Kawagoe | The Samurai Old Town Near Tokyo (1h from Tokyo)
Kawagoe is known as “Little Edo.” It’s a historic town in Saitama, about 1 hour from Tokyo. The streets keep a strong atmosphere of old Edo. Kawagoe Castle was a key base in eastern Japan. Hikawa Shrine is famous for love and matchmaking. Let’s explore the town in one day. Please turn on subtitles in your language and consider liking and subscribing. Hon-Kawagoe Station is the main gateway for visitors. Kumano Shrine is known for luck and matchmaking. It’s lively on weekends. There is a traditional Noh stage on the grounds. Variety of things make it a fun local spot. The shrine is dedicated to the Yatagarasu,
a sacred three-legged crow. You can receive messages of guidance and good fortune. Renkei-ji Temple was built in the Muromachi period. It has long been the spiritual center of the area. Kawagoe’s feudal lords deeply supported this temple. KIRAKU is a specialty shop for Japanese medaka fish. It has a nostalgic Showa-era atmosphere. You can try classic “kingyo-sukui” scooping. A fun stop during a stroll through Kawagoe. I managed to scoop two fish. Across the street is a gourd-lamp shop. Time for lunch. “Ichi no Aji” serves old-style street-cart ramen. Simple and warm ramen loved for only 600 yen. The oldest ramen style is “Shina soba,” eaten since Edo times. Taisho Roman Street begins here. Buildings from the Taisho era line the road. A nostalgic retro street. Nakacho Street was once a merchant district in Edo times. Many creative shops now use the old buildings. Just walking here is enjoyable. Taisho-era charm still remains today. Many shops attract younger visitors. Denbei is a long-established eel restaurant. It preserves Edo-style grilling. The aroma of charcoal fills the street. Iwaza sells natural stones and Japanese crafts. Visitors come for power stones and handmade goods. Nakacho Street stretches for several hundred meters. Side alleys also have unique shops. MATCHA SPOT is popular for matcha sweets. Rich matcha gives you a refreshing break. The street continues far north. Shops for women are especially common here. Sweet-potato shops are a Kawagoe specialty. Large buildings often mark important side streets. Converted storehouses remain here. I want to try pottery next time. Choki-in Temple dates back to the Muromachi era. A quiet and historic temple. It has long supported local culture. Saiwacho Roman is a trendy retro area. COEDO Beer is made with Kawagoe sweet potatoes. Relax in the open space near the restaurant. This is Ichibangai, famous for its storehouse-style townscape. Bell Tower Street leads to Kawagoe’s symbol. It has marked time for the town since the Edo period. Toki no Kane, the Bell Tower, dates back to the 17th century. Behind it is Yakushi Shrine, rich in history. Yakushi is worshipped for healing illnesses. The bell rings four times a day. Bell Tower Street is one of Saitama’s top attractions. Specialty shops sell sweets, pickles, and crafts. Starbucks here matches the old-town design. A unique local-style branch. At “Shoyu Kingdom,” traditional soy making continues. “Kawagoe Iwata” specializes in sweet-potato treats. A good place to enjoy Japanese culture. Back to Nakacho Street to explore more. You’ll find new shops among the old buildings. The merchant-house atmosphere still remains. Centuries of culture—Edo, Meiji, Taisho—flow through here. Turning left at Fudanotsuji, we walk toward Candy Alley. Edoya keeps the classic dagashi candy tradition alive. Cheap nostalgic sweets attract many visitors. Entering Candy Alley. The shooting gallery shows old festival culture. A fun spot that feels like a Japanese fair. There’s a trick to hitting the targets. Candy Alley preserves Showa-era sweet culture. You’ll find handmade candy and crafts. Fresh cotton candy is also popular. A favorite spot for women and children. A rare candy district in Japan. Almost like a small candy theme park. A treasure box full of small delights. Here stands Ota Dokan, a samurai who built Edo Castle. He strengthened Kawagoe as a key base. Kawagoe Castle was vital for the Hojo clan. The original Honmaru Palace still remains. The castle was built in 1457 by the Ota family. It is the only castle in Japan with a surviving palace building. It was the site of the 1546 Kawagoe Night Battle. Hojo Ujiyasu defeated the enemy with a small force. This victory led to Hojo dominance in the region. You can feel daily life of the samurai era here. Many feudal lords served here during the Edo period. Kawagoe was politically important to the shogunate. Honmaru Palace is now an Important Cultural Property. Rickshaws support local tourism. Now heading to Hikawa Shrine, famous for love blessings. A giant red torii gate welcomes visitors. Women from all over Japan come to pray for romance. The shrine has protected Kawagoe since ancient times. Wishing for peace to continue. Found a shop combining vintage clothing and a café. A nice place to stay overnight. Ichibangai Street looks beautiful at night. Ogakiku is an eel restaurant founded in 1807. It preserves traditional Edo-style grilling. Thanks for watching. Please like and subscribe!
🇯🇵 Welcome to** Kawagoe**
— Tokyo’s Samurai Old Town.Just one hour from Tokyo, Kawagoe (also called Little Edo) is one of Japan’s best-preserved historic towns, filled with wooden warehouses, retro alleys, traditional snacks, shrines, and samurai-era heritage.
🚶**This cinematic walk takes you through the full area**
– Kawagoe’s iconic Bell Tower “Toki no Kane”
– Candy Alley with old-fashioned sweets
– Taisho Roman Street with retro architecture
– Kawagoe Kumano Shrine (good luck & love shrine)
– Nakacho Street historic townscape
– Kawagoe Castle
— an important base in the Kanto region and a site related to the Hojo clan
– Many local shops, cafes, and street food you can’t find anywhere else
✨ **Why Kawagoe is special**
✓ One of the best-preserved Edo-period townscapes
✓ Mix of Edo, Meiji, and Taisho-era architecture
✓ Traditional snacks & crafts
✓ Perfect day trip: only 1 hour from Tokyo
✓ A peaceful escape with real Japanese culture
📍 **Locations you’ll see in this video**
– Nakacho Street
– Toki no Kane (Bell Tower)
– Kawagoe Castle
– Hikawa Shrine
– Kashiya Yokocho (Candy Alley)
– Ogakiku (Eel Restaurant)
– Local ramen shops, cafes, wagashi, Edo-style stores
– Many street-food spots along the retro alleys
🔔 **Subtitles available**
English / Japanese / Spanish / Portuguese / Chinese / Korean / more
If you enjoyed the walk, please like, comment, and subscribe.More Japan city walks, samurai towns, and cultural journeys are coming soon.
🕐 **Timeline**
00:00 – Kawagoe overview
00:30 – Hon-Kawagoe Station
00:36 – Kumano Shrine
01:15 – Renkei-ji Temple
01:32 – KIRAKU Medaka Shop
02:06 – Old Style Ramen (Ichi no Aji)
02:22 – Taisho Roman Street
02:32 – Nakacho Street
03:06 – Unagi Denbei
03:14 – Stone shop(Iwaza)
03:39 – MATCHA SPOT
04:31 – Choki-in Temple
04:50 – Saiwacho Roman
05:19 – Bell Tower Street
05:40 – Bell Tower (Toki no Kane）
05:49 – Yakushi Shrine
06:15 – Specialty shops
06:35 – Nakacho Street
07:19 – Edoya Sweets
07:39 – Shooting Gallery
07:52 – Candy Alley
09:00 – Dōkan Ōta
09:11 – Kawagoe Castle
10:48 – Hikawa Shrine
11:43 – Eel (Ogakiku)
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