Kawagoe is an old town which flourished as a castle town in the Edo Period. Still to this day you can see elaborately designed buildings, ringing bells, elegant back streets and rickshaws passing. The design of the stores and houses on the street mix the features of three different eras - Edo, Meiji, and Taisho. Kawagoe has a Japanese culture and history which we cannot see in other cities. In addition, the access from the center of Tokyo is good (30 minutes). It was selected to host the golf competitions in the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020.

Meet at Hon-Kawagoe Station

Kita-in Temple

Built in 830 AD, this temple houses the only remaining palace buildings from the Edo Castle. They were moved there from the Imperial Palace site in 1638 in order to help rebuild the temple after a fire. While the main Edo Castle was destroyed in World War 2 and the Great Kanto Earthquake, Kitain survived.

Hikawa Shrine

This 1500 year old shrine is known by locals as a place for finding true love or matrimonial happiness. It also contains a 15 metre tall torii gate which is said to be the biggest wooden gate in Japan. Here you can try the "hitogata nagashi" ritual which involves releasing a special paper into a river while chanting to purify yourself and clear your sins. The ema (wooden prayers) tunnel is also worth seeing, it's a long tunnel filled with the wishes of visitors to the shrine.

Candy Alley

Visit many shops that have been around since the beginning of the Meiji Era in 1868. You can buy traditional Japanese sweets not found in supermarkets.

Warehouse District

The Warehouse District is full of old clay-walled warehouses from the Edo Period (1603-1867). Back then, Kawagoe was an important town which suppplied resources to the capital Edo. The merchants grew wealthy and built elaborate houses and warehouses. Stroll the area where they lived and enter shops still operating to this day. View the 350 year old Bell Tower, the symbol of Kawagoe which chimes at 6:00, 12:00, 15:00 and 18:00.

Matsumoto Craft Soy Sauce

Matsumoto Craft Soy Sauce has passed down the tradition of making soy sauce for over 250 years in Kawagoe. They still use traditional methods to make the soy sauce. You can tour their factory and learn about the process that has been used to may soy sauce for centuries. (Factory sightseeing /Tour only available on Sat. & Sun. & Holidays)

Koedo Kurari

This store is built in a brewery that has made Japanese sake for nearly 120 years. You can buy souvenirs from the local area here.

Finish at Hon-Kawagoe (or Kawagoe) station