Kawagoe Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

Toki no Kane is a symbol of Kawagoe. Because there were no clocks in the Edo period, this tower has told the time to the people of Kawagoe by its ringing bell. Even today, you can hear the bell at 6 am, 12pm, 3 pm and 6 pm. Toki no Kane, along with the surrounding environment retains the vestiges of the Edo period.

There are many restaurants in this warehouse-style building. You can eat Japanese dishes such as kamameshi (a rice, meat and vegetable dish served in a small pot) and ramen. There is also a free rest place, so why not take a rest here when you are tired from walking?

Not only did Kawagoe flourish as a castle town, but there were also many prosperous merchants living in warehouse-style architectures. Such a streetscape, where many warehouse-style buildings remain is rare even in Japan. In this museum, you can actually enter the warehouse and look around it.

Kawagoe was a castle town of Kawagoe Castle in the Edo period. Most of the Castle does not remain anymore today, but the entrance and a few rooms are open to the public. The outfit back in those days and dolls of feudal lords are on exhibit. The stately atmosphere makes you feel almost as if you were back in those days.

As a sacred place for love, “Hikawa Jinja [shrine]” is an extremely popular place among attractions of Kawagoe. There is an amulet called “Enmusubi dama [love success stone]”, which is very famous as a lucky charm for love. You must get one when you visit Kawagoe with someone you care about. Other than that, people visit this place to pray for safe delivery, baby’s health, and shichigosan celebration (young child celebration). They also open for shinto wedding ceremonies. Really holy place. Come and visit to pray for a happy love life. You can get pretty shinto charms and paper amulets, which would be good souvenirs and gifts.

Kawagoe City Museum is another must-visit place as an attraction of Kawagoe. There are many historical buildings in Kawagoe, and that is why this city is called Koedo [little Edo]. The exterior of this musuem is distinctive and impressive. A museum with a simple tranquil Japanese appearance would be rare. Definitely worth to see! Thier exhibits include: artworks created by artists related to Kawagoe, exhibitions, citizenship gallery, etc. Being a locally based museum, this place is very popular among students too. Interesting place to visit.

“Kitain” is a buddhist temple which you will not want to miss when you travel to Kawagoe. This temple has been standing there for about 1200 years. Its magnificent atmosphere keeps attracting people who visit. There are many highlights inside the temple, but the view around this place is also excellent. Being filled with beautiful green plants and flowers that bloom in each season, this temple is a great place where people can enjoy its natural environment. This temple has 7 mysterious stories passed from generation to generation. You might want to hear them. Nice temple to visit and refresh yourself. You would feel great.

Japanese castles are very popular as a tourist attraction. Highly admired by not only domestic but also foreign tourists because those castles directly offer a sense of Japanese history. Since there are various castles all over Japan, many people would visit to enjoy a distinctive castle view owned by each area. Kawagoe has such a castle attraction too. It is not that the entire castle remains as it was, but this place is a great historical attraction. With brilliant cherry blossoms blooming, it looks really elegant in spring. Perfect place for history lovers. Head there and enjoy a castle view in Kawagoe.

To enjoy onsen is one of the best things about traveling in Japan. Kawagoe also has a popular natural hot spring facility, “Kawagoe Onsen”. They offer various types of wood made baths and stone made baths. The various baths includes: warm bath, hot bath, carbon dioxide bath, special bath, and lie-down bath. So much fun! Beyond that, sauna, eatery, and massage are also available. Tourists often need to walk for sightseeing in Kawagoe because the entire town is an attraction. Take a break at Kawagoe Onsen when you are tired.

There are many various festivals in Japan. Some people would get excited just by thinking about them. There must be many tourists who want to experience local festivals in each area. Kawagoe also has a traditional festival, “Kawagoe Matsuri [festival]”. By this traditional local event, the entire town gets so busy and filled with enthusiasm. The sad point is that those kind of experiences are on offer only in festival season. However, at Kawagoe Matsuri Kaikan, it is possible to feel the excitement all through a year. There are many things that relate to Kawagoe Festival such as displays of floats, photo corners, and so on. Fun place to experience a dynamic festival world.