One Day in Kawagoe: The Perfect Day Trip Itinerary from Tokyo

Spending one day in Kawagoe, is the perfect day trip from Tokyo for travelers who are looking to escape the city and experience a historic Japanese town. Known as “Little Edo,” Kawagoe is a charming town with preserved streets and iconic landmarks.

Visiting Kawagoe from Tokyo is an easy train ride away. You can easily spend the day here sampling local treats, visiting attractions, shopping, and trying various sake and beers from the region.

I created this guide to Kawagoe to share some of the best things to do, how to get to Kawagoe, and so much more that will help make the most of your one-day in Kawagoe trip from Tokyo.

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Why Visit Kawagoe?

So many tourists come to Japan and solely focus on visiting Tokyo and/or Kyoto. There are so many other beautiful places around Japan that are worth visiting. One town I recently visited as a day trip from Tokyo, deserves visitors.

Kawagoe is seriously one of the best places to visit near Tokyo especially if you are looking for a nice blend of history, culture, and a charming Japanese small-town atmosphere.

Kawagoe is a beautifully preserved Edo-period town with streets and buildings from the same period. This gives travelers a chance to experience and Edo-period town without venturing far from Tokyo.

You can easily spend an entire day in Kawagoe. Visit the famous Toki no Kane Clock Tower, walk up and down Ichibangai Shotengai (street lined with Edo-period warehouse buildings), and try some local sweet potato treats.

How to Get to Kawagoe from Tokyo

Getting to Kawagoe from Tokyo is surprisingly easy and fast. If you are in the Shinjuku area hop on the Express Red Arrow Line. This is a direct train from Seibu-Shinjuku Station to Kawagoe’s Honkawagoe Station.

From the Seibu-Shinjuku Station to Honkawagoe Station, it’s a 44 minute direct train ride.

I recommend purchasing the Seibu Kawagoe Pass. This is a discounted roundtrip ticket and can be purchased at the ticket counter on the second floor of the Seibu-Shinjuku Station.

Perfect Kawagoe Itinerary

Here is my recommended itinerary for a one day trip to Kawagoe from Tokyo. I don’t think more then a day is entirely necessary, but Kawagoe is a must-visit place just outside Tokyo. Here is our itinerary and we spent the day in Kawagoe.

Morning

Train to Honkawagoe Station → Ichibangai Shotengai → Penny Candy Lane → Sample Food

Seibu-Shinjuku Station to Honkawagoe Station

I recommend starting your day early when visiting Kawagoe. There is so much to do and see so plan enough time to follow my recommended Kawagoe itinerary.

Remember, the train from Seibu-Shinjuku takes roughly 44 minutes and I recommend purchasing the Seibu Kawagoe Pass for a roundtrip fare.

Ichibangai Shotenagai (Historical Street)

Ichibangai Shotenagai is a historic street in Kawagoe. This street is lined with historically preserved Kurazukuri Warehouses, traditional shops, cafes, and fun souvenir stores.

Along this road in Kawagoe, you can find local sweets, handcrafted souvenirs, vendors selling COEDO Beer, and so much more.

Kashiya Yokocho (Penny Candy Lane)

Kashiya Yokocho or Penny Candy Lane is a short section of road that near Ichibangai Shotenagai. According to information I learned in Kawagoe, this road got its name from a local vendor who made candy during the Edo-period.

Quickly gaining popularity, there were over 70 stores selling candy. Today, you can still find stores selling Taffy, Senbei, and other candies. Although, a short street, it’s worth walking it to grab a quick snack on the go.

Sample Daigaku Imo-Dan-go or Imokoi (Dumplings)

You can’t visit Kawagoe without trying some of the famous sweets and treats. I highly recommend trying Daigaku Imo Dan-go and Imokoi, both can be found around town being sold by local vendors.

Daigaku Imo Dan-go is a treat made with sweet potatoes, it is deep fried and coated with a sugar glaze.

Imokoi is a type of dumpling filled with fresh red bean paste and sweet potato. This treat is served fresh and hot, it’s best to eat right away, perfect for colder weather.

Afternoon

Toki-no-Kane → Chopsticks → Beer → Kawage Hikawa Shrine

Toki-no Kane (Bell Tower)

Probably Kawagoe’s most famous attraction is Toki-no Kane known as the Bell of Time Tower. During the Edo-period it was used to let people know the time.

Today, it is still being used, ringing four times a day.

Make Your Own Chopsticks

I am not a crafty or artistic person at all, but I highly recommend going to Karakimokkou (Wood Works Kawagoe) to make your own chopsticks.

Right across the street from Toki-no Kane you’ll find this small wood working shop. You don’t make reservations, but it is a first come first serve basis. You sign up electronically outside and you’ll ben notified when it is your turn.

We waited about 30-minutes. Perfect time to grab a snack, a beer, and do a little sightseeing around Kawagoe.

When you are called up and enter the store, first you choose wood. There is a display of all the wood and they vary in price.

Next you cut the wood with tools and instructions provided.

Smooth the edges using sand paper, and finally dip the chopsticks in an oil coating. The whole process takes about 20-mintutes to make your chopsticks.

The staff will then give you a sleeve to place your chopsticks in. It’s the perfect souvenior for your travels in Japan.

Try a local COEDO Beer

While you are waiting to make your own chopsticks, you can easily go to one of the many liquor stores or local vendors selling Kawagoe’s own COEDO Beer.

COEDO is an award winning craft brewery and well worth trying a few of their beers.

In my opinion, their Kyara (India Pale Lager) and Shirogamau (IPA) are their best beers.

Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine

When visiting Kawagoe, you can’t miss the Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. I walked to the Hikawa Shrine from the Toki-no Kane. It was about a 15-minute walk.

Hikawa Shrine dates back over 1,500 years and is known for its serene atmosphere, towering torii gate, Ema Tunnel, and fortune fishing. That’s right, you can use a rod and retrieve your fortune from a fish-shaped charm.

Evening

Kita-in → Sake Tastings → Omiyage → Train Back to Tokyo

Kita-in

Kita-in Temple was my favorite temple in Kawagoe and I recommend visiting it while on your way back to the train station.

I also recommend paying the ¥400 to gain access to the gardens, Senba Tosyogu Shrine, interior of the temple, and the 500 Statues of Rakan.

The 500 Statues of Rakan are disciples of Buddha and each one is different.

Sample Sake

Sense you are taking the train back to Tokyo, you don’t have to drive right? Why not sample local sake and choose your favorite from the dozens to try from.

At the liquor store, Kikizake Shop Showagura you can sample dozens of Japanese sake. Simply insert money into the machine and it spits out tokens that can be used at the Sake machines.

You get a small cup and can hold it under any of the Sake you want to try. Not only is it fun but you can see what styles of sake you prefer.

Each Sake has a corresponding one in the store you can purchase. So if you liked one you sampled, feel free to purchase a bottle. Perfect for gifts or just drinking in your hotel room.

Pick up an Omiyage

While you are it, go next door from Kikizake Shop Showagura to Koedo Kurari and pick up some Omiyage, souvenirs, and other local goods.

Omiyage is a traditional Japanese souvenir. You’ve seen them, they are local snacks, treats, and specialty foods, that are nicely packaged. They are found in souvenir shops, train stations, and Michi-no-Eki (Roadside Station).

Omiyage is an important part of Japanese travel culture and they are regional which is fun.

I always bring an omiyage to work to share with coworkers to thank them for picking up my slack!

Train back to Seibu-Shinjuku Station

Now that you have your sake and omiyage it’s time to head back to Tokyo by boarding the train at Honkawagoe Station. Use the same Seibu Kawagoe Pass and enjoy the train ride back to Seibu-Shinjuku Station.

Conclusion

Spending one day in Kawagoe is simply the best way to experience Japan’s small historic town charm without traveling to far from Tokyo. Kawagoe has beautifully preserved warehouse buildings and streets that date back to the Edo-period.

For a town of its size, there is so much o do and it makes for the perfect day trip from Tokyo.

I hope this Kawagoe itinerary helps with making the most out of your day in Kawagoe and gives you an option to think about if you are planning day trips from Tokyo. If you end up visiting Kawagoe, let me know how your trip went! Safe Travels!

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Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️🇯🇵

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Activities and Tours 🏖️🚁

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