Kurazukuri no Machinami / Warehouse District — Attraction in Kawagoe

Ichibangai Shotengai is the heart of Kawagoe’s famous old town, and it’s one of the most charming shopping streets I’ve visited in Japan. Lined with beautifully preserved Edo-period warehouses, the whole area feels like stepping back in time—but with modern snacks and souvenirs!

The street is full of unique little shops selling traditional crafts, local sweets (especially sweet potato everything!), and cute handmade goods. There are also some really photogenic cafes and places to try matcha soft serve, dango, and even sweet potato coffee. It’s a great spot to just wander, eat, shop, and soak up the atmosphere.

The iconic Toki no Kane bell tower is located right nearby, and you can often hear it ring throughout the day, adding to the nostalgic feel. The whole area is clean, walkable, and super tourist-friendly—but it still retains a local, relaxed vibe.

It’s also a great place for photos—the streets are wide and not too crowded if you go on a weekday. On weekends, it gets lively but still manageable.

Easy to reach from Tokyo—just about 30–60 minutes depending on the train line. From Kawagoe Station, it’s about a 15–20 minute walk or a quick bus ride.

Definitely a must-visit if you’re in Kawagoe. Great mix of history, food,...

Rather disappointing. I visited on a weekend by car with my family. I’m very interested in old Japanese architecture so was really looking forward to visiting but ended up a bit frustrated and disappointed. Firstly, on a weekend, parking can be a bit difficult and the traffic can be slow moving but that’s not unexpected, it’s better to visit by train. My main issue is that the draw of the town is the couple of streets lined with some lovely old buildings but I found it hard to appreciate them. The reason being is that the local authourity for some reason does not restrict traffic even on the weekends on these streets, so hundreds of people are crammed at the side of the street (no pavements) constantly trying to not get hit by a car or bus when passing each other. They really should restrict traffic on the weekend on those couple of streets. I had recently visited Sawara in Chiba prefecture and found the old town there much nicer to spend some time appreciating the buildings and the ‘Coedo’...

🟫 Kawagoe (川越市, Kawagoe-shi) is a city in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. It is a famous ancient conserved Edo town.

🟨Much of the old streets, retro lamp posts and vintage warehouse buildings have all been preserved.

🟧Kawagoe is also famous for its sweet potatoes, and the local "Candy Street" that sells such treats as sweet potato chips, sweet potato ice cream, sweet potato coffee, and even sweet potato beer, brewed at the local Coedo Brewery.

✳️ Some of its vintage streets and alleys preserve the old castle town atmosphere of the Edo period (17th to 19th centuries).

🩷 My husband and I had a wonderful time walking around Kawagoe. It felt like we were being transported back hundreds of years ago. 💙 I urge anyone who wants to experience what the Edo era was like to come to Kawagoe. It is such a beautiful and well preserved ancient town.

✅️✴️ Tokyo --- Kawagoe / is only about 1 and a half hours. You can spent a day here at Kawagoe to explore the...