Day Trip to Kawagoe | A Historic Town Just 1-Hour from Tokyo

Day Trip to Kawagoe | A Historic Town Just 1-Hour from Tokyo

Today we explore Kawagoe,
known for its old townscape. We arrived in Kawagoe at 10 a.m. We got a map at the visitor center. The tourist area is a 15-minute walk, But we’re taking the bus to make it easier. Let’s check where Kawagoe is located. It’s about an hour by train from Tokyo,
and costs around 500 yen (USD 3.4) We’ve arrived in the heart of Kawagoe’s old town. These are wooden houses built over 100 years ago. So impressive! Oh look, there’s the bell tower. Constructed in 1894 after the great fire. Approximately 16 meters high. A symbol of Kawagoe. Sorry about the construction noise. Here’s a shop selling Kawagoe specialties. A soft steamed snack
with sweet potato and red bean paste. Let’s just try one… That’s good! Kawagoe Festival Museum Let’s see what we’ve got here. Admission: JPY 300 (USD 2.1) Is that the festival? Ah, festival lanterns. Two festival floats were on display! Once a year, these magnificent floats
parade through the town. To honor the gods and celebrate the local spirit. This float is currently under construction. These are Kawagoe Festival posters. This is the Osawa House,
the oldest in Kawagoe, built in 1792. Traditional Japanese storehouse. This was built with thick plaster walls
to resist fire and moisture. A post office There was a candy alley. Sweet potato sticks coated in sugar. Are the students here on a school trip? A long, fluffy candy stick made with brown sugar. Feels like old-fashioned candy. Of course the kids go straight for the sweets. Back on the main street again. Let’s take a look at the other houses. This building, built in 1893,
is a Kawagoe landmark. These windows open like double doors. They’re designed to lock out flames and smoke. Suddenly, a Western-style building appears! A Neo-Renaissance brick building from 1918. It now serves
as a multi-purpose community space. You’ll always find rickshaws in towns like this. Without cars,
it really feels like a world from 100 years ago. That soba shop’s really busy. I guess those buildings might be
from the Showa period. These seem like they might be from before the war. Could be wrong, though. We’re hungry, so heading to our planned spot. There’s lots to see besides the main street. A 1933 storefront with classic columns
and arched windows. This is the place. Yakisoba—Japanese stir-fried noodles. Fried egg This place is actually pretty famous. Oh hey, I recognize some of these faces from TV! Food’s here! Yakisoba (Japanese stir-fried noodles with sauce) Omu-soba (yakisoba wrapped in an omelet) This thick noodles are the highlight here. We go heavy on the chili. But it’s not for everyone. Really tasty. Whoa, even Nagashima’s been here? Kitain Temple Kawagoe’s historic Tendai Buddhist temple. Let’s take a moment to wash our hands. Hard to see, but there’s a shrine too. The main hall of Kitain Temple. This place is dedicated
to a revered Buddhist monk. You need a ticket for this part.
JPY 400 (USD 2.8) This place was moved here from Edo Castle. There are some well-known rooms inside. But photos aren’t allowed,
so we can’t show you the inside. “Rakan” (circled here) refers
to enlightened saints in Buddhism. Wow, that’s a lot of Buddhas! Each face is full of expression. They say there are 538 statues in total! A statue of the Buddha. Senba Toshogu Shrine This shrine is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu. He was the founder of the Edo shogunate. He ended the age of war
and shaped 260 years of peace. One of the giants of Japanese history. But that was 400 years ago. This is the Tokugawa crest.
It’s familiar to nearly all Japanese. Oh—what a refreshing sound! This is Hikawa Shrine,
famous for its summer wind chimes. This shrine is known for love and family blessings. The wooden tag hanging from the wind chime
is called a tanzaku. You can write a wish on it and hang it up. Believe me, summer in Japan is scorching. Many wishes hang
from these wooden plaques too. There are said to be over 30,000. Feels just like walking through a tunnel! Inside the fish is a fortune slip.
you fish it out with a rod. It’s not free. JPY 300 (USD 2.1) This might be Kawagoe’s most beloved
summer destination. Returning to Kawagoe’s center by bus. We’ve arrived.
Let’s check out the next place we want to visit. Built a century ago by a well-off merchant. Entrance fee: JPY 100 (USD 0.7) Wow, it’s a bath from a hundred years ago! It’s so well preserved, it looks usable even today. This residence blends Japanese and Western styles. Wow… it even has a sunroom. I’d love to live in a house like this… But it’s just a dream that won’t come true. What a wonderful house that was. Let’s take a short break before heading home. That dreamy house made us want dessert. Left: 640 yen (USD 4.4), Right: 680 yen (USD 4.7) Ahh, pure bliss. Today’s video features Kawagoe,
a town that still retains the charm of old Japan. As we stroll through this Showa-era townscape,
it’s time to say goodbye. Thank you for watching. If you enjoyed the video,
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Travel Japan with us—visit Kawagoe in Saitama, just 1 hour away from Tokyo. Known as “Little Edo,” Kawagoe is filled with charming old houses from the Edo to Showa eras. We’ll explore historic shrines, stroll through nostalgic streets, and try some good cheap eats and local specialties.
Let’s step back in time together!

Trip costs:
Seibu Line Fare
Ikebukuro (Tokyo) → Hon-Kawagoe: JPY 490 (USD3.4)
※If you’re curious about how to get to Kawagoe from Tokyo, feel free to ask in the comments!

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0:00 Introduction
0:58 Kawagoe Historic District 1
2:01 Kawagoe Festival Museum
3:17 Kawagoe Historic District 2
6:44 Lunch
7:49 Kitain Temple
10:49 Hikawa Shrine
13:05 Former Yamazaki Residence
14:38 Cafe

#Kawagoe #TokyoDayTrip #HistoricTown #JapanTravel