Planning a day journey to Kawagoe from Tokyo? This one-day itinerary reveals you tips on how to benefit from your time right here!
Surrounded by the Iruma River, Kawagoe is house to quite a few temples and shrines that function a tranquil backdrop to the rows of historic buildings that earned its nickname “Little Edo,” lots of which might be discovered within the well-known Warehouse District.
Kawagoe is gorgeous in all 4 seasons and is well accessible from Tokyo. Only one hour by practice from Ikebukuro, Kawagoe is present in neighbouring Saitama prefecture and sometimes seems on many high 10 lists for locations to go to in Saitama.
To make the most effective of your Kawagoe day journey, take a look at the information beneath to search out out the place to go on this beautiful, historic city simply exterior of Tokyo.
Kawagoe Day Journey Overview
Under, you will discover a fast overview map of this one-day Kawagoe itinerary. Conveniently, most of the sights are inside a 5-minute stroll of one another.
Kawagoe Passes
For those who’re planning to go to Kawagoe for the day, there are a couple of vacationer passes obtainable which are price contemplating:
- Seibu Kawagoe Rail Pass: Embrace one spherical journey between Seibu-Shinjuku Station/Takadanobaba Station/Ikebukuro Station and Hon-Kawagoe Station.
- Tobu Kawagoe Discount Pass: Contains low cost on return practice journey from Tobu Tojo Line from Ikebukuro Station to Kawagoe Station or Kawagoeshi Station. Additionally comes with particular reductions at sure retailers in Kawagoe.
- Tobu Kawagoe Discount Pass Premium: Contains all the pieces on the common Tobu Kawagoe Cross plus limitless rides on the Tobu bus companies all day.
- Tobu Bus Koedo Kawagoe One Day Pass: Limitless bus rides for the day – might be bought from the Kawagoe Vacationer Data Middle (and so they’re additionally in a position to maintain your baggage for a couple of additional yen).
Kawagoe Day Journey Itinerary
Right here is our itinerary for spending at some point in Kawagoe:
1. Journey from Tokyo to Kawagoe
The easiest way to entry Kawagoe is to journey the Tokyo Loop by way of the Yamanote Line to Ikebukuro Station. You possibly can then take the Tobu-Tojo Line (TJ) and attain Kawagoe in about one hour. Alternatively, you should use the Seibu Line.
For those who’ve purchased any of the passes talked about above, ensure you use the traces on which they’re legitimate.
2. Relaxation at Renkeiji Temple
Of the numerous issues to do in Kawagoe, Renkeiji Temple is our favorite place to go to. Devoted to Amida Buddha and Fukurokuju, one of many Seven Fortunate Gods, Renkeiji Temple is the most effective place to start out (and end) our day journey to Kawagoe.
As the colorful banner adorning the principle shrine comes into view, it’s possible you’ll discover the temple’s quiet ambiance starkly opposes the extra full of life, touristy areas close by.
That’s as a result of Renkeiji Temple was designed to be a spot for therapeutic and praying when it was commissioned to be inbuilt 1549 by Renkei, the mom of a commander of Kawagoe Fort. Later, it grew to become a spot the place Buddhists might examine tips on how to turn out to be monks in the course of the Tokugawa Interval (1603–1867).
There are a number of cherry blossom bushes on the grounds that spring to life between the final week of March and the primary week of April. On daily basis at 3 PM, you may hear the bellow of a bonsho bell that was inbuilt 1695.
There’s additionally a small statue of one of many disciples of Buddha, Obinzuru-sama. Legend has it that for those who contact the statue the place you’re feeling ache in your physique, you’ll be healed of all illnesses.
3. Behold the Historic Bell Tower
Simply across the nook from Renkeiji Temple lies Toki-no-kane, or the Bell Tower. The Bell Tower stands on Kanetsuki Road and is undoubtedly one of many space’s most well-known landmarks.
Designed to mix in with its environment (just like that of the world’s first tatami-floored Starbucks in Kyoto) the native Starbucks and most of the native retailers seem like conventional kura buildings. Though it’s possible you’ll be stunned to search out that the Starbucks’ inside is sort of trendy.
Like most of its surrounding buildings, the Bell Tower was reconstructed in 1894 after a devastating fireplace destroyed a lot of the city. In the present day, the Bell Tower is a beloved native landmark that chimes 4 instances a day (at 6 AM, 12 PM, 3 PM, and 6 PM). Getting into the Bell Tower will not be allowed. Nevertheless, it’s nonetheless spectacular to take a look at.
Subsequent door, there’s a confectionery store referred to as Kashou Umon Bell Tower Branch. You possibly can attempt imo-koi (potato love) ice cream and daifukumochi, which is a sort of conventional Japanese candy.
4. Stroll Across the Warehouse District
Lots of Kawagoe’s hottest retailers, eating places, and cafes might be discovered alongside Kurazukuri Road. Like the standard buildings discovered close to the Bell Tower, the Warehouse District is marked by a protracted two-lane avenue with rows of conventional kura buildings on both facet.
Right here, tourists dressed in kimono or yukata mix in completely with the outdated homes as they duck into the Kame-no-monaka, which is a speciality meals store the place you may attempt the lovable cat-shaped dorayaki referred to as “Tamadora.”
There’s additionally the Miffy Storehouse Kitchen & Bakery in addition to a Ghibli Retailer (on Google Maps, it’s referred to as Donguri Kyowakoku).
For getting across the Warehouse District, the one various to strolling is by rickshaw. A round-trip to Kawagoe’s hottest sights takes round half-hour or much less. For extra info and costs, you may verify their official website.
Yearly, on October 14th–fifteenth, the Warehouse District is nearly unrecognizable in the course of the Kawagoe Hikawa Float Event when tons of of locals crowd on Kurazukuri Road to have a good time a competition that has been held yearly because the Edo interval. Beginning on the Hikawa Shrine, locals carry two giant multi-story floats with Edo-style dolls on the high.
The floats are completely on show on the Kawagoe Competition Museum, which can also be discovered within the Warehouse District.
5. Admire on the “Joyful Shrine”
After having visited lots of Kawagoe’s most iconic sights, you may go to “Joyful Shrine.” Tucked away on an off-shoot of Kurazukuri Road, this hidden gem is a stunning place to take a much-needed relaxation.
The Joyful Shrine is definitely referred to as Honso Inari Shrine. It’s half place of worship, half public artwork set up with works by sculpture artist Tsuyoshi Tanaka on show subsequent to the massive tree.
Honso Inari Shrine is a well-liked place for individuals to take a seat and pose for a photograph whereas wearing traditional Japanese clothes. For those who’re visiting in the course of the summer time months, it’s additionally an excellent place to loosen up within the shade and take heed to the candy sound of the wind-chime or furin.
6. Discover a Memento on the Crea Mall
Crea Mall is definitely a pedestrian-only avenue that stretches from the historic space round Renkeiji Temple all the best way to Kawagoe Station. There are such a lot of several types of eating places and retailers inside Crea Mall – it’s an ideal concept to make use of Google Maps to search out a number of the greatest ones (one in every of our essential Japan travel apps).
There’s one store close to Crea Mall that’s price stopping by for those who’re looking for a really distinctive type of omiyage or memento.
Construct in 1936 by the Ushikubo household, Mizukami Bookbindery is a stationary store that gives distinctive e-book covers, journals, passport holders, in addition to an assortment of bookmarks and different novelty objects like fox masks allegedly designed by manga artist Taro Iga.
The store itself is sort of a time capsule and prospects are welcome to take footage of the merchandise. The employees have been extraordinarily useful and have been in a position to customise a e-book cowl for my very peculiarly formed version of Patrick Rothfuss’ Title of the Wind.
Is Kawagoe Value Visiting?
Sure, Kawagoe is price visiting when you have sufficient time in Tokyo. Particularly for those who’re staying close to Tokyo for the complete period of your Japan trip, Kawagoe makes for an excellent various to visiting Kyoto. The standard ambiance reveals why Kawagoe goes underneath the nickname of “Little Edo” and it makes for an ideal time out.
Nevertheless, it’s additionally price contemplating different day journeys from Tokyo, relying on how a lot time you’ve got. Kamakura, Nikko and Hakone are nice alternate options for those who’re on a decent schedule.
For those who’re looking for a vacation spot that has sufficient choices to replenish a whole itinerary however remains to be shut sufficient to be in Tokyo in dinner time, then Kawagoe is the right day journey for you.
How A lot Time Do You Want in Kawagoe?
To get an excellent impression of Kawagoe, you’ll want at the least half a day to 1 full day. Particularly because it’s straightforward to achieve from Tokyo, it makes for an ideal day journey.
Following this itinerary will provide you with an ideal place to begin for exploring Kawagoe for the day. You possibly can even get again in time to discover Tokyo at night.
Conclusion – Kawagoe Day Journey
That concluded our Kawagoe itinerary!
Only one hour away from central Tokyo, Kawagoe is a superb place to attempt on kimono or yukata, wander across the historic district of “Little Edo” and see extra of what Japan has received to supply exterior of its fundamental cities.
