Kawagoe Guide: Edo Storehouses & Trains from Tokyo
Updated October 26, 2026 · Prices checked October 21, 2026
Toki no Kane bell tower and the old storehouse street, Kawagoe Photo: Zairon・CC BY-SA 4.0
Tours and tickets
Guided walks, day trips and attraction tickets, with reviews from other travelers.
Kawagoe sights on a map
13 sights · checked on official sites (2026-10-24)
- 1Kawagoe HachimanguAround Kawagoe Station・6 min walk from Kawagoe StationA shrine founded in 1030, in the Heian period. It is known for its path lined with red lanterns and for a ginkgo tree said to bring good matches.
- 2Taisho Roman Yume-doriAround Renkeiji and Taisho Roman Dream Street・No official walking time from the stationA shopping street of stone paving, traditional townhouses and Western-style facades with a retro Taisho-era feel.
- 3Kurazukuri Townscape (Ichibangai)Around the Kura-zukuri Street and Bell of Time・Tobu Bus to 'Ichibangai' stop from Kawagoe or Hon-KawagoeA street of black-plastered storehouse-style merchant houses with big roof-end tiles, about 30 of which still stand. It is Kawagoe's classic sight.
- 4Kawagoe Kurazukuri MuseumAround the Kura-zukuri Street and Bell of Time・1-minute walk from the 'Fudanotsuji' bus stopA storehouse-style home built by a tobacco wholesaler after the 1893 fire. It is currently closed for earthquake-proofing work.
- 5Toki no Kane (Bell of Time)Around the Kura-zukuri Street and Bell of Time・15 min walk from Hon-Kawagoe StationA bell tower about 16 meters high rising above the old merchant street. It is Kawagoe's symbol and rings four times a day.
- 6Kawagoe Festival HallAround the Kura-zukuri Street and Bell of Time・1-minute walk from the 'Fudanotsuji' bus stopA hall where you can experience the Kawagoe Festival, held for about 370 years, at any time of year. It shows real festival floats and a big-screen film.
- 7Kashiya Yokocho (Candy Alley)Around the Kura-zukuri Street and Bell of Time・No official walking time from the stationA narrow stone-paved lane lined with about 30 candy shops. Stroll and pick up old-style candy and snacks.
- 8Kawagoe Castle Honmaru GotenAround Kawagoe Castle and Hikawa Shrine・10-minute walk from the 'Fudanotsuji' bus stopThe only building left of Kawagoe Castle. You can see the entrance hall, the great hall and the retainers' room.
- 9Kawagoe Hikawa ShrineAround Kawagoe Castle and Hikawa Shrine・Bus from the station to 'Kawagoe Hikawa Jinja', 0-minute walkKawagoe's guardian shrine with about 1,500 years of history, known for matchmaking. A wooden torii gate 15 meters tall marks the entrance.
- 10Naritasan Kawagoe BetsuinAround Kitain Temple・20 min walk from Hon-Kawagoe StationA branch of Narita-san Shinshoji in Chiba, locally called 'O-Fudo-sama' after the deity it enshrines. An antiques flea market is held on the 28th of each month.
- 11Kitain TempleAround Kitain Temple・15 min walk from Hon-Kawagoe StationA Tendai Buddhist temple founded in 830, known for buildings moved from Edo Castle and for its 538 Rakan statues.
- 12Senba ToshoguAround Kitain Temple・Next to Kitain, on its south sideOne of Japan's three great Toshogu shrines, honoring Tokugawa Ieyasu. All of its richly colored shrine buildings are national Important Cultural Properties.
- 13Nakain TempleAround Kitain Temple・12 min walk from Hon-Kawagoe StationA quiet Tendai temple known for its weeping cherry tree and a tea house linked to the writer Shimazaki Toson. It is also called the birthplace of Sayama tea.
Official sightseeing maps (PDF)
Printable maps from the local town or tourism association. Most are in Japanese.
- 小江戸川越散策マップ（小江戸川越観光協会）
- KAWAGOE Sightseeing Map (Eng)（Koedo Kawagoe Tourist Association）
- KAWAGOE GUIDE MAP (Eng, Taiwan, Korea)（Koedo Kawagoe Tourist Association）
- 川越まつり会館パンフレット（川越まつり会館（小江戸川越観光協会のマップ一覧に掲載））
Kawagoe is the closest you can get to an Edo-period merchant town without leaving the Tokyo area. Its main street is lined with heavy, black-plastered storehouse shops called kurazukuri, and above them rises a wooden bell tower that still rings four times a day. It’s 45 minutes from Shinjuku on a direct train, which makes it one of the easiest half-day trips from the city.
Prices and times were checked in October 2026 on the operators’ and the city’s own pages. Confirm them again before you travel.
Why visit Kawagoe
Most of old Tokyo burned or was rebuilt. Kawagoe kept a whole street of fire-resistant storehouse buildings — more than thirty of them — and the area is a nationally protected historic district. Add a candy alley, a temple with rooms moved from Edo Castle, and the last surviving part of Kawagoe Castle, and you have a compact old town you can see on foot in a few hours.
How to get to Kawagoe from Tokyo
Seibu “Koedo” limited express from Shinjuku (fastest direct)
The Seibu Shinjuku Line’s limited express Koedo runs from Seibu-Shinjuku to Hon-Kawagoe in as little as 45 minutes, with 26 departures on weekdays. One way costs ¥1,200 (¥600 fare plus ¥600 limited express surcharge). Hon-Kawagoe is the closest station to the old town: the bell tower is about a 15-minute walk.
Seibu-Shinjuku is a separate station a short walk north of JR Shinjuku — allow a few extra minutes to find it.
Tobu Tojo Line from Ikebukuro
Tobu trains run from Ikebukuro to Kawagoe Station in about 30 minutes. From Kawagoe Station the old town is farther away; the city suggests the bus via the storehouse district to the Ichibangai stop, a 2-minute walk from the bell tower.
JR
JR’s Kawagoe Line also reaches Kawagoe Station. If you’re using a Japan Rail Pass, check JR East’s route search for the times on your day.
Top things to see in Kawagoe
Kurazukuri Street (Ichibangai)
Historic street- Price
- 💴 Free
- Area
- 📍 Ichibangai
More than thirty storehouse-style shops in thick black plaster, many now selling sweets, crafts and snacks. About a 10-minute walk from Hon-Kawagoe.
Toki no Kane (Bell of Time)
Bell tower- Price
- 💴 Free to view
- Area
- 📍 Off Ichibangai
A three-tiered wooden tower about 16 m tall. The first one went up between 1627 and 1634; the one you see was rebuilt the year after the great fire of 1893. The bell rings at 6:00, 12:00, 15:00 and 18:00.
Kashiya Yokocho (Candy Alley)
Old-style sweets- Area
- 📍 North of Ichibangai
A short lane of shops selling old-fashioned Japanese candy and snacks. About 20 minutes on foot from Hon-Kawagoe.
Kitain Temple
Temple- Price
- 💴 ¥400
- Area
- 📍 East of the station
Founded in 830 and known for its garden of about 540 stone rakan (disciples of the Buddha), each with a different face. The guest hall and study were moved here from Edo Castle by the third shogun, Iemitsu — including rooms said to be where he was born. Open 8:50–16:30 on weekdays from March to November 23 (closing earlier in winter); closed on some dates around New Year, early February, early April and August 16.
Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Goten
Castle palace- Price
- 💴 ¥100
- Area
- 📍 Honmaru Goten zone
The palace building of Kawagoe Castle, built in 1848. Open 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30); closed Mondays (Tuesday when Monday is a holiday), the fourth Friday of the month, and December 29–January 3. A combined ticket with the city museum and art museum is sold on site.
Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine
Shrine- Area
- 📍 North of Honmaru Goten
The shrine behind the Kawagoe Festival — the festival grew out of its sacred procession. The carved main hall was built between 1842 and 1870.
A half-day Kawagoe plan
- Morning: Koedo limited express from Seibu-Shinjuku to Hon-Kawagoe.
- Late morning: walk up Ichibangai, hear the bell at noon from Toki no Kane, then Candy Alley.
- Lunch: snack your way along the storehouse street.
- Afternoon: Kitain’s stone disciples, or Honmaru Goten and Hikawa Shrine (the loop bus helps if your feet are tired).
- Back to Tokyo: Koedo express from Hon-Kawagoe, or Tobu from Kawagoe Station to Ikebukuro.
Where to stay
You don’t need to: Kawagoe is close enough to Tokyo that almost everything here fits in a day trip. But if you can spare one night, the old street after the shops close is a different place. Here is what that is like, with the cheap dorm-style inn I used: Kawagoe Overnight: Why One Night Beats the Day Trip.
When to visit Kawagoe
- Weekday mornings are usually the calmest; the storehouse street gets busy on weekend afternoons.
- October brings the Kawagoe Festival, when huge decorated floats are pulled through town. Check the city’s site for the dates.
- Check closing days before you go: Honmaru Goten closes on Mondays, and Kitain closes on a few fixed dates each year.
Kawagoe FAQ
How long does it take to get to Kawagoe from Tokyo?
About 45 minutes from Seibu-Shinjuku to Hon-Kawagoe on the Koedo limited express, or about 30 minutes from Ikebukuro to Kawagoe Station on the Tobu Tojo Line.
Which station is closest to the old town?
Hon-Kawagoe (Seibu). The bell tower is about a 15-minute walk. From Kawagoe Station (Tobu and JR) take the bus to the Ichibangai stop.
Is Kawagoe worth a day trip?
Yes, if you want to see an Edo-style merchant street without going far. Half a day covers the storehouse street, the bell tower, Candy Alley and Kitain.
Is there a discount pass for Kawagoe?
Tobu's KAWAGOE DISCOUNT PASS Premium (¥1,200 for adults) discounts the round trip from Ikebukuro and includes a day of Tobu buses in Kawagoe, including the Koedo Loop Bus.