Top Things to do in Kawagoe
10 Things to Do in Kawagoe That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Kawagoe, Japan including Kawagoe Ichibangai Shopping Street, Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, Kitain, Kawagoe Matsuri Kaikan, Kashi Yokocho, Kawagoejyo Honmaru Palace, Kawagoe Kumano Shrine, Toki no Kane, Nakain Temple, Koedo Kurari.
Restaurants in Kawagoe
1. Kawagoe Ichibangai Shopping Street
Overall Ratings
4 based on 482 reviews
Reviewed By Selsy - New Zealand
This historic street is pretty, but small. It was also busy with traffic rather than being a pedestrian area. I was disappointed that the Kawagoe Kurazukuri Museum was closed, as I would have liked to learn more about these buildings.
Some of the shops have nice things in them, and there are some interesting snack foods. There are also some interesting temples and shrines in the side streets. If you are only visiting Tokyo and want to see a bit of old Japan, then a half day trip to Kawagoe might suit. If you're travelling elsewhere in Japan, there are better opportunities to see preserved streets (eg Takayama, Kurashiki).
I combined my visit to Kawagoe with a visit to the Omiya bonsai village, so all up, it was a reasonably good day out.
2. Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine
Overall Ratings
4 based on 199 reviews
Reviewed By YTCHENG - Hong Kong, China
We walked from the shopping street to Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine during our stay in town. The shrine and its surrounding were quiet despite that there were many visitors here. This shrine was famous for matchmaking and thus many youngsters came to make their wishes particularly during festival period. Recommended.
3. Kitain
Overall Ratings
4 based on 240 reviews
Reviewed By Joy_Sinha - Kolkata (Calcutta), India
One of the ancient Buddhist temples in Japan located in Kawagoe.
I visited the temple on the New years eve with large festivities, gathering and lots of Daruma Dolls on display.
Access: Walking distance of 15 minutes From the Hon-Kawagoe station, Seibu-Shinjuku Line.
The temple complex has more than 500 statues, said to be disciples of Buddha. The temple also has graves of many feudal lords.
On new years eve, large festivities and ceremonies are carried out. Also, the famous Daruma Doll festival is held.
4. Kawagoe Matsuri Kaikan
Overall Ratings
4 based on 76 reviews
Reviewed By tensaisimon - Beijing, China
Highlight of our Kawagoe visit. Kawagoe Festival, equivalent to Carnival in Western Countries, is the only event that inheretates Edo period scenes. Among the museum's collections are the real huge vehicles. Each district of the city has its own featured vehicle and costumes etc, and the vehicles take turns to show in the musuem. The staff, most of whom are senior folks, are not so fluent in English, but they were making huge efforts to explain interesting hidden details of their display.
5. Kashi Yokocho
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 313 reviews
Reviewed By Just-Julie-Cairns - Cairns, Australia
Candy Alley is a little shopping street not far from the main shopping street of Kawagoe. In 1923 when the Great Earthquake hit, Tokyo experienced a shortage in the supply of Japanese sweets, so orders for the hard to get candy poured into the Kawagoe area and the sweet producers prospered. Once there were over 70 stall holders in this area, but Kawagoe also suffered from an earthquake and then a fire inwhich many of the buildings made of timber were lost. Today there are a few of these shops remaining and we visited the oldest shop which has been making candy for over 200 years. We watched them making cinnamon candy that day and the lady in the front of the shop encouraged us to watch the process through the glass windows at the back. A lady from the candy making area brought out a tray with some of todays freshly made candy for us to try and we were surprised that it was still warm, but quite delicious. This is a wonderful area for trying traditional Japanese sweets and worth a visit, if only for a short time
6. Kawagoejyo Honmaru Palace
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 128 reviews
Reviewed By Lisa J - Sydney, Australia
Although the castle itself has long since disappeared, the Honmaru Goten (Lords residence) remains in original condition and dates from 1878. It is well worth visiting this gorgeous building, mostly empty rooms covered in Tatami mats, to get a feel for the architecture and style of the times. Entry fee is ¥100, better value and much larger and more evocative than the remains of Edo Castle in Kitain Temple. You can see why it's s popular spot for filming Japanese period dramas. Surrounded by a small garden, extremely evocative. One of our favourite parts of Kawagoe.
7. Kawagoe Kumano Shrine
Overall Ratings
4 based on 58 reviews
Reviewed By hfot2 - Vermont
We had trouble finding the Kumano Shrine.
We stepped into a tiny alley to see if we could catch sight of the temple somewhere within the block where it showed up on our map. It wasn’t visible from the street. It turned out we had stumbled into the very shrine.
It had some interest, including a pool where one washes money to achieve good fortune, as we see a young woman quite seriously doing.
The kura for the temple float is one thing we came to see, but unfortunately it was closed. We came upon several other such kura on our walk through town; however, all but one were closed just as tightly as this.
8. Toki no Kane
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 314 reviews
Reviewed By Just-Julie-Cairns - Cairns, Australia
Just a short distance from the main street, warehouse district of Kawagoe, stands the Bell Tower, Toki no Kane, which is a grand landmark and symbol of Kawagoe. The bell chimes four times a day 6.00, 12.00, 15.00 and 18.00. The tower stood talll until the Great Kawagoe Fire in 1893 when the structure was destroyed. In 1894 it was rebuilt and this is what we can see today.
9. Nakain Temple
Overall Ratings
4 based on 34 reviews
Reviewed By b_lizard76 - Santa Clara, California
Beautiful. Especially with the Sakura in bloom. Walked around the garden. Very nice and peaceful. Don't skip it. Good recommendation by the tourist office. Didn't go into the temple buildings.
What else can I say? 100 character minimum. .. used to be the main temple. Before it was taken over by kitain temple. Great walk from Kawagoe station.
10. Koedo Kurari
Overall Ratings
4 based on 34 reviews
Reviewed By Luihana - Irvine, California
Stop here on your way back to the Kawagoe station for gifts. Also has a nice coffee shop to relax or meet up with friends.
