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One-Day Trip to discover the Charms of Historic Kawagoe: A Journey Through Time

Kurazukuri Street

Kumano Shrine

Toki-no-Kane (Time Bell Tower)

Street with carp streamers

Kurazukuri Street

Kashiya Yokocho

Hikawa Shrine

Hikawa Shrine : Sea Bream Shaped Fortune Slip

Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Goten

One-Day Trip to discover the Charms of Historic Kawagoe: A Journey Through Time

Day Trip

Joined 2018

Hiroshi S.

4.94 / 5

(47 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

Tokyo

Japanese (Native), English

8 hours

Private tour (only you and Hiroshi S.)

Up to 5 people

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!

09:00 AM

Meeting Point

Your Hotel

- I will meet you at the lobby of your hotel. Go to Kawagoe by public transportation.

10:30 AM

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.

03:30 PM

Kawagoe

Go back to Tokyo.

05:00 PM

Your Hotel

End of the tour.

Ending Point

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

What‘s included

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.

What‘s not included

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

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.

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

Joined 2018

Hiroshi S.

4.94 / 5

(47 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

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

David Z.

5 / 5

Aug 22, 2025

Tokyo Full Day Customized Tour (Aug. 3 : Ryogoku, Ueno, Asakusa, Skytree )

Aug 22, 2025

Tokyo

8 hours 30 mins

Customized

“Our Perfect Trip”

We decided that we were going to hire a guide for our stay in Tokyo. It is a choice that would end up making our trip perfect. After viewing many guides we decided to contact Hiroshi. We worked with Hiroshi and combined a couple of his tours and he helped customized our tour based on our interest and included stops for my teenaged son. I am so glad we hired Hiroshi. Thank you, Hiroshi.

Hiroshi S.

Thank you for the review. I also had a great time with both of you. In Ryogoku, we were able to learn about the history of sumo wrestling and other topics, and I hope you enjoyed it. When we visited Tokyo Skytree, the weather wasn't very good, but we were able to see Tokyo Bay, Shinjuku, Tokyo Dome, etc. We also enjoyed a different view of Tokyo from the boat during the Sumida River cruise. The summer in Japan was very hot and humid, but I am very happy if you enjoyed the tour in Tokyo. Around Tokyo, there are many attractions such as Hakone, rich in nature, Nikko, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Kamakura, where you can experience samurai culture. Please let me know when you come to Japan again. Let’s enjoy Japan’s nature and culture together!

Jason O.

5 / 5

Aug 4, 2025

One-Day Ancient Wonders in Kamakura and Enoshima (July 20th)

Aug 4, 2025

Kamakura

8 hours

Customized

“Kind, knowledgeable and full of energy”

Hiroshi was thoughtful and kind. Good with the teenagers. Kept going in high heat with smart adjustments to make it comfortable. He knows the area and shared history and interesting info. Great clear English.

Hiroshi S.

Thank you for taking your time to write a review. I had a wonderful time with all of you. We visited Kamakura and Enoshima. Kamakura is a historic city with many shrines and temples, and we were able to feel the atmosphere of the samurai era. Enoshima has also long been worshipped as a sacred island, and I believe you were able to experience its mystical atmosphere. As it was Sunday, both Kamakura and Enoshima were very crowded, and we had to change our plans slightly, but I hope you enjoyed the ancient capital of Kamakura and the sacred island of Enoshima. I hope I can see you again in the near future in Japan!

Girish A.

5 / 5

Aug 4, 2025

Kamakura Half Day Customized Tour (July 27)

Aug 4, 2025

Kamakura

5 hours

Customized

“Tokyo, kamakura and Hakone trip”

Hiroshi showed us around in 3 cities and was very knowledgeable about all of them. He showed us all the sights and had material on all of them. We got to know him well over 3 days and made us feel very comfortable with the culture and history of all the places. He made sure that we reached back safely and would recommend him highly for any of the trips.

Hiroshi S.

Thank you for writing a review. We toured Tokyo, Kamakura, and Hakone, each in one day. It was hot and humid all three days, but we were able to enjoy the tour without being defeated by the Japanese summer. We enjoyed the fish market in Tsukiji, drew omikuji in Asakusa, enjoyed the beautiful beach scenery in Kamakura, and saw the sulfurous smoke rising from Owakudani in Hakone, etc. I’m very happy you enjoyed the three-day tour. I look forward to meeting you again in Japan in the near future. Please feel free to contact me again if you have the opportunity to visit Japan.