 の 「とうだ」ってどんな所？), was released by "Donna tokoro? TV" (どんな所?TV). "Dagashiya" are something that many of those who were born in Showa era Japan are familiar with. Dagashi are inexpensive snacks made and sold for children. They're essentially the equivalent of penny candy in the U.S. Each product is small and sold in small portions, many of them costing only 5 to 30 yen each. This makes it possible for children to buy them with their allowances. Many of the snacks come with extras or winning "lottery" tickets, and if you ever experienced this kind of candy culture as a kid you know how much fun it was. In this article, we take you inside Japan's "Dagashiya," the once popular hangouts for children. Be sure to follow along with the video as it explores "Toda," a Showa retro dagashiya in Fukaya (深谷市, Fukaya-Shi), Saitama (埼玉県, Saitama-Ken), in Japan's Kanto Region (関東地方, Kanto-Chiho). The History of Japan's Dagashi Photo：Dagashiya Do you know where the name "dagashi" comes from? It's actually a term that refers to all sorts of sweets made with unrefined brown sugar. Since refined white sugar and granulated sugar were expensive raw materials back in the day, it's said that making dagashi started as an attempt to reduce the cost of materials as much as possible and to make snacks using unrefined brown sugar that common people and children could eat with a sense of security. Because of this, dagashi became very popular among children, and it's said that during the Edo period (1603-1868 A.D.), many candy shops specializing in dagashi were established in various towns. Variations on the term "dagashi" also increased, and it became common to refer to inexpensive sweets for children as dagashi, in addition to sweets made with brown sugar. These are the roots of today's dagashiya shops. Let's take a look at some traditional dagashi. ・Sendai-dagashi Nowadays, it's considered a high-class Japanese sweet, but in the Edo period, it was a popular snack for the common people. Misopan (Miso bread) and karumera-yaki are typical Sendai sweets. ・Kokusen, Kankan-bo A typical roasted grain candy made from soybeans, sesame, and soybean flour. ・Kuro-bo A chunky textured, bread-like pastry made from flour, brown sugar, and eggs. ・Fu-chan A kind of fugashi (dried wheat gluten coated with sugar made from sugarcane). ・Karume-yaki Today, it's less common to see them at food stalls at festivals, but they're a type of dagashi with nice crunchy texture. Karumera-yaki from Sendai is the same thing. Photo：Konpeito ・Konpeito A very venerable confectionary that even the Imperial family has a custom of distributing during celebrations. As white sugar became more affordable, dagashiya stores began to carry it as well. ・Tirol Choco A prominent product that's still popular in dagashiya today. ・Umai-bo Considered an ace-class dagashi. ・Yotchan-Ika (Seasoned Squid) An excellent snack for drinks. ・Kyabetsu-Taro A popular snack that is now sold in convenience stores as part of a renewed boom in dagashi. There are a lot more popular dagashi, such as ・POTATO FRY ・Fruit-Mochi ・Tara-Tara-Shitenja-neyo (Fish paste chips) The Dagashi Sold at Toda, a Dagashiya in Fukaya, Saitama. Photo：Dagashiya The dagashi store in Fukaya, Saitama, shown in the video, has been run by one woman by herself since its opening. The appearance of the store is that of a dagashiya that was a familiar place for children to hang out during Showa era Japan. The store's name paint is now faded, and the red tent curtain on the roof, a symbol of a dagashiya, has also faded, but the entrance is lined with many gacha-pon machines, and the store is filled with nostalgic snacks, ice candies, toys, and stationery. The world may change but this sweets shop keeps on doing what it always has - selling candy. The video shows some of the most popular dagashi items that have been loved by children throughout the years. For those in their 40s and older, these items are a reminder of the good old days! They include Kamayaki Santaro, super ball lottery, medaka-chan game, candies, Maburu-gum, bubble gum, "Cola ball" (Coke Jell-O), yogurt, Choco-bat-Ace (home run bar), "lotteries" (if you win, you get snacks or toys), and more! However, the times have changed, now Reiwa era. However, the times have changed, and the wrapping paper of the candy is now printed with characters such as Fukka-chan, a mascot character, or characters from popular TV anime, clearly reflecting the current times. "Toda" is still a popular dagashi store where adult customers visit with their children. Summary of Japan's Dagashiya, the Once Popular Hangouts for Kids Photo：Kawagoe Candy Alley, Saitama Prefecture From the end of the Showa period to the Heisei period, the dagashi industry temporarily declined, and the number of dagashiya stores decreased drastically. Instead of dagashiya stores however, mass merchandisers (such as Niki's Confectionery, Kobe Bussan, etc.) that sell assorted dagashi in large quantities have become popular on retro shopping streets such as Ameyoko in Ueno. This has sparked a revival in dagashi. Besides these stores, self-service all-you-can-eat Dagashi-Bars or Dagashiya-Bar are also becoming popular. In these bars, you can enjoy a wide variety of delicious snacks, such as okaki (rice crackers) and surume-ika (squid), which go great together with drinks. In Kawagoe (川越市, Kawagoe-Shi), Saitama, there's "Dagashiya Yokocho" (Candy Alley) lined with dagashi manufacturers and wholesalers, making it a highly popular tourist spot in Saitama. The popularity of dagashi is still strong online, and there are even dagashi stores that specialize in online shopping! Consider experiencing the nostalgia of Showa Japan with the delicious dagashi of Japan's good-old days!

Fukaya Green Park: Video Introduction This video, titled "Garden Species and Wild Species of Lilies, Both Are in Full Bloom at the Suburbs Tokyo," was uploaded by "Japan BackpackersXpress." This video introduces the colorful lilies blooming beautifully at Fukaya Green Park in summer, as well as wild lilies at the Sugaya-yakata Ruins and Sayama Inariyama Park. Be sure to give the video a watch to see the lovely lilies! More About Fukaya Green Park Fukaya Green Park, located in Fukaya, Saitama, opened in July 1996 as a project subsidized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. It is a complex facility with a swimming pool corner, flower and greenery corner, and a fitness corner. The Aqua Paradise Patio, one of the largest indoor amusement pools in Japan's northern Kanto region, is popular with children and adults alike. In addition, at the flower and greenery corner in Fukaya Green Park, visitors can experience the beautiful flowers of Japan's various seasons, with tulips in spring, lilies in summer, and cosmos all over the park in autumn. Various flower-related events are held at the park each month. For example, visitors can try their hand at flower arrangement using seasonal flowers through the seasonal flower lessons. In the past, visitors have also had the opportunity to try their hand at planting lily bulbs. The "Flower Concert" are held on the patio surrounded by flowers and greenery as well. It's possible to participate in the events by making reservations via the official website (Japanese only). The Best Time to See Garden Lilies at Fukaya Green Park Source :YouTube screenshot Fukaya City is one of the top producers of cut lilies. Fukaya Green Park, a must-see attraction for flower lovers, also grows Fukaya lilies, a local variety. The lilies in Fukaya Green Park are at their best from mid to late July. The video was shot on July 24, 2021, during the aforementioned period. Lily varieties include Cayenne, Hinault, Cesare, and Lexington, and they are planted by volunteers in mid-May. The lilies, which are at their best during the hot summer months, come in a variety of colors, including red, orange, yellow, pink, and white! About 20,000 lilies bloom in a variety of colors in the park, delighting visitors. The lilies blooming all over the area make it popular with Instagrammers and photographers. [Video] 3:13 - Colorful Lilies Blooming at Fukaya Green Park Seasonal Flowers at Fukaya Green Park Source :YouTube screenshot At Fukaya Green Park, you can see flowers blooming in every season. Here are some of the flowers you can expect to see. You can check the blooming status via a calendar on the official website. If there is a flower you're looking for, be sure to look it up before visiting the park. ・Flowers in Bloom in Spring Cherry blossoms, tulips, dogwood, roses ・Flowers in Bloom in Summer Crape myrtles, sunflowers, lilies ・Flowers in Bloom in Autumn Cosmos ・Flowers in Bloom in Winter Pansies, violas The Best Time to See Wild Lilies at Fukaya Green Park Photo：Lilies There are approximately 100 species of lilies in the world. In Japan, there are 15 species of true lilies, including mountain lilies, sasa-yuri, showy lilies, maiden lilies, and easter lilies. The sight of wild lilies blooming in the fields and mountains is so dignified and beautiful that you can't help but stop to admire them. In Saitama, Japan, various wild species of lilies can be found growing in the wild. The video shows wild lilies at Sayama Inariyama Park and the Sugaya-yakata Ruins. Here are some characteristics of the flowers that appear in the video. ・Mountain Lilies Mountain lilies are a native Japanese lily, distributed in Japan's Kinki region and northward. The plant is 1 to 1.5 meters tall and is characterized by its whitish petals. ・Tiger Lilies Tiger lilies grow wild, not only in Japan, but also in Guam and China. In Japan, it's distributed throughout the country, from Kyushu in southern Japan to Hokkaido in the north. The flower grows to 1-2 m tall, and has orange-colored petals. Summary of Lilies at Fukaya Green Park Fukaya Green Park is a popular tourist spot with a swimming pool area as well as various amusements, such as the Green Park area. Since visitors can bring their dogs to the park, it's a nice place for people living in the neighborhood to relax. The park also has space to eat and enjoy picnics. The indoor pool, Aqua Paradise Patio, is also popular with families. However, there are admission restrictions if the park is crowded. Visitors can enjoy seasonal flowers at the Green Park corner. In summer, colorful lilies can be seen in full bloom. Even a single flower has a strong presence, and the view of 20,000 lilies makes it a very photogenic spot and great for Instagram. The spectacular view is made possible by the planting of the lilies by volunteers. While the colorful lilies blooming in the park are beautiful and moving, they wild lilies blooming around Saitama are also a sight to behold! ◆Fukaya Green Park - Aqua Paradise Patio◆ 【Address】763 Kashiai, Fukaya, Saitama 366-0816 【Telephone】048-574-5000 【Hours】10 AM – 9 PM ※Open from 9:00 AM during the summer season (July 20 - August 31) 【Closures】Every Tuesdays ※The park will remain open during the summer vacation period. 【Admission Fee】General Admission: Individual use: General 2,000 yen; Elementary and junior high school students 2,000 yen 【Parking】Available (Free) 【Access】 Car: Approximately 15 minutes from the Hanazono Interchange on the Kan'etsu Expressway toward Fukaya Station Public Transportation: A free shuttle bus service is available from the south exit of Fukaya Station 【TripAdvisor】Aqua Paradise Patio https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g651654-d2618179-Reviews-Aqua_Paradise_Patio-Fukaya_Saitama_Prefecture_Kanto.html