Escape Tokyo for a day trip to Kawagoe—'Little Edo'—a historic town often called a mini Kyoto. Just 30 minutes from Ikebukuro, explore traditional clay warehouses, the iconic Toki no Kane Bell Tower, ancient shrines and temples, and sample delicious street food. Experience old Japan without leaving the Tokyo area!
Group tour operated by Snow Monkey Resorts Tours.
The tour will begin at 09:00 inside of Ikebukuro train station where you will meet your tour guide. You will meet outside of the Tobu line blue entrance ticket gates. Once everybody has arrived, you will officially start the tour and your tour guide will escort you to the first destination!
Your first destination will be one of Kawagoe’s most famous Buddhist temples. This temple is famous for its Pagoda, part of its main hall being constructed from buildings from the original Edo Castle in Tokyo, as well as its 540 Rakan statues. It is steeped in history and is a must when visiting Kawagoe! Enjoy a guided tour with your guide and some time to take photos and enjoy the grounds at your leisure.
Your next destination will be a guided walk and tour of Kawagoe’s Old Town. Comprising of many famous landmarks, architecture, and beautiful side streets, this is the hub of Kawagoe. Your guide will take you back in time, painting the picture of what was once ’Little Edo’. You will pass the famous Kurazukuri warehouses, a culturally significant bell tower, visit an old sake brewery, and many interesting local shops and food stalls. You will have free time and your lunch break here to explore at your leisure, and it is highly recommended that you try the street food on offer! Kawagoe is famous for sweet potatoes, so make sure to try something sweet potato themed!
Your next destination will be one of Kawagoe’s most famous and beautiful shrines! Famous for its match making power, many people come here to pray for good fortune in love and their relationships. Your guide will give you a tour of the Shrine complex and tell you about its unique features and history! You will have the opportunity to fish for your fortune, walk through a beautiful ’Ema’ tunnel (wooden fortune plaques), and walk around 600 year old sacred trees that are said to bring you spiritual enlightenment! The tranquil Shingashi river is just behind the shrine where Koi Carp swim, and in Spring it is filled with Cherry Blossom!
Our final stop will be the remains of Kawagoe’s flatland castle. The structure and its rooms are beautifully preserved. You can walk the halls, step back in time and imagine what it was once like in the Edo period when the Shogun (Samurai) were in power. You can also collect a castle stamp as a free souvenir of your visit!
Finally, before leaving Kawagoe, enjoy some free time to visit any remaining attractions, shop, take photos and pick up any final souvenirs before we meet back up to walk to Kawagoeshi train station. There is Kawagoe City Museum and Kawagoe Matsuri Museum which are great attractions to visit in addition to what is covered on the tour.
Tour Availability Disclaimer Availability subject to confirmation. While tours may appear bookable online, all activities require confirmation with our partner venues and depend on date availability. If any part of your itinerary needs adjustment or becomes unavailable, we'll contact you promptly to arrange suitable alternatives.
Tour Information Organizer (Planning & Operation) Machinovate Inc. (Brand: Snow Monkey Resorts) License No: Nagano Prefecture Governor Registration No. 2-562 Address: 2159 Kurita, Nagano City, Nagano, 380-0921 Japan
Agent (Sales) H.I.S. Co., Ltd. License No: No. 724 by the Commissioner of Japan Tourism Agency
Minimum number of participants: 2
Emergency Contact (Day of Tour) For immediate assistance on the day of your tour, please contact the local operator, Machinovate Inc., directly: Tel: (+81) 26-219-6272
Contact (Sales Office) Address: Sumitomo Fudosan Shinjuku Central Park Bldg. 11F 6-13-1 Nishi-shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023 JAPAN Tel:+81-70-1735-1547(10:00-18:00, Weekdays only) Tour Operations Manager: Kyota Kasai (Responsible for transactions regarding this travel contract)
Terms and Conditions Please ensure you read and understand the following documents before booking: Travel Terms and Conditions (Organizer)
