Classic Storehouses in an Old Wealthy Marchant Town
8 Hours 40,000 JPY~
Kawagoe, situated in the north of Tokyo, takes about 30 minutes by train from Ikebukuro station. The highlight is the warehouse district. Kawagoe has many old warehouses lined up because, during the 17th to 19th century Edo period, it was a marketplace where silk and other textiles were traded. Thus, the taste of old Tokyo remains, and therefore Kawagoe is called “Ko-Edo,” which means “little Edo.” Many people can be seen walking around the city in casual kimonos, enjoying shopping and dining. There is a small alley selling traditional Japanese food and sweets called “Kashiya Yokocho.” It is a nostalgic place for many middle-aged Japanese people, for this was where they bought snacks when they were children. Visit Kita-in Temple, the former head temple of the Tendai sect. It is home to the “500 Statues of Rakan,” where 540 stone Buddha statues are gathered in one place. With so many of them, you may even find one that resembles you or someone in your family.