What To Do in Kawagoe: A Charming, Historic 'Little Edo' Near Tokyo
Kawagoe has earned the nickname 'Little Edo' for a reason — it's brimming with impeccably preserved historic buildings, traditional food offerings and unique cultural experiences. Located in Saitama Prefecture, the city is a less than an hour's train journey away from Seibu-Shinjuku Station via the Red Arrow Limited Express.
Kawagoe is a hugely popular day trip location for Tokyoites, and it's easy to see why. Keep reading for a perfect day-long itinerary — including a matcha tea ceremony experience in a picturesque Japanese garden and a stroll through the breathtaking remains of the original Edo Castle.
Hikawa Shrine: Praying for Love and Family
One of Kawagoe's most visited sites, Hikawa Shrine is often visited by couples and families to pray for marital harmony and family unity. It boasts 1500 years of history and served as a place of prayer for generations of feudal lords.
You can participate in a number of unique and historic activities here. Be sure to pay a visit to the two towering zelkova trees on the shrine grounds, treasured for their connection to divinity. It is said that walking around the stone path around the trees in a figure-eight formation will enrich your spirit.
Another must-try activity: walking through the long tunnel of
ema
(wooden prayer plates) and fishing out a special sea bream-shaped
omikuji
(paper fortune), which will predict your romantic fortune.
Jikeido Hall
Kita-in Temple: Witness Edo Castle Splendor
Founded in 830 CE, Kita-in Temple is an important center for Tendai Buddhism; it's also home to several National Important Cultural Properties. Notably, it's the location of the only remaining structures from the original Edo Castle — after a fire destroyed much of the temple grounds in 1638, the third Tokugawa shogun, Iemitsu, ordered several palace buildings to be moved there to help with rebuilding.
San-mon Gate
Kitain Pagoda
'The temple's main gate, Sanmon, is referred to as 'miracle gate,' for its survival of the fire that burnt down much of Kawagoe in 1638,' our guide, Haruo Azami, explained to TW. Like the unassuming gate, many of Kita-in's structures possess a quiet strength difficult to capture in words. Its pagoda, for instance, is a two-tiered
tahoto
structure — a style that originates from Japan, unlike three or five-tiered builds inspired by Chinese pagodas. 'The Kita-in pagoda is particularly admired for its beauty and balance,' Azami said.
Shogun Iemitsu's Birthplace
Visitors can also look forward to seeing the (rumored) birthplace and living quarters of Shogun Iemitsu Tokugawa, part of the last remains of the original Edo Castle. Surrounding the historic rooms and priceless artifacts is Momijiyama Garden, an impeccably maintained oasis of towering willow trees and Japanese maple.
500 Statues of Rakan
Also within the Kita-in Temple grounds are the 500 Statues of Rakan: carefully sculpted stone representations of Buddha's most enlightened disciples. Completed between the years 1782 and 1825, the statues feature a variety of facial expressions and poses and are said to relieve the suffering of their onlookers.
Kawagoe Castle Ruins: Living Capsule of History
A 10-minute walk away from Kita-in is Kawagoe Castle's Honmaru Palace,
a surviving structure from the castle's later history. While Kawagoe Castle was originally built in 1457, the current Honmaru Palace was constructed in 1848 during the late Edo period and is one of the few remaining examples of Edo-period castle palace architecture.
Although the existing palace dates to the 19th century, the site itself is steeped in history. Kawagoe Castle served as a key defensive stronghold for Edo and witnessed numerous significant events, including the great Kawagoe Night Battle of 1546. Architecturally, the palace is notable for its graceful samurai-style karahafu curved roof and the gleaming Tokugawa family crest that adorns it — a must-visit for history buffs.
Miyoshino Shrine
Right next to Honmaru Palace, Miyoshino Shrine was revered as an important religious site of the Tokugawa Shogunate. It was built some 1200 years ago, around the same time as Kita-in Temple, and enshrines four deities, including Sugawara no Michizane, the Shinto god of learning. Interestingly, the narrow path leading from the South Otemon Gate of Kawagoe Castle to the shrine inspired a famous Japanese nursery rhyme called 'Toryanse,' a fact which is commemorated with a monument on the shrine grounds.
Kawagoe Warehouse District (Kurazukuri Street): Journey Back in Time
Kurazukuri Street, a shopping hub that forms the bustling heart of Kawagoe City, is a must-visit during your trip. It is home to Toki no Kane (Time Bell Tower), perhaps the most frequently referenced and photographed landmark of the city.
Kawagoe was an instrumental town of trade and commerce, and its warehouses remain today as eateries, cafes and miscellaneous souvenir stores. Here are a few of our favorites.
Unagi Denbe: Luxurious Freshwater Eel
Housed in a spacious, atmospheric Meiji era warehouse once home to
an apothecary
,
Unagi Denbe
offers incredible
unajyu
meals. Unajyu consists of grilled unagi — freshwater eel — laid carefully atop a bed of rice in a lacquered box. We tried the shop's bando taro premium eel, cooked kabayaki-style (with a soy-based sauce), which was sumptuous and flavor-rich beyond our expectations. For wagyu lovers, the restaurant also offers half-wagyu, half-unagi meals.
Karaki Mokkou: Carve Your Own Chopsticks
For a fun activity and a unique souvenir,
head to Karaki Mokkou
to craft your own chopsticks, choosing your favorite kind of wood and then carefully molding the chopsticks' shape. The experience is great for people of all ages. Smaller chopsticks are also available as an option for children.
The workshop is run by Holiday, a bespoke furniture business in Yamada, Kawagoe city, and knowledgeable staff are available to guide you through the process. Each table features a phone stand above it, enabling visitors to film a cool time-lapse video of the entire process as an extra keepsake.
Kashiya Yokocho: A Nostalgic Candy Alley
Kashiya Yokocho, or Candy Alley, is just what it sounds like: a charming shopping street lined with about 30 confectionery shops.
Kawagoe has many sweet treats to offer, both within Candy Alley and beyond
. During our visit, we tried a number of snacks that were equally delicious and beautiful to look at: crème brûléed sweet potato (sweet potatoes are a specialty of Saitama, especially Kawagoe), giant mitarashi dango and candied strawberries with a sculptural net of spun sugar around them.
Tranquil Matcha Tea Ceremony at Tantoku Garden
While many places in Japan offer traditional tea ceremony experiences,
Tantoku Garden
stands out for its rich history, enchanting Japanese garden and kind guidance. The site was established in 1901, during the Meiji period, and has maintained its charm to this day.
The garden's ethereal beauty attracts many visitors and wedding celebrations year-round, but we highly recommend booking the
Matcha & Wasanbon Experience
, crafted especially for tea enthusiasts; you can learn how to properly whisk and enjoy matcha from an experienced instructor and craft
wasanbon
(Japanese sugar sweets with over 200 years of history).
How To Get to Kawagoe
To get to Kawagoe from central Tokyo, take the Red Arrow Limited Express from Seibu-Shinjuku Station.
To ride the Limited Express, a separate limited express ticket is required in addition to your regular fare ticket, which can be purchased on the day of travel at Limited Express ticket counters or online
via Smooz
in English.
The Seibu Kawagoe Pass ensures a smooth and comfortable round trip from
central Tokyo
to Kawagoe and back, and only costs ¥700 (4.85 USD). You can purchase it in person a
t the Limited Express ticket counter at
Seibu-Shinjuku Station
.
Alternatively, purchasing a digital pass
via Klook
is highly recommended, as it allows you to board the train directly just by presenting a QR code on your mobile device.
The blue ticket is the SEIBU KAWAGOE PASS with CO-EDO LOOP BUS 1-Day Ticket — it includes unlimited rides on local loop buses in the Kawagoe area.
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