Japan(Tokyo) The Olympic flame is currently in Saitama Prefecture, famed for its Edo period townscape and rich natural wonders. Here’s everything you need to know about the towns and some of the Torchbearers on the latest stage of the Olympic Torch Relay with just over two weeks to go until Tokyo 2020…
Just north of Tokyo lies Saitama Prefecture.
Today it is known to as a major transport hub in the Kanto region but it used to be a stop on the way to Nikko during the Edo period. The sights and atmosphere of the Edo period still remain today, and luckily the Olympic Torch Relay goes through some of these sights.
Starting with a Celebration event in Kawaguchi City, the Olympic flame will make its way around the prefecture’s hidden sites and natural wonders before finishing in Saitama City.
Saitama is also the 46th prefecture the Olympic flame has travelled through, meaning it is the last stop before Tokyo!
Here’s everything you need to know about its journey through the latest stage of the Olympic Torch Relay.
Where is the Olympic Torch going?
Tokorozawa City, 6 July
Tokorozawa has two big claims to fame: Japanese aviation started in 1911 and Sayama Hills is the inspiration behind a widely-loved anime “My Neighbor Totoro”. The flame won’t visit Totoro’s forest and the 100-year-old Kurosuke House – named after the black soot sprites that scurry around their house in the Studio Ghibli film but instead will stay closer to the city centre. It will visit Kokukoen, built on the grounds of the former Tokorozawa airstrip.
Soka City, 7 July
Part of the Nikko Kaido highway during the Edo Period, the 1.5km-long road is lined with pine trees. This stretch of road, known as Soka Matsubara, made the town famous. Now designated as Scenery of the Narrow Road to the Deep North (“Oku-no-hosomichi”), the 634 pine trees planted along it will welcome the Olympic flame when it arrives in Soka City.
Chichibu City to Nagatoro Town, 7 July
This is one part of the Olympic Torch Relay in Saitama Prefecture not to be missed. Starting at Chichibu Shrine, home to the Chichibu Night Festival – considered one of Japan’s top three float festivals, the flame will take an electric locomotive to Oyahana Station before taking a cruise down the Arakawa River. It will take in the high rock walls and scenery along a small stretch of the 173km river.
Konosu City, 8 July
The flame will visit the widest part of the Arakawa River in Konosu City. But this town is also known for its record-breaking sites. It is home to Japan’s tallest pyramid of Hina Ningyo – traditional Japanese dolls. It also has the biggest poppy field in Japan and grows the most primroses and marigolds. Lastly, the world’s heaviest firework can be found here. A model of the almost 500kg firework sits outside Konosu Station.
Kawagoe City, 8 July
Take a step back in time by walking along the main street lined with kurazukuri – clay-walled warehouse styled buildings. Kawagoe has come to be known as Little Edo for its old town vibes. We will also visit the Ruins of Kawagoe Castle, which was originally built in 1457 but was demolished in the late 1800s during the Meiji Restoration. Today, Honmaru Goten is the only surviving structure.
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