Toki no Kane — Attraction in Kawagoe

Before continuing our journey to Saitama, we made a meaningful stop in Kawagoe, often referred to as “Little Edo” for its beautifully preserved historical charm. Our main purpose was to visit the iconic Toki no Kane, or Time Bell Tower, one of the most famous and culturally significant landmarks in the city.

Standing tall amidst traditional wooden buildings and narrow merchant streets, Toki no Kane is a symbolic structure that has marked time in Kawagoe for over 400 years. Although the current tower was reconstructed after a fire in the late 19th century, it still functions today, chiming its bell several times a day to echo the town’s past. There’s something magical about standing in front of such a historic structure—an architectural reminder of an era where life moved to the rhythm of a bell rather than a screen.

The surroundings of the tower added to the charm, with quaint shops, nostalgic alleyways, and the aroma of traditional Japanese street snacks wafting through the air. Despite the gentle drizzle that lingered from the morning, the visit felt calming and immersive—like stepping into a timeless moment.

Stopping by Toki no Kane was a beautiful way to reflect on history before heading back into the rhythm of our modern travel itinerary. It’s a must-see for anyone visiting Kawagoe, especially those seeking a deeper connection to Japan’s...

There was an on going event at that time so it was really quite a crowded place. (October 20-21 3018) It is a good tourist spot and the weather now is great. We went there from Ikebukuro station riding the Tobu Tojo line And then by bus number 1 Be very careful though of the bus stops because from our experience, we got quite confused of the bus number and bus stop where to ride and ended up a little further from the event place.

It would be better to go there probably on a normal day, maybe a weekday would be best. Start early in the morning to be able to maximise the most of the town. I would advise walking from Kawagoe station to the City Town Hall in order to get the most of the view of this little town. It is a 25 minute walk though.

During the festival, we noticed that most of the shops sells sweet potatoes, fried and garnished with sesame seeds.

The old houses are really pretty and kept us wondering how do they maintain it knowing that most of the materials of old houses might be phased out.

There are little shops all over the place where you could buy souvenirs. Kawagoe Starbucks is another attraction...

Whenever you have a day to spare in your no doubt busy life, preferably over the weekend, you should take the time to explore the Little Edo, aka Koedo area of Kawagoe City in Saitama.

There’s lots do, see, and perhaps most importantly, eat here, but one of the sightseeing highlights is the distinctive old wooden Toki no Kane bell tower.

The bell inside the Tsuki no Kane tower rings four times a day: At 6 AM, 12 noon, 3 PM, and 6 PM. You should definitely be around the tower to hear it.

Behind the tower, you’ll find the very quaint Yakushi Shrine. Believers say that praying at this shrine can help relieve eye-related ailments.

The wooden Toki no Kane bell tower is the symbol of Koedo that dates as far back as the 1600s.

This isn’t the original tower. The original 16 meter wood structure—built by the then Kawagoe Domain feudal lord Tadakatsu Sakai—was destroyed by the Great Kawagoe Fire of 1893. This tower is the one...