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Relating to day journeys from Tokyo, two have a tendency to face out above all of the others: Nikko and Kamakura, normally i that order.
I perceive why that is, in fact. The one expertise that would presumably rival Nikko’s haunting Tosho-gu shrine is the temples of historic Kamakura, notably when paired with enchanting Enoshima island, or underrated Yokohama.
Nonetheless, in case you’re on the hunt for a Kawagoe day journey itinerary, I do assume it is a worthwhile pursuit—particularly in case you love the Edo-era structure for which town is known.
Tips on how to Get to Kawagoe from Tokyo
Taking a Kawagoe day journey from Tokyo is extraordinarily simple, not matter how you ultimately find yourself feeling about your determination to take action. Step one is attending to Ikebukuro, which is a station on the JR Yamanote Line. You may as well get right here through the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, in case you’re staying in Ginza or Akasaka or in any other case indirectly on the Yamanote-sen.
When you’re there, comply with the indicators to the Tobu Tojo Line. Whether or not you trip a Kawagoe Restricted Categorical or take a neighborhood practice (generally, certainly one of these would be the subsequent departure accessible), you may both get off at Kawagoe Station or Kawagoe-shi Station, which additionally connects to Hon-Kawagoe Station. Right here, you may trip the Seibu Shinjuku Line to Seibu-Shinjuku Station. In both case, journey time is lower than an hour one-way.
Tips on how to Spend Your Day in Kawagoe
Stroll beneath the Toki-no-kane
Essentially the most well-known place to see in Kawagoe, and the one which finest illustrates the city’s “Little Edo” nickname, is Toki-no-kane. Though the present construction dates again solely to 1894, a bell tower was first constructed on this web site within the mid-Seventeenth century, aka the guts of the Edo interval.
Have a candy time alongside Kashiya Yokocho
One other spotlight of touring from Tokyo to Kawagoe? Having a stroll alongside Kashiya Yokocho. Even in case you don’t have a significant candy tooth—confession: I don’t—traipsing by way of this alley whereas others snack on sweet and ice cream is a pleasant use of your shrine.
Go to a temple or shrine
I’ll be trustworthy: Not one of the temples or shrines in Kawagoe actually attain “finest in Japan” standing, for me. Then again, whether or not you go to town’s namesake Kawagoe Shrine or dig deeper and discover additional, they’ll nonetheless show a respite from the crowds.
Eat unagi (or don’t)
Many vacationers to Kawagoe from Tokyo, particularly Japanese and Asian ones, come right here to eat unagi or freshwater eel. I’m not amongst them. Eel has simply by no means actually appealed (ap-eel-ed?) to me, regardless that I’ve tried it in many alternative incarnations. I personally want Kawagoe’s number of imo, or candy potato, treats.
Plot your subsequent transfer
Kawagoe most likely received’t take you a full day to discover, so that you’ll must go some place else afterwards. For many vacationers, that is again to Tokyo, whether or not you spend the night in Ikebukuro, or trip the Yamanote Line right down to Shinjuku or Shibuya. When you’re visiting in winter…nicely, proceed studying of my recommendation about that.
Ought to You Keep In a single day in Kawagoe?
Kawagoe itself, in my view, doesn’t have a lot to supply in a single day friends. Properly, once more, until you’ve gotten some deep curiosity within the Edo interval. Then again, in case you occur to be visiting Japan in early December, then the Chichibu Yomatsuri competition could encourage you to remain in a single day in Saitama prefecture, albeit in a special metropolis. However extra on that in one other publish.
The fact is that due to the Tokyo to Kawagoe practice, whether or not you trip it from Ikebukuro or Shinjuku, the city is shut sufficient to Tokyo {that a} day journey is ample. That is particularly the case in case you’re staying a number of days in Tokyo—why would you uproot your self for an evening, when it is best to keep sleeping in the identical place? (That too, in fact, could also be a dialogue for a special publish.)
Different FAQ About Taking a Kawagoe Day Journey
Is Kawagoe price visiting?
Kawagoe is unquestionably price a day journey from Tokyo, even when for a lot of vacationers it’s normally the third or fourth place on the listing. From Edo-area structure to candy treats alongside Kashiya Yokocho (aka “sweet alley”), it undoubtedly justifies peeling your self away from the capital for half a day.
How a lot time do you want in Kawagoe?
Though you could possibly keep the night time in Kawagoe when you’ve got a selected curiosity within the Edo interval, I’d say that for many vacationers, a half- or full-day is ample. The city middle isn’t very large; it’s shut sufficient to Tokyo—an hour every method—that may see it in as little as 4-6 hours door-to-door.
Is Kawagoe crowded on weekends?
Kawagoe usually appears crowded, as a result of most vacationers who go there are concentrated in a single space; the Edo-era alleyways merely aren’t very spacious. Nevertheless, in comparison with Nikko or Kamakura (two different Tokyo day journeys), Kawagoe isn’t truly very crowded, on weekends or in any other case.
The Backside Line
Taking a Kawagoe day journey from Tokyo is normally a second (and even third) alternative. It’s the place folks go in the event that they don’t plan to go to Nikko or Kamakura, and probably even after they’ve gone to Mt. Fuji for a day. Whereas I perceive the truth that some vacationers locations Kawagoe low on their listing of preferences, I’ll say {that a} day on this understated—and underrated city—may very well be simply what the physician ordered, notably when you’ve got any curiosity in Japan’s Edo interval. This is only one of numerous insights I’ve to share, in fact. While you rent me to plan your Japan itinerary, I’ll infuse them all through your total journey!
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