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Kawagoe
East Asia · Japan
See also
Overview
Kawagoe preserves a historic warehouse district and traditional wooden merchant houses, offering a taste of old Japan near Tokyo. Its October festival adds elaborate floats to an easy heritage-focused day trip.
Languages: Japanese
Why Go
Kawagoe is an old trading outpost of ancient Edo (Tokyo) that has preserved its historic warehouse district, earning it the nickname "Little Edo" (小江戸 Koedo). With around 33,000 residents but drawing 4 million visitors annually, the city offers a taste of old Japan just an hour from Tokyo. The Ichiban Gai area features traditional wooden merchant houses, while the Kawagoe Festival in October showcases elaborate floats.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Get In
Kawagoe is accessible by three rail lines from Tokyo: the Tobu Tojo Line from Ikebukuro (about 50 minutes), the Seibu Shinjuku Line from Shinjuku (about 1 hour), and the JR JA line via Omiya. By car, the Kan-etsu Expressway connects from Tokyo, with exits at Tokorozawa and Tsurugashima.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Get Around
Walking is perfectly feasible between the main sights in the compact historic district. Two loop buses serve visitors: the Koedo Kawagoe Loop Bus covers all major attractions in a 40-minute loop with a day pass for ¥300, while the vintage Co-edo Loop Bus takes about an hour to loop the main sites with a day pass for ¥500.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
When to Go
The Kawagoe Festival takes place in October, featuring elaborate floats and parades that draw large crowds. Spring offers pleasant weather for walking the historic district, while autumn provides comfortable temperatures for temple visits. Summer can be hot and humid.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Where to Stay
Most visitors choose Kawagoe as a day trip from Tokyo, but overnight stays allow visitors to enjoy the historic district in the evening and early morning when crowds are thinner. The Kawagoe Prince Hotel offers full-service accommodation with restaurants in the Shintomi-cho area.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Food and Drink
Kawagoe is famous for its violet sweet potato (紅あずま), which appears as imokenpi (fried sticks), imokoi (sweet potato and red bean in glutinous rice), and ice cream. Kashiya Yokocho (Penny Candy Lane) near Youjyuin Temple preserves a traditional shopping district where cheap sweets have been sold since the Showa period, with about 70 shops at its peak. The Crea Mall shopping strip between Kawagoe and Hon-Kawagoe stations offers ramen shops and kaiten sushi. Local dining includes Hand made Soba Hyakujyo (buckwheat noodles, ¥1,000-2,000), Fujidana Udon Kawagoe (udon, ¥700-1,200), and Azumaya (unagi kabayaki, ¥2,000-4,000). Coedo Brewery produces sweet-potato beer at their restaurant near Kawagoe station.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Things to Do
The Toki no Kane ("Bell of Time") is Kawagoe's most famous landmark, located near Kashiya Yokocho. Kitain Temple at Kosemba-machi houses the main hall moved from Edo Castle by the Shogun and 540 Rakan Buddha statues (free entry, 09:00-16:00). The Kawagoe Festival Museum (¥300, 09:30-18:30) exhibits the great festival floats with a 5-minute film. The Museum of Kurazukuri (¥100, 09:00-17:00) shows the inside of 1893 tobacco warehouses. Kawagoe Castle dates to the 15th century with remaining tower and main hall (¥100, 09:00-17:00). Chiisanatabi Kawagoe Onsen offers hot spring bathing (¥780-880, 10:00-01:00).
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Buy
Kashiya Yokocho (菓子屋横丁) is a traditional shopping district known for cheap candies and the popular fugashi — a long, sweet snack resembling a sword. Fukazen at Saiwaichou sells traditional Japanese hanging scrolls (kakejiku). Matsumoto Soy Sauce Shop on Nakacho offers all kinds of soy sauce with free tastings and weekday cave tours at 13:00. The Maruhiro Department Store on Shintomi-cho provides more conventional shopping.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Go Next
From Kawagoe, nearby destinations include Saitama (major city with Omiya), Chichibu (mountainous region with scenic attractions), and Hanno (gateway to Chichibu). The city sits at the intersection of multiple rail lines and the Kan-etsu Expressway, making onward travel convenient to Takasaki, Kumagaya, and further into Saitama prefecture.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Field guide adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0. Text has been adapted and organized for this guide. About our sources.
Places to know
A few starting points from the guide. Check current hours and prices before you go.
- sleep
Kawagoe Prince Hotel
Includes restaurants and salon.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Azumaya
Eel kabayaki and more fish.
Recorded price: ¥2,000-4,000
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Crea Mall
The shopping strip running between Kawagoe and Hon-Kawagoe stations, offers many of the usual chains and numerous ramen shops. There is a good kaiten sushi place towards the Kawagoe end.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Fujidana Udon Kawagoe
Recorded price: ¥700-1,200
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Hand made Soba Hyakujyo
Buckwheat noodle (soba).
Recorded price: ¥1,000-2,000
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Kashiya-yokocho
It was prospering as temple town of Youjyuin and one of the places which started to make dagashi (cheap sweets). In the beginning of Showa period, in its peak, there were about 70 shops. It is still mirthful and selling cheap sweets, and including those made from sweet potato, one of the well-known products of Kawagoe.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- see
City Museum
Useful after visiting the warehouse district as it contains information on how the warehouses were built. Otherwise your average local museum detailing local history with artifacts and models. Next door is a small art museum with a collection of local art.
Recorded price: ¥200
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- see
Hattori Museum of Folklore
While there is, in fact, nothing relating to folklore in the folklore museum, the old Hattori family for which is warehouse is named, morphed into a medical company. So you'll find a small display of old medicines, advertisements.. and sandals.
Recorded price: Free
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
Before you go
Connectivity
Japan uses Type A/B power plugs (100V/50-60Hz). Free WiFi is available at major stations and tourist offices.
Culture
Kawagoe preserves Edo-period merchant town architecture. Respect local customs at temples — remove shoes when indicated and dress modestly.
Food
Kawagoe specializes in violet sweet potato treats — try imokenpi (fried sticks), imokoi, or sweet potato ice cream. Kashiya Yokocho has traditional penny candy shops.
Money
Japan is predominantly cash-based, though credit cards are increasingly accepted in hotels and larger restaurants. ATMs at convenience stores accept foreign cards.
Transport
Kawagoe is reachable by Tobu Tojo Line from Ikebukuro (50 min), Seibu Shinjuku Line from Shinjuku (1 hr), and JR JA line via Omiya. Local loop buses cost ¥300-500 for day passes.