Koedo Kawagoe (Little Edo Kawagoe), Saitama

A castle town in the Edo era still remains is called “Koedo”

Kawagoe, known as “Koedo” in Saitama, is a popular tourist spot where you can enjoy eating as you stroll through Kurazukuri’s rich townscape. You can meet a strange space-like time slipping into various eras such as Taisho modern Western-style building, old-fashioned “Kashiya-Yokocho” (sweet shop street), and a hidden home old cafe so on. Festivals and events for each season are also held a lot.
About 30 minutes by train from Ikebukuro, Kawagoe town, located in the middle of Saitama prefecture. The streetscape that flourished as a castle town in the Edo era remains is called “Koedo” (small Edo) and attracts many tourists regardless of age, sex, and domestic.
From Tokyo to Kawagoe, it is easy to go by train. That boasts excellent accessibility. Even on a trip based on a hotel in Tokyo, you can enjoy it well on a day trip.
Let’s enjoy the atmosphere of the city with Kawagoe sightseeing. Especially recommended is the season such as spring and autumn with a comfortable climate. The “Kawagoe Spring Festival” is held from spring to early summer, and the “Kawagoe Festival,” which is also registered in UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, is held in fall. Of course, Kawagoe, other than the event holding time, is also recommended, as you can enjoy a quiet town walk.
First of all, let’s enjoy walking around the town of “Ichibangai,” where heavy fittings and black plaster walls are beautiful. If you look over the building of Kurazukuri Style, which spreads all the way, you can feel the time slip to the Edo period. It is recommended to walk around slowly while walking with sweets using “sweet potato,” a famous Kawagoe product.
“Toki no Kane” (Bell of Time) is popular as a symbol of Kawagoe. It is Kanetsukido (a place where a big Buddhist bell is is to be struck) that has been informing Koedo about 400 years ago. You can currently hear the sound of the bell four times a day (6, 12, 15, 18 o’clock). It is located a little back from Ichibangai.
“Kashiya-Yokocho” (sweet shop street), where 22 candy shops line up, is located in the middle alley of Ichibangai. There are many shops handmade by traditional recipes, and the delicious fragrance spreads to the side street.
Kawagoe is a strange city that mixes various eras, such as modern Western-style architecture from the Edo townscape, and old-fashioned sweets of the Showa era, which creates enthusiasm. There are many ways to enjoy so that you may decide on a theme and visit.
Would you like to walk around Koedo in Kimono as sightseeing in Tokyo?

Charms and Highlights of Little Edo Kawagoe

The construction style called “Kura-zukuri”

In old times, Kawagoe was called Koedo (Little Edo) instead of Tokyo, was Oedo (Big Edo). Many buildings are constructed in style called “Kura-zukuri” (earthen-wall building style) in the corner of the center of the city.
In the street extending from Naka-cho to Fuda-no-Tsuji is called “Streets with Many Kura-zukuri,” more than 30 Japanese storehouse style buildings are located.

The scenery which is not seen in other cities

It is common to use the Japanese storehouse style for a warehouse, but they make the whole house a godown style in Kawagoe. The wall, which is particularly black and thick, the big Onigawara (Japanese gargoyle roof tiles), heavy and stately building, it is the scenery which is not seen in other cities.

Keeping a feature of Edo

“Kura-zukuri” is a skillful fireproof building to prevent catching fire from next door, and it developed as a house in the town form of Edo. It is keeping a feature of Edo you cannot see in present Tokyo.

Museum of the building

You can also observe a variety of architecture like a modern Western-style building and Japanese-style house, a Buddhist temple and Shinto shrine, and Toki-no-Kane (bells of time) in Kawagoe as well as Japanese storehouse style. The town itself is totally like the museum of the building.

The Koedo Circuit Bus is convenient

The Koedo Junkai Buses (Koedo Circuit Bus) run in the tourist attraction of Kawagoe from the Kawagoe Station west exit to Hon-Kawagoe Station, the Kitain (Shrine), the town in Japanese storehouse style, and Kashiyayokochou (the street in Kawagoe known for its many traditional and contemporary candy and snack shops). It is convenient for movement.

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