Kawagoe Travel Guide: Discover the Charm of Japan’s Historic Town on a 1-Day Trip with the Seibu Kawagoe Pass
Oct 12, 2026
Discover Japan’s Historic Town on a 1-Day Trip with the Seibu Kawagoe Pass
Ready for a break from Tokyo? Today, in our Kawagoe Travel Guide, we’re escaping the city bustle to explore Kawagoe, a charming historic town in Saitama Prefecture.
You may have heard of Kawagoe, but perhaps you’re wondering what makes it worth visiting and why it has become such a popular day-trip destination from Tokyo.
Kawagoe has beautifully preserved the atmosphere of the Edo period, earning it the nickname ‘Little Edo.’ Its streets are lined with traditional buildings, sweet shops, cafés, souvenir stores, and famous landmarks such as ‘Toki no Kane’, the Bell of Time.
Looking for a charming day trip from Tokyo? Our Kawagoe Travel Guide will show you where to stroll through historic streets, enjoy delicious treats, take beautiful photos, and experience traditional Japanese culture. Best of all, Kawagoe is less than an hour from Tokyo!
Index
- How to Get from Tokyo to Kawagoe
- Try Your Luck with Tai-Fish Omikuji at ‘Hikawa Shrine’
- Stroll Through Kashiya Yokocho and Enjoy Delicious Local Treats
- Explore the Main Street and Visit ‘Toki no Kane’ the Iconic Bell of Time
- Visit the ‘Crow Shrine’ to Pray for Good Fortune
How to Get from Tokyo to Kawagoe
For this Kawagoe Travel Guide, we used the Seibu Kawagoe Pass. It lets you travel by train from Tokyo to Hon-Kawagoe Station, with one round trip between Tokyo and Kawagoe included in the pass at no extra cost. It’s convenient and great value!
Getting There from Tokyo
- Take a Seibu train from Seibu-Shinjuku Station or Takadanobaba Station to Hon-Kawagoe Station (approximately 45-60 minutes).
- Alternatively, take a train from Ikebukuro Station to Tokorozawa Station (approximately 24 minutes), then transfer to the Seibu Shinjuku Line and continue to Hon-Kawagoe Station (about another 21 minutes).
Hon-Kawagoe Station was fairly busy when we arrived, but it wasn’t crowded. We took our time and headed to the bus stop for the first destination on our itinerary.
There it is! a cute pink bus, you can simply tap your IC card to board.
The streets along the way didn’t seem too busy, though cars passed by regularly. Overall, the town felt quite peaceful.
It didn’t take long to reach our first stop of the day.
Try Your Luck with Tai-Fish Omikuji at ‘Hikawa Shrine’
This is Hikawa Shrine, an ancient Shinto shrine with a history of more than 1,500 years. It has long been an important spiritual center for the local community. Many people visit to pray to the deities associated with love, relationships, and marriage, hoping for a harmonious partnership and a happy family life.
As you pass through the entrance, one of the shrine’s most striking features comes into view: an enormous Torii gate.
The shrine has a peaceful atmosphere, lush greenery, and plenty of traditional Japanese charm.
One thing you’ll want to try here is the ‘Tai-Fish Omikuji (タイみくじ)’, a fortune slip shaped like a sea bream.
The last time I visited Hikawa Shrine was about 8 years ago, and I still remembered it for its fish-shaped fortune slips. This time, I was surprised to find so many new options, with fish in light green, dark green, red, and white!
There’s also the ‘Kawagoe Imo Mikuji,’ a sweet potato-shaped fortune slip inspired by one of Kawagoe’s best-known local specialties.
The sweet potato-shaped fortune slips are adorable, but to me, the fish are still the shrine’s signature. To draw one, simply put a coin into the offering box as a small offering, then use a little fishing rod to catch your chosen fish. For the sweet potato-shaped fortunes slips, use a small scoop to gently pick one up instead. It’s a fun and uniquely Japanese way to tell your fortune!
This time, for our Kawagoe Travel Guide, I caught a white fish.🤍
It was lovely to return and find that the shrine still has the same charm, with even more little surprises to enjoy.
Hikawa Shrine Information
Opening hours
- 8:00 A.M.~4:30 P.M.
Website
Map
Stroll Through Kashiya Yokocho and Enjoy Delicious Local Treats
After leaving Hikawa Shrine, we continued to Kashiya Yokocho, also known as Candy Alley, a little lane famous for Japanese sweets.
This small lane is lined with shops selling both traditional Japanese sweets and modern treats. One popular spot is Kawagoe Butter Sand, which combines Kawagoe’s famous sweet potatoes with Western-style confectionery to create delicious treats.
The area dates back to the Showa era and has a history of more than 100 years! It was once an important sweets-producing district in Kawagoe. After the Great Kanto Earthquake, more sweets from the area were shipped to Tokyo, helping the lane grow into the famous sweets destination it is today.
The street is lined with shops selling old-fashioned Japanese sweets and toys, making it hard to decide what to take home as souvenirs.
For me, this is one of Kawagoe’s most charming corners. Beyond its historic buildings and streets, you can get a feel for old Japan through the traditional sweets and small shops tucked into this lane.
Try ‘Fugashi’, a Kawagoe Specialty
A visit to Kawagoe wouldn’t feel complete without trying Fugashi, and luckily, it’s both delicious and inexpensive!
Fugashi is a light, airy, crunchy snack made from wheat gluten and coated in brown sugar. It usually comes in long, dark-brown sticks. It may look simple, but this old-fashioned sweet has been enjoyed in Japan for generations and is one of Kawagoe’s signature treats.
It has a gentle sweetness and a rich brown-sugar aroma, with a light, crisp texture that makes it surprisingly addictive.
Some shops sell extra-long sticks that really stand out as you walk around, while others offer bite-sized pieces and different flavors.
For the classic version, go for the original brown-sugar stick!
After exploring several shops, I came across Moritokuseika, which offers some of the best prices in the area! Established in 1885, during Japan’s Meiji era, the shop has a long history and is one of the lane’s well-known stores. Its signature product is ‘Daikokubo’ (大黒棒), an extra-long stick of Fugashi, a traditional Japanese wheat-based snack.
Many shops in the area charge a little more, but these sticks cost just 300 Yen here. A boxed version is also available for 400 Yen, and I’d recommend it because it’s easier to carry on the train back to your hotel.
Besides fugashi, Moritokuseika also sells other local souvenirs, including locally brewed beer and products made by Kawagoe residents.
📍Moritokuseika Information
Opening hours
- Monday-Friday: 10:00 A.M.~4:00 P.M. / Saturday-Sunday: 10:00 A.M.~5:00 P.M.
Map
Don’t Miss the Famous ‘Kawagoe Butter Sand’
Of course, we couldn’t pass up the popular shop we mentioned earlier!
‘Kawagoe Butter Sand’ is an adorable sweets shop that’s become popular with café lovers and anyone with a sweet tooth😍
The shop specializes in homemade butter sandwiches: buttery cookies filled with rich cream and set on a Japanese-style mochi layer. They come in several flavors, including original, sweet Japanese purple potato, cocoa, and matcha.
We tried two popular flavors. The Kawagoe Sweet Potato is one of the shop’s recommendations, while the staff also suggested the strawberry flavor 🍓
The Kawagoe Sweet Potato flavor has generous chunks of candied sweet potato. The filling isn’t too heavy, and the smooth cream pairs beautifully with the local sweet potato. The mochi layer adds a pleasantly chewy texture, and the overall flavor is gently sweet and distinctly Japanese.
The strawberry flavor features rich, creamy buttercream paired with sweet-and-tart strawberries, with real fruit pieces in every bite. If you love creamy desserts, this one is for you!
Along with butter sandwiches, the shop offers baked goods, drinks, soft-serve ice cream, and plenty of souvenirs to take home.
📍Kawagoe Butter Sand Information
Opening hours
- 10:00 A.M.~5:00 P.M.
Closed
- Wednesdays
Website
Map
Stop by the Adorable ‘Miffy Kitchen & Bakery Kawagoe’
A little farther along, the street started getting busier. Then I spotted Miffy Kitchen & Bakery KAWAGOE and couldn’t resist stopping by!
The cuteness hits you the moment you step inside!
It’s both a bakery and a character-goods shop, so you can grab a bite to eat or browse the Miffy merchandise to take home.
📍Miffy Kitchen & Bakery KAWAGOE Information
Opening hours
- Daily, 10:00 A.M.~6:00 P.M.
Website
Map
Explore the Main Street and Visit ‘Toki no Kane’ the Iconic Bell of Time
Before long, we arrived at Toki no Kane, or the Bell of Time, one of Kawagoe’s most iconic landmarks.
This bell tower was first built more than 400 years ago during the Edo period by the lord of Kawagoe at the time. The three-story wooden structure was rebuilt following a major fire that swept through Kawagoe in 1893. The sound of its bells has also been selected by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment as one of the ‘100 Soundscapes of Japan,’ a list of soundscapes considered worth preserving.
You can admire and photograph the tower from the street below at any time of day, free of charge. Visitors are not allowed to climb to the top.
Enjoy Flavored Beans at ‘Koedo Mameya’
After seeing the bell tower, it was time to continue our exploration of Kawagoe’s delicious treats! Next up was Koedo Mameya.🫘
This well-known Kawagoe shop specializes in seasoned beans. The beans are freshly roasted, crisp, and packed with flavor. There’s a huge variety to choose from, ranging from sweet and savory to boldly spicy Japanese flavors!
You can sample almost every flavor! As soon as I walked in, a staff member offered me beans coated in Kinako (roasted soybean flour). They were so crisp and fresh that it was hard to stop eating!
After trying one of the spicy flavors, my tongue went numb for a while, so I could barely taste the next ones.😂
When we visited, the shop was offering three boxes for 1,120 Yen, so I took home takoyaki, extra-spicy, and grilled scallop with butter and soy sauce flavors.
If you’re looking for a unique Kawagoe souvenir or want to try authentic Japanese-style snacks, this shop is well worth a visit. You can enjoy sampling the flavors and leave with some tasty treats to take home.
📍Koedo Mameya Information
Opening hours
- Daily, 10:00 A.M.~4:00 P.M.
Website
Map
Savor Delicious Grilled Eel at ‘Kawagoe Ichinoya’
In our Kawagoe Travel Guide, we’d already sampled plenty of delicious sweets, but we were still craving something more filling. So, it was time to take a break from exploring and enjoy a proper meal!
‘Kawagoe Ichinoya’ is a famous eel restaurant with a history of more than 200 years. It’s known for tender, fluffy eel grilled and coated in a well-balanced sauce made from a traditional recipe.
The restaurant’s traditional Japanese atmosphere is just as appealing as its food.
And then our meal arrived!
The eel was incredibly tender and almost melted in my mouth, with a lovely charcoal-grilled aroma. The traditional sauce was perfectly balanced, not too sweet or salty, and went wonderfully with steaming hot Japanese rice.
After a satisfying meal, we were ready to continue exploring!
📍Kawagoe Ichinoya Information
Opening hours
- Please check the restaurant’s website.
Website
Map
The Kawagoe Starbucks Has a Japanese-Style Garden!
Here’s the Starbucks in Kawagoe!
This branch features a nostalgic, traditional Japanese design. We didn’t buy any drinks, but we noticed the beautiful Japanese garden inside, so I took a few photos to share with you.
📍Starbucks Kawagoe Kanetsuki-dori Information
Opening hours
- Daily, 8:00 A.M.~8:00 P.M.
Map
Cool Off with a Drink at ‘Glin Coffee’
As part of our Kawagoe Travel Guide, we eventually stopped by ‘Glin Coffee’ Kawagoe branch to cool off with a refreshing drink.
There’s a wide selection of drinks, and you can even sample different types of coffee!
The café is spacious and airy, making it a great place to sit back and relax. There’s also an upstairs seating area to choose from. If the café is busy, the staff recommend heading upstairs to secure a seat before coming back down to order your drinks.
📍Glin Coffee Youbiruten Information
Opening hours
- Daily, 10:00 A.M.~6:00 P.M.
Map
After our coffee break, we set off on foot toward the next stop!
Along the way, we came across lots of colorful carp streamers, adding a cheerful Japanese touch to the streets in celebration of Children’s Day in May.
Visit the ‘Crow Shrine’ to Pray for Good Fortune
We then arrived at the ‘Crow Shrine,’ officially known as Kawagoe Kumano Shrine. ✨
There’s even a foot-pressure massage path at the entrance, so naturally, I had to give it a try!
These lanterns are a distinctive symbol of the shrine and unlike those you’ll see elsewhere.
Kawagoe Kumano Shrine is a historic shrine in the heart of Kawagoe, with a history dating back to 1590. Dedicated to the Kumano deities, it is associated with good fortune, positive encounters, prayers for love, and protection from misfortune. It is a popular spiritual destination for both visitors and locals.
The nickname ‘Crow Shrine’ comes from the legend of Yatagarasu, the three-legged crow in Japanese mythology. According to the story, Yatagarasu guided Emperor Jimmu when he lost his way in the Kumano region. The crow later came to be revered as a divine guide. Today, people pray here for guidance toward a better path, success, and the strength to overcome obstacles.
The three-legged crow also symbolizes the connection between heaven, earth, and humanity. The crow motifs seen throughout the shrine are more than decorations; they reflect beliefs and spiritual stories passed down for over 400 years.
There are plenty of different fortunes to try here.
When we visited, a ‘Chinowa’ was set up at the shrine. This large ring made from Kaya grass is used in purification rituals to ward off misfortune and illness. Of course, we walked through it in the hope of good luck!
The little crow figures are so adorable!
After paying your respects at the shrine, don’t forget to stop by the shop for an amulet to take home.
Kawagoe Kumano Shrine Information
Opening hours
- Daily, 10:00 A.M.~6:00 P.M.
Website
Map
After leaving the Crow Shrine, we took a short stroll around Monaco Kawagoe, a huge arcade in the Claire Mall (クレアモール) shopping district in central Kawagoe. Out of nowhere, we spotted a row of cats standing there to attract customers, they were so cute!
The arcade has video games and claw machines, and the cats lined up there are actually for sale. A sign explained that anyone who wanted to take one home could buy one on the ground floor.
After a day of exploring Kawagoe, it was time to catch the bus back to Hon-Kawagoe Station as we wrapped up our Kawagoe Travel Guide.
Back at the station!
From here, it was an easy train ride back to Shinjuku.
✨⛩️ ✨⛩️ ✨⛩️
So, what did you think of our day exploring Kawagoe? I can see why it’s called ‘Little Edo,’ from the historic streets and traditional buildings to its local culture, the town has preserved the charm of old Japan beautifully.
And that brings our Kawagoe travel guide to an end! We hope this article has given you some inspiration if you’re planning a trip to Japan and would like to take a break from Tokyo to explore a charming historic town that’s just a short trip away.
If we visit somewhere new on our next adventure, we’ll be sure to share more wonderful stories and experiences with you. Until our next trip, bye for now! 👋🏻
Read more articles
- 10 amazing things to do in Tokyo, Japan!
- Things to do and see around Kawagoe city, Saitama
- 10 amazing things to do in Saitama, Japan!
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