Kawagoe 川越市, Saitama Prefecture

Kawagoe (Japanese: 川越市) is a small city in Saitama Prefecture, about 30 minutes by train from Tokyo. It was founded as a town in 1889, and was granted city status in 1922.

Kawagoe is best known for its period-style architecture that line its old town. These beautifully preserved houses have given Kawagoe the nickname of "Little Edo", as it still maintains the feudal-period atmosphere generally gone elsewhere. These period houses, called kurazukuri or simply kura houses, have thick clay walls, double doors, heavy shuttles, and beautiful period tiles on their roofs.

The kura were formerly shops and warehouses, and continue today as a tourist attraction of the city. There are still some 30 kura in Kawagoe today.

During the Edo period, the headquarters of the Kawagoe Domain, the local fiefdom, was at Kawagoe Castle, occupied by aides of the Tokugawa shogun.

Kura houses of Kawagoe with the Toki no Kane belltower


Kawagoe at festival time

Planning your trip to Kawagoe

Take the Tobu Tojo Line from Ikebukuro Station in Tokyo. The journey takes about 30 minutes and costs ¥450.

Exploring Kawagoe

The old section of Kawagoe is small enough for you to explore on foot.

Places of Interest in Kawagoe

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