A Perfect Day Trip Itinerary For Kawagoe, Japan (From Tokyo)

If you like exploring well-preserved Edo-period architecture, sampling traditional Japanese sweets, and immersing yourself in old town atmospheres, then you’ll love Kawagoe, a small castle town often referred to as “Little Edo.”

Kawagoe is best known for a few things: its old-world architecture, high-quality sweet potatoes, and unagi (eel). You’ll find a lot of these things all throughout the town without even trying.

When you’re not sampling all the local treats, you’ll probably be captivated by all the spectacular Edo-era buildings telling a silent tale of what life was like in 17th-century Tokyo.

There aren’t enough things to do to warrant a multi-day stay, but a day trip (or even an overnight stay) — 100% worth it.

In this guide, I’ll dive into all the things I did on my very own day trip to Kawagoe from Tokyo, so you’ll have a clear idea of what to do, what to eat, and how to make the most of your time in this enchanting little town.

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In A Nutshell: Kawagoe, Japan

Kawagoe is located just about 1 hour away from Tokyo by train, making it one of the easiest and most convenient day trips for people looking to explore other towns near Tokyo.

Kawagoe has many fun and historical attractions to explore. Most of them are within walking distance from the main train station, so you can see quite a lot on foot in a short amount of time.

Here’s a quick taste of the town’s highlights:

• Time Bell Tower (Toki no kane) – a three-story bell tower 52 ft. (16 m) tall, standing as a symbol of the city.
• Old Town Street (Kura no machi) – the main attraction of Kawagoe! This is where you’ll find lots of warehouses from the Edo period constructed using a style called kurazukuri.  
• Penny Candy Lane (Kashiya Yokochō) – a small backstreet alley where you can buy plenty of old-fashioned snacks & candies for cheap. In this area, you can also get ice cream, sweet potato treats, sweet potato coffee, and beer brewed locally (Coedo Brewery).
• The Kawagoe Kurazukuri Museum – Walk inside to experience the daily life of an Edo-period merchant. The artisan knife & sword shop, Machikan, is still in operation after countless generations!
• Wakitamachi – The more modern “downtown” area of Kawagoe. This is where you’ll find department stores, gachapon shops, arcades, etc.
• Kawagoe Hikawa Festival (Kawagoe Hikawa Matsuri) – Kawagoe’s biggest event of the year! This hundreds-year-old float festival is held annually on the third Saturday and Sunday of October. It received a spot on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2016.

Traditional guesthouses and specialty foods of the area are also a big part of the overall experience, so here are our top recommendations for accommodation/food if you choose to visit:

Where To Stay: Kawagoe Tobu Hotel — 結家 MUSUBIYA — Matsumuraya Ryokan

Where To Eat: The area is known for high-quality unagi (eel) and sweet potatoes. Ogakiku is a super popular unagi restaurant that always has a line. Torisei is another great option known for its kamameshi rice set that features both unagi and sweet potato!

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Kawagoe Day Trip Itinerary

Take the train to Kawagoe Station

Start your day off bright and early. Since it takes about 1 hour to get there by train, you’ll want to leave your hotel no later than 9:30am.

The easiest way to get there is to get from wherever you are over to Ikebukuro Station. From Ikebukuro Station, there is a Tobu-Tojo Line express train that will get you to Kawagoe in under 30 minutes.

You don’t need any special train passes to get there. We just used our Suica IC cards and paid for fares as we went. From our cute little hotel (Tokyu Stay Shinjuku East Side), the ride to Kawagoe Station was pretty cheap — just ¥500-600 one-way per person.

Alternatively, you can just take whatever public transportation your maps app tells you to take. The local trains go slower, stopping at lots of stations, while the express trains will skip stations and get you there faster.

After arriving at Kawagoe Station, head to the tourist information center located within the train station. You can grab maps in English or ask the staff any questions you may have about what to do.

Walk to the Kurazukuri Zone (Old Storehouse Zone)

As you leave the train station and head toward the Kurazukuri Zone, you’ll feel the transition from modernity to nostalgia with every step.

The Kurazukuri Zone is the heart of Kawagoe, where you’ll find all the old Edo-period storehouses lining the streets. This is where you’ll start your exploration.

Along the way, you’ll pass through the super long street that makes up the modern downtown area, CREA MALL. This area is super cute in its own way!

You’ll find lots of shops, restaurants, and even gachapon/arcade stores here, but don’t linger here for too long — you’ll have time on the way back to the train station to explore this area.

Stroll through Kura no machi (Old Town)

Time to jump back in time to the Edo period! The Kura no Machi zone offers a glimpse into life as it was over 120 years ago, with beautifully preserved architecture and a nostalgic atmosphere that’s hard to ignore.

This historic district is lined with traditional clay-walled storehouses (kura) with dark wooden facades and intricate roof tiles that now house shops, restaurants, and galleries.

Take your time wandering here, soaking in the old-world charm and browsing the little shops that sell all kinds of artisanal crafts like chopsticks, rings, sweet potato treats, and souvenirs.

👉 Did You Know? Japanese homes once had strong buildings called “Kura” for on-property storage of household tools. Since these buildings were very fire-resistant, they developed into residential buildings and stores in Kawagoe.

Marvel at Toki no Kane (Time Bell Tower)

Toki no Kane is one of Kawagoe’s most iconic landmarks and a must-see during your day trip. No worries, you’ll run into it as soon as you enter the Old Town area.

This wooden bell tower was originally built in the early Edo Period (1627-1634) to announce the time. Today, it still chimes four times a day to mark the passage of time –at 6am, 12pm, 3pm, and 6pm.

If you can catch one of the times the bell tower rings, you’re in for something special. Its sound has been selected as one of the 100 Soundscapes of Japan: Preserving Our Heritage by the Ministry of the Environment.

Be sure to snap a photo from different angles—it’s especially picturesque when set against the backdrop of the kura-style buildings in the Old Town.

Explore Kashiya Yokocho (Penny Candy Lane)

Within the Old Town area, we wandered off into a side street called Kashiya Yokocho. Translating to “Penny Candy Lane”, this tucked-away lane is brimming with little shops selling traditional Japanese sweets and snacks.

Expect to find colorful retro candies, chewy rice cake skewers, senbei (rice crackers), and sweet potato treats; this street is a must if you have a sweet tooth or a love of nostalgic flavors.

Don’t leave without trying a steamed sweet potato cake or anything sweet potato really—they’re local specialties! The steamed sweet potato cake was actually way more delicious than it looked. It was warm, chewy, and not-too-sweet, all of which are total compliments.

If you’re in the mood for a sweet potato latte or a matcha treat, stop by Matcha Arata, located within the candy lane.

Lunchtime: Enjoy a meal featuring unagi

Around 12:30pm, we stumbled upon Ogakiku, a well-known spot famous for its eel dishes.

Thanks to its wonderfully luxurious menu items (and the crowd gathered outside), we decided to grab a number. When we saw that the wait time was a daunting 73 minutes, we decided to explore other options.

We ended up at Torisei, a local Japanese restaurant that was founded over 110 years ago, housed in a beautifully preserved Edo-period building. The setting of the restaurant alone made the visit worthwhile!

Papu ordered the eel and sweet potato kamameshi, a dish served in a clay pot that was both flavorful and comforting, while I went with an unagi set meal that was perfectly seasoned and grilled.

We were also tempted to try one of the chicken dishes, highly recommended by previous diners, but the unagi dishes more than did the job for us. Torisei turned out to be a hidden gem that exceeded our expectations!

Snack on sweet potato chips at Koedo Osatsuan

Can you even say you’ve been to Kawagoe if you haven’t had sweet potato in some form? Steps away from Torisei is Koedo Osatsuan, known for its famous sweet potato chips.

Crispy, thinly sliced, and fried to perfection, these chips are even better when paired with one of their 10 different dipping sauces (like the rich salt butter or the indulgent honey cream).

If sweet potato is too boring for you, you can opt for the mixed chip option, which combines sweet potato with crunchy lotus root.

Walk through Taisho Roman Yume Dori Street

Ready to leave the 1600s and head to the 1900s? Fast-forward away from the Edo period by heading to Taisho Roman Yume Dori Street, a picturesque lane dating back to the Taisho Period (1912-1926).

This unique street is known for its mix of retro Western-style architecture and traditional Japanese elements, making it a fun spot for photos. Some of these buildings have even been used as TV and film sets.

You’ll find small but well-established shops selling souvenirs, sweets, and local crafts, as well as cozy cafes perfect for a quick coffee break.

For a great cup of coffee, we recommend Hill Pine’s Espresso.

Renkei-ji Temple

Nearby Taisho Roman Street is one of the more popular temples in the area, Renkei-ji Temple.

Renkei-ji Temple has ties to the Tokugawa Shogunate and enshrines the monk Donryu. Many people come here to pray for the safety of their family, safe childbirth, and child-rearing.

You’ll also find a statue of Obinzuru-sama here — it’s said to have the power to cure the illnesses of people who touch it!

Kumano Shrine

Before heading back to the Kawagoe train station, make a quick stop at Kumano Shrine.

The entrance of the shrine is adorned with beautiful white lanterns that are so photogenic!

Another super unique feature of Kumano Shrine is its acupressure stone walkways located on either side of the entrance path. Walking shoeless on these stones is said to promote health and well-being, but fair warning: it can be QUITE painful at first.

Your feet will feel better afterward, but in the moment, just try to bear through the pain!

Shop for souvenirs and local specialties at Koedo Kurari

Koedo Kurari is a one-stop shop for all things Kawagoe, housed in a beautifully preserved old sake brewery.

Inside, you’ll find an array of local products, from sweet potato snacks and traditional crafts to souvenirs and gifts. Honestly, it was sweet potato heaven.

This is also a great place to try local sake or grab a quick drink at the cafe. They also sell all kinds of canned/bottled beer in case you want to bring some back to Tokyo with you.

We recommend stopping by here after your visit to Kawagoe’s main attractions — that way, you aren’t carrying a ton of souvenirs and snacks for the majority of the day.

Explore Kawagoe’s downtown area

At this point, you’ll be walking back towards the train station. But don’t leave without enjoying the more modern side of Kawagoe. Kawagoe’s downtown is full of fun spots to explore!

Grab a fresh bag of rice crackers for a quick snack, pop into a restaurant for a mid-afternoon bite, play with kitties at Cat Cafe Nekoya Kawagoe, or try your luck at Taito Station’s claw machines and arcade games.

Don’t miss the multi-story gachapon shop packed with endless capsule toys (yes, they have all the good Bandai machines), and if you’re up for some shopping, swing by Atre Mall before heading back to the train station.

Sure, the downtown area is not as unique as the Old Town area, but it still has its own charms!

If you listen carefully along the street, you’ll be able to hear the cheerful radio jingles coming out of the light poles (they’ve got built-in speakers on them). This was one of the most unexpected things that made us fall that much more in love with Kawagoe!

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