Hannō, Suburban municipality in Saitama Prefecture, Japan
Hannō is a suburban municipality in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, that spreads across forested hills and gentle river valleys. The streets wind through mixed residential blocks, small parks, and green patches that sit between mountains and the riverbeds of the Iruma and Koma.
During the Edo period, the area supplied timber to Edo, used in rebuilding the capital after large fires. The lumber industry shaped the local economy for generations and left storage yards and cutting sites along the rivers.
The temples of Noninji and Shogakuji open their gardens for visitors to stroll in quiet courtyards among stone sculptures and old trees. Inside the prayer halls, guests can sit briefly and watch as monks light incense and recite sutras in low voices.
The train station sits centrally and the Seibu Ikebukuro Line takes travelers to Tokyo in roughly 48 minutes. Outside the center, narrow roads lead into the hills where hiking trails begin and signage becomes less frequent.
Moominvalley Park brings Finnish author Tove Jansson and her characters to the Japanese landscape, with recreated scenes from the books set in a valley. Visitors walk through wooden houses, small bridges, and meadows modeled after the Nordic stories.
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