Kawagoe
Little Edo: old storehouse streets near Tokyo.
Why Japanese travelers love itIt feels like stepping into old Edo without leaving the Tokyo area, with sweet potato snacks along the way.
Kawagoe kept a street of thick clay-walled merchant storehouses, built to resist fire. That is why it is called Little Edo. A wooden bell tower still rings over the old quarter. Kashiya Yokocho, a lane of old candy shops, is fun for snacks. It is only about 30 minutes from Ikebukuro, so it makes an easy half-day trip from Tokyo.
Best time: Weekday mornings. Autumn is pleasant; weekends get crowded.
Weather
Average temperature, °C. JMA 1991–2020 normals (Saitama AMeDAS (JMA)).
Top 5
- Kurazukuri streetA row of black storehouse shops.
- Toki no KaneThe wooden bell tower above the old town.
- Kashiya YokochoA lane of old-style candy shops.
- Kita-inA temple with buildings moved from Edo Castle; its gate is under repair.
- Kawagoe Hikawa ShrineA shrine popular for wishes about relationships.
A simple day
- Tobu Tojo Line from Ikebukuro.
- Bus or walk to the storehouse street.
- See the bell tower and Kashiya Yokocho.
- Eel or sweet potato snacks for lunch.
- Kita-in or Hikawa Shrine, then back to Tokyo.
Where to stay
- TokyoMost visitors come for the day.
- Kawagoe StationA few hotels if you want an early start.
Places we’ve checked
- Kawagoe Prince Hotelstay site ↗
- Kawagoe Ichinoyarestaurant
- Kashiya Yokochospot site ↗
- Kita-in Templetemple / shrine site ↗
- Kawagoe Hikawa Shrinetemple / shrine site ↗
From the psst directory. Opening days and prices change — check the official site before you go.
Getting there
Ikebukuro → Kawagoe: about 30 min on the Tobu Tojo Line.
psst — skip this mistake: Weekend afternoons. The main street gets very crowded; mornings are calmer.