Day Trip to Kawagoe: Old temples, Local foods at the nostalgic street, and more!
Joined 2014
Hidden in Saitama Prefecture, Kawagoe, also known as Little Edo, still retains the atmosphere of ancient Japan during the Edo period. If you wish to escape from the bustling city of Tokyo, this Kawagoe private tour will not disappoint you. In this small peaceful town, there are many traditional Japanese shrines, temples and other amazing attractions, such as Kita-in Temple and the old warehouse district of Kurazukuri. Take a day trip outside of Tokyo and discover the historic Kawagoe.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel
- I will meet you near the reception. I will show your name on my iPad.
At your hotel
I will pick you up at your hotel near the reception.
10:00-11:30 Travel from Tokyo to Kawagoe
Take a train from Tokyo to Kawagoe station and take a local bus there.
12:00-12:30 Naka-in Temple
Naka-in Temple; Enjoy strolling around this small, peaceful temple and be impressed with the traditional Japanese garden. Founded in 830 AD, by a Buddhist priest Jikaku Daishi, the temple relatively resembles those in Kyoto. In Spring, many azaleas will bloom together.
12:30-13:30 Kita-in Temple
Kita-in Temple; One of the most famous Buddhist temples in Kawagoe, attracting both locals and foreigners to visit. The over 500 mysterious statues of Buddha's disciples, called Gohyaku Rakan, make this temple more amazing. Some of the buildings in this temple are part of the former Edo Castle, which is worth visiting. (Admission: 400 JPY per adult)
13:30-14:00 Lunch
Lunch; Please try Japanese noodles with crunchy tempura or BBQ eel, which are the most famous dishes of Kawagoe.
14:30-15:30 Kurazukuri Street and Kashiya Yokocho
Kurazukuri Street and Kashiya Yokocho Alley; No visit to Kawagoe is complete without walking through this historic street. In the Edo era, this street was the center of trade, thus there were many warehouses. Now, they became restaurants and souvenir shops. Visitors also can find rare Japanese sweets and desserts in Kashiya Yokocho Alley.
16:00-17:00 Take trains from Kawagoeshi station to Tokyo
There are many railways to Tokyo.
We will take the easiest rapid train to Tokyo.
At your hotel.
End of the tour
Ending Point
At your hotel
Want to personalize this tour?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Tour guide fee and hotel pick-up service
On this Kawagoe private tour, the transportation fees, admission fee, and lunch costs of the visitor and tour guide are additional fees and as following:
- Transportation fee: approximately 2,000 yen per person
- Lunch: approximately 1,000-2,000 yen per person
- Admission fees: for Kitain temple, 400 yen for entering the special room in the former Edo Castle.
Tour Important Information
- Some shops in Kurazukuri Street are closed on Mondays.
- Please, send a direct message to the tour guide for confirming the availability before booking
Not available on Mondays.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Joined 2014
About Tour Guide Yuki K.
I was born and grew up in Yokohama. I used to work in Tokyo for more than 20 years. I became the National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter in English in 2013. At first, I had attended a volunteer group which provided a tour of the Imperial Palace East Gardens until 2015. I guided more than fifty times in the garden as a volunteer and studied about Japanese history and culture. Based on this experience, I became a tour guide of this online site in 2015.
Since then, I have guided more than 500 tours in Tokyo as well as Yokohama, Kamakura, Hakone, Kyoto, Nikko, etc., while improving my tours. My tours are very flexible and I always do my best to customize them according to the interests of my guests. I studied about the places and will provide you knowledge to appreciate them more deeply than just visiting there by yourself or a member of group tours. I like foods and I know many restaurants which provide typical Japanese lunch with reasonable price without waiting too long. Therefore, I am sure that I can provide you the best tours customized to your interests. It will be my great pleasure to help you to enjoy your stay in Japan. So please be my guest!!
Reviews
Wally T.
“Day Trip to Kawagoe”
Our day trip to Kawagoe was well-organized, smooth, and a lot of fun. Yuki expertly guided us through the train system, making both arrival and departure stress-free. We visited a fascinating temple and ancient cemetery, but chose to spend most of our time exploring the charming, craft-filled streets. Yuki shared rich insights into Kawagoe’s history, which made the experience even more meaningful. We also enjoyed a traditional udon lunch and sampled a variety of delicious local treats. A truly memorable outing!
Yuki K.
Dear Betty, Thank you very much for the third review. It's been a while since I visited there last time. I'm surprised that there were so many Japanese tourists visiting the Kuratsukuri street. It was a big different from the authentic Buddhist Temple of Naka-inn. Thank you for taking my tours for three days. Yuki
Wally T.
“Tokyo day trip with market and Imperial Gardens”
Our visit to the Tsukiji Outer Market was both memorable and fun. Yuki was flexible and accommodating, allowing us to fully enjoy the experience with plenty of food tastings and time for shopping. He also took us to a traditional Tonkatsu pork restaurant, which was authentic and absolutely delicious. The Imperial Gardens were stunning, and Yuki’s knowledge and helpfulness added so much to our visit. A wonderful day all around!
Yuki K.
Dear Betty, Thank you for the second review. Everything went well except the udon noodle place was not open as it was the weekend. But we found better place for lunch. Yuki
Wally T.
“Great introduction to Tokyo”
Yuki was punctual, helpful, and incredibly knowledgeable—sharing interesting insights about the sites we visited and Japanese culture. He went out of his way to accommodate my husband’s mobility needs, while also ensuring that my grandson and I were able to fully enjoy the experience. Yuki went above and beyond his commitments, making our first day in Japan both fun and memorable. Highly recommended!
Yuki K.
Dear Betty, Thank you for the wonderful review of my tour. I took you to ShinjukuGyoen Garden, Asakusa, and had a nice Kaiseki lunch on the first day. Sorry for the difficulty to meet me, I didin't know there is another entrance of Shibuya 109. Thanks a lots. Yuki
$240/ per group
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