Kawagoe is known for the street lined with kurazukuri, traditional warehouses, which are reminiscent of the Edo Period.
In the Meiji Period Kawagoe was the capital of Kawagoe
Prefecture, until it was changed to Iruma Prefecture. After
1873 it was annexed into Saitama Prefecture and
became a town in 1889 under the new municipalities
system. A large portion of Kawagoe was destroyed in
1893 by a fire. It was at this time that the structures were
rebuilt in the kurazukuri (warehouse) style. In 1922,
Kawagoe was the first to reach city status in Saitama
Prefecture after it merged with the neighboring Senba
Village. Then in 1999, the old center of Kawagoe was
designated a Historic Preservation District.
Kawagoe is located 30 minutes by train from the central
part of Tokyo. The city is famous for their main street that
is lined with kurazukuri, traditional warehouses. In the
warehouse district you can find the Toki no Kane or
Telling Time Bell that was built in the 17th century. The
bell tower rings four times a day and has been built
multiple times. There is a street next to the warehouse
district that is dedicated to the sale of Japanese sweets,
cakes, and snacks called Candy Alley. These buildings
keep a reminiscent environment of the Edo Period (1603-
1867). It is nicknamed “Little Edo” after the former name
of Tokyo. Back in the day, Kawagoe was a strategic and
commerce spot for trade. It prospered as a supplier of a
variety of items like fabric to Edo (old name of Tokyo).
The Tokugawa Clan liked Kawagoe so much that they
placed many of their loyal allies in the Kawagoe Castle.
Today the only remaining building of the castle is the
Honmaru Goten. It was once the residence and office of
many officials who were the most trusted by the
Shogunate. Also the third Tokugawa Shogun, Iemitsu,
moved his reception hall and study from Edo Castle to
Kitain Temple because he loved the area. It is one of the
only remaining structures of Edo Castle before it was
destroyed by the many wars. Kitain Temple is the head
temple of the Tendai Sect for the Kanto Region. It is there
that you can find 533 statues of Buddha’s disciples,
where each one is unique in some way.
Kanto | Saitama | Kawagoe
Kawagoe Warehouse District
Kawagoe Warehouse District features clay walled warehouse styled buildings known as kurazukuri.
Kanto | Saitama | Kawagoe
Honmaru Goten (Kawagoe Castle)
Honmaru Goten is the only surviving building of Kawagoe Castle and was used to house the close allies of the Tokugawa Clan.
