One-Day Trip to discover the Charms of Historic Kawagoe: A Journey Through Time
Kawagoe is known as "Little Edo" for its well-preserved Edo-period atmosphere. This tour offers an immersive experience of Kawagoe's rich history and culture.
The main attraction of this tour is strolling through Kurazukuri Street you will feel the charm of the Edo period.
We can also visit Kumano Shrine, Toki-no-Kane Tower used to tell the time, Kawagoe Festival Museum, Kashiya Yokocho street filled with traditional sweets shops, Hikawa Shrine, Kawagoe Castle, etc. according to your preference.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Your Hotel
- I will meet you near the reception in the lobby of your hotel. Go to Kawagoe by public transportation.
Kawagoe
We will explore Kawagoe.
Kurazukuri Street
This area replicates the merchant streets of the Edo period, featuring historic buildings, stylish cafes, and souvenir shops. Visitors can feel the essence of old Japan while strolling here.
Kumano Shrine
Kumano Shrine in Kawagoe is known for its blessings of matchmaking and warding off evil. Visitors can pass through the torii gate and find peace in the serene surroundings of the shrine.
Toki-no-Kane (Time Bell Tower)
Toki no Kane, also known as the Time Bell Tower, is one of Kawagoe's most iconic landmarks. Standing at 16 meters tall, this wooden tower has a history that dates back over 400 years. Originally built during the early Edo period, it has been reconstructed several times due to fires, with the current structure dating from the late 19th century. The tower houses a bell that rings four times a day (6 AM, 12 PM, 3 PM, and 6 PM), echoing through the streets and serving as a reminder of Kawagoe's rich historical past. This traditional method of telling time adds to the nostalgic atmosphere of the city, making it a must-visit spot for anyone exploring Kawagoe. The Toki-no-Kane not only symbolizes the city's cultural heritage but also connects the present with the bygone days of Edo.
Kawagoe Festival Museum
This museum showcases the splendid floats and the history of the Kawagoe Festival. Exhibits include actual festival floats and costumes, offering a vivid sense of the festival's lively atmosphere.
Kashiya Yokocho
A street filled with shops that have been selling traditional Japanese sweets since the Showa era about 50 years ago. It is a delightful place where both children and adults can enjoy nostalgic treats and traditional confections.
Hikawa Shrine
Famous for its splendid wooden architecture, Hikawa Shrine is a historical landmark in Kawagoe. It is cherished as a shrine for blessings in matchmaking and family harmony.
Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Goten
Located in the heart of Kawagoe Castle, the Honmaru Goten is a rare place where visitors can experience samurai life. It is preserved in its original Edo-period architectural style, making it a must-visit for history enthusiasts.
Kawagoe
Go back to Tokyo.
Your Hotel
End of the tour.
Ending Point
Your Hotel
Want to personalize this tour?
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This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
1. Guide fee
2. Hotel pick-up
* Hotel pick-up is included if your hotel is located near a station on JR Yamanote Line or inside the circle of JR Yamanote Line. If the extra transportation fee is necessary for hotel pick-up, I will let you know.
1. Transportation fee (you and your guide): About 2,000 yen/adult
2. Admission fee (you and your guide): About 1000 yen/adult (Kawagoe Festival Museum, Kawagoe Castle)
3. Lunch (you and your guide)
4. Beverages (beer, juice, etc.)
Tour Important Information
(1) We will stay in Kawagoe about 5 hours. You can choose, add, or delete places you would like to visit in advance or on the day.
(2) This tour is also available for groups of 6 or more. Please inquire about guide fees for groups of 6 or more.
Important message from the supplier
Nothing speceial.
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
About Tour Guide Hiroshi S.
Hello, I'm Hiroshi.
I am a National Government Licensed Tour Guide Interpreter in English. I received a master's degree in Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the U.S.
I have lived in a city of Fujisawa, which is a city next to Kamakura, for more than 20 years, and also used to live in Kamakura for more than 10 years. So far, I have visited almost all the temples and shrines in Kamakura. I am sure I can offer you a pleasant trip to the historical city!
In addition to Kamakura, I can also guide you around Tokyo, Yokohama, Hakone, Nikko, etc. because I have visited many places in Kanto area. For example, in Tokyo I can show you around many sightseeing spots, such as Asakusa, Tsukiji, Imperial Palace, Meiji Shrine, Tokyo Skytree, etc.
I like baseball and used to play baseball, but now enjoy watching professional baseball games. And I like watching Rakugo, Japanese traditional story-telling performance.
Of course, I also like travelling very much, and am interested in Japanese culture and history. So I would like to show you Japanese tradition and culture.
Let’s enjoy a trip in Japan together.
I am looking forward to seeing you soon.
Reviews
Cheryl D.
“Marvelous tour!”
We(6) had an extraordinary, all day tour, with Hiroshi yesterday to Nikko, Japan. He met us at our hotel in Tokyo and escorted us to subway, then train, then bus to Nikko. He was with us all day and escorted us back to our hotel. He answered all of our questions, and there were many! He was very attentive, knowledgeable, patient and kind. Nikko was so beautiful. We saw shrines, temples and The Botanical Garden. We walked in the stunning forest along the stream! Gorgeous! We were so very pleased with every aspect of our tour. We highly recommend Hiroshi!
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Hiroshi S.
Thank you for taking your time to write a review. I also had a great time with all of you yesterday! It was sunny in Tokyo in the morning, but it started raining shortly after we arrived in Nikko. The weather wasn't great, but I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the tour. At Rinnoji Temple, we were able to watch the Goma ritual. I think you got a sense of the temple's solemn atmosphere. At Toshogu Shrine, we saw the Yomeimon Gate, said to be the most magnificent in Japan, as well as the famous Three Wise Monkeys and the Sleeping Cat. We also enjoyed the riverside promenade and the botanical garden, which offered a different atmosphere from the temples and shrines. I will continue to deepen my knowledge about Japanese history, culture, customs, etc., so please feel free to ask me anything if you have the opportunity to come to Japan again. Let's enjoy Japan together!
Steve B.
“This was a fantastic tour and our tour guide, Hiroshi was amazing. ”
Let’s just say the day started out terrible, we got off a cruise ship to a downpour, but Heroshi was there to meet us and help us plan the day. He bought tickets ahead of time for later in the day, when the weather had cleared, for the Skytree and had everything planned out perfectly. He shared just enough information without overloading and taking too much time. It was a fun day but be prepared for a fair amount of walking. Heroshi, made a great tour into a fantastic tour.
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Hiroshi S.
Thank you for taking your time to write a review. The tour got off to a terrible start. Even though we had a tent, we had to wait for a taxi for almost an hour in a pouring rain. However, I enjoyed talking with you while we waited. The rain stopped by the time we took the Sumida River cruise in the afternoon. We were able to enjoy views of Tsukiji, the Ryogoku Kokugikan (sumo stadium), and the Tokyo Skytree from the boat. From the Skytree, at a height of 450 meters, we could see Shinjuku, Tokyo Bay, etc. If you ever plan to come to Japan, please contact me again. Besides Tokyo, there are many other wonderful places like Nikko, Kamakura, Hakone, etc. Let’s enjoy Japan together again!
Bernd W.
“A lovely day ”
It was a lovely tour. We saw a lot. Hiroshi is a good guide. Unfortunately, there was also a very unpleasant incident. Hiroshi had bought the wrong tickets for the Skytree for us in advance. As it took nearly an hour to sort it out, we were unable to go up the Skytree. That is extremely frustrating. As a result, we had no other way of visiting the tower. It would have been the highlight of our trip. Very sad.
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Hiroshi S.
Thank you for the review. I am very sorry that you were not able to go up the Skytree. But I did not buy the wrong tickets. I purchased the tickets for handicapped persons at your request, but I learned for the first time that day from a Skytree staff member that tickets for handicapped persons would no longer be sold to foreigners starting in April. Furthermore, there were no descriptions about tickets for foreigners. I purchased the tickets in March, so I explained this to the Skytree staff, had the tickets issued, and gave them to you. I left after confirming that you had entered, but I later heard that you were told you couldn't enter. It's a shame I wasn't there to negotiate. While this was Skytree's fault, I also bear some responsibility. I apologize. I will take the utmost care to ensure this does not happen again. I hope you won't be discouraged by this and will come to Japan again.
$252/ per group
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