[Around Tokyo] Kawagoe Old Town: A Day Trip Back to "Little Edo"

Kawagoe is a city in the southwestern part of Saitama Prefecture in the Kanto region, near Tokyo, making it a perfect day trip destination from Tokyo. During the Edo period, Kawagoe was the castle town of the Kawagoe Domain, and it has been prosperous since the Edo era, earning it the nickname "Little Edo." Because it was spared from war, the old streets of Kawagoe are exceptionally well-preserved. A 30-minute ride on the Tobu Limited Express from Ikebukuro Station in Tokyo takes you back in time to the historic streets of "Little Edo."

Transportation from Tokyo to Kawagoe: At the "Tobu Tourist Information Center" in Ikebukuro Station, purchase the "Kawagoe Discount Pass Premium Edition." This pass not only includes a round-trip train ticket from Ikebukuro to Kawagoe on the day of use, but also unlimited rides on local Tobu buses and discount coupons for 10 local specialty shops. From Ikebukuro Station, take the Tobu Limited Express "Kawagoe Express" to "Kawagoe" Station; the ride takes about 30 minutes one way.

Kawagoe still retains traditional Japanese plaster-walled storehouses (kurazukuri) from the Edo period. Almost all the shops lining the old street have long histories, and it's worth visiting the Japanese confectionery shops, matcha tea shops, handmade craft shops, and more.

A landmark on Kawagoe's old street is the Tokinokane (Bell of Time), which has stood for over 400 years. It rings four times a day (at 6:00, 12:00, 15:00, and 18:00). If you happen to be strolling along the old street during these times, it's worth stopping to listen to the bell's historic chime.

Almost all the shops on Kawagoe's old street are long-established, but my favorite is one that sells ceramics, offers pottery experiences, and serves delicious food in exquisite ceramic vessels.

This shop has a wide variety of ceramics, including some works by Japanese artists. You can find everything from everyday tableware to decorative pieces.

The restaurant section of this shop is called Tōroji, and the tableware used is all distinctive Japanese ceramics. The food is not only tasty but beautifully presented. It is very popular on weekends, so it's best to make a reservation in advance.

For a day trip to Kawagoe, you can wear a traditional Japanese yukata and take a leisurely stroll through the old town, experiencing the nostalgic atmosphere of the Edo period.

Besides walking through the old streets, be sure to visit Hikawa Shrine, which has a history of 1,500 years. Using the "Kawagoe Discount Pass Premium Edition" purchased at Ikebukuro Station, you can take a free Tobu bus from the bus stop in front of Kawagoe Station to reach the shrine.

Hikawa Shrine is a shrine that protects families, but it is most famous as a sacred place for romantic matchmaking. It also features unique ways of praying for good fortune, love, and wealth that you won't see at other shrines in Japan. The most distinctive thing at Hikawa Shrine is the "omikuji" (fortune slips) in the shape of sea bream (tai). You use a fishing rod to pick your own tai omikuji from among many, which is a lot of fun. The shrine also sells various charms for love and relationships. The most popular is the "enmusubi ishi" (matchmaking stone), which is limited to 20 per day. Other love charms are also very sought after, and every summer the shrine holds a "Enmusubi Wind Chime Festival."

The ema (votive tablet) tunnel at Hikawa Shrine is also impressive, filled with tablets dedicated to wishes for love, marriage, and safe childbirth. At the end of the tunnel stand two "husband and wife trees." I believe this is also why Hikawa Shrine has become a sacred place for love and matchmaking. Many young people visit on weekends, making it a very popular love shrine near Tokyo.

Kawagoe is perfect for a day trip from Tokyo, but if you don't want to rush, you can also stay overnight. There is a hotel near Kawagoe Station called "Kawagoe Tobu Hotel," which opened around the time of the Olympics. It's only a two- to three-minute walk from the station, making it very convenient.

After our day trip to Kawagoe, we returned to Ikebukuro Station and went shopping with my close friend at Tobu Department Store in Ikebukuro. First, we used our "Kawagoe Discount Pass Premium Edition" at the duty-free counter on the second floor to get a 5% discount coupon valid for seven days, and then we started shopping! There are many brands on the second floor of the department store, and most of my favorite brands were available.

In the food section, we could buy many special souvenirs, and the first floor also had a popular jewelry counter.

After buying everything we wanted and completing the tax-free process, we went to the 14th floor for dinner at "Mikage Kura." It was a very fulfilling day! If you want to switch to a slower pace of travel in the fast-paced Tokyo, consider visiting Kawagoe to experience a journey back to the Edo period.