Visiting Kawagoe's Famous Sites + Shopping at Seibu Hon-Kawagoe PePe
Kanto Shopping | 2018.10.05 |
Kawagoe "Little Edo" 1 Day Trip
Traveling Back in Time to Japan's Edo Era
Saitama Prefecture is often viewed as the suburbs located to the north of Tokyo mainly due to a number of people commuting for work in Tokyo daily. Aside from residential areas is a popular tourist place called Kawagoe. Kawagoe is also called "little Edo" since it still emphasizes the town it was during the Edo era (1603-1867).
As Japan became more modern, Saitama Prefecture began to change and develop in other areas. As a result, development in Kawagoe slowed down and the buildings and old atmosphere remained to what it is today. As a result, it was reexamined as an attractive tourist place where you can feel the atmosphere of Edo meets modern society.
Being so close to Tokyo, JAPANKURU has visited Kawagoe many times! This time we went for a special event held at Hikawa Shrine (氷川神社).
Related article ①
Kanto's Biggest Festival "Kawagoe festival"
Related article ②
Day Trip to Kawagoe
Getting to Kawagoe from Tokyo
Hope on the Red Arrow Limited Express from Seibu Shinjuku Station
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- 🚉Seibu Shinjuku Station
1-30-1 Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Google Maps
Kawagoe Discount Tickets information link (ENG)
Red Arrow Limited Express information link (ENG)
※Different from the JR Shinjuku Station!
- 🚉Seibu Shinjuku Station
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- First, if you are going to the Kawagoe area we recommend taking the train to Hon-Kawagoe Station. Operated by Seibu Railway, it is possible to get on the limited express train Red Arrow at Seibu Shinjuku Station and get to Kawagoe in 44 minutes! Seibu Shinjuku Station is separate from the JR Shinjuku Station but easy to spot when walking from Shinjuku Station since it is connected to Prince Hotel and shopping mall PePe.
The Benefits of Riding the Red Arrow Limited Express Train
Buying tickets are also very simple! Just go to the ticket window at the station and choose which one you would like.
Indulging in Japan's Station Lunch Boxes "Ekiben"
*Seibu Shinjuku Station → Komeda Kinsei Yawaraka Shiro-Coppe
*Hon-Kawagoe Station → Koedo Ohana
Arriving at Hon-Kawagoe Station
Within Hon-Kawagoe Station is also a massive shopping facility PePe that has plenty of clothing, souvenirs, and also station lunch box stores (ekiben, 駅弁). We have been to Seibu Shinjuku PePe before, but never the one in Kawagoe! So since we arrived at this station, we took a look at Kawagoe PePe for the first time ever. But first, we are going to introduce some sightseeing spots in the Kawagoe area.
🛍️Seibu Hon-Kawagoe Pepe
1 Chome-22 Shintomicho, Kawagoe, Saitama
Google Maps
⏰10am~9pm
Official website link (ENG)
Before You Head Out
Hon-Kawagoe Station Tourist Information Desk
When you get off at Hon-Kawagoe Station, there is a tourist information office on the side opposite of the ticket gate. Here you can get various travel information of the Kawagoe area with brochures in multiple languages. Not only that, but they also offer a service that temporarily keeps your luggage from 9am until an hour before they close. Free WiFi is also available!
Recommended Kawagoe Sightseeing Course
Kimono and Yukata Rental Service Vivian
Since Kawagoe has the scenery and atmosphere of the Edo period, wearing kimonos and yukatas can be a lot of fun. When we go to Kawagoe and decide we want to dress up, we normally visit the kimono rental store Vivian (美々庵). It is about 30 seconds on foot from Kawagoe's famous clock tower "Toki no Kane" and one of the firsts
to start a kimono rental service in the area.
If you go to Vivian, it is better to book in advance online. They are pretty low on staff,
so if you do not make a reservation it is likely you will have to wait awhile.
👘Vivian (美々庵 )
14-5 Saiwaicho, Kawagoe, Saitama
Google Maps
Kimono rental reservation link
Vivian homepage (JP)
The Symbol of Kawagoe
"Toki no Kane" (時の鐘)
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- The current bell tower was built in 1893 for the 4th time and is standing among low buildings to almost show off its beauty and presence. Due to being known as Kawagoe's symbol, it is often used as shooting places for as posters and magazines in promoting the area.
🏫Toki no Kane (時の鐘)
15-7 Saiwaicho, Kawagoe, Saitama
Google Maps
Toki no Kane information page (JP)
- The current bell tower was built in 1893 for the 4th time and is standing among low buildings to almost show off its beauty and presence. Due to being known as Kawagoe's symbol, it is often used as shooting places for as posters and magazines in promoting the area.
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- A few steps down the main street from the bell tower is a Starbucks. The Starbucks Coffee Kawagoe Kanetsuki Dori opened around March 2018, and its wooden exterior caught our eye. This wooden Starbucks also has a Japanese garden terrace is an essential place to stop at while in Kawagoe.
☕Starbucks Coffee Kawagoe Kanetsuki Dori
15-18 Saiwaicho, Kawagoe, Saitama
Google Maps
Starbucks Coffee Kawagoe Kanetsuki Dori information page
- A few steps down the main street from the bell tower is a Starbucks. The Starbucks Coffee Kawagoe Kanetsuki Dori opened around March 2018, and its wooden exterior caught our eye. This wooden Starbucks also has a Japanese garden terrace is an essential place to stop at while in Kawagoe.
Famous Eel Specialty Restaurant Hayashiya (林屋)
Since Kawagoe is the 2nd most famous place when it comes to eel in Japan, there are several shops where you can eat eel. However this particular restaurant is gaining popularity due to its sauce that is sweet and fragrant along with the eels being huge. By the way, if you go for lunch time, we recommend visiting a little earlier before the doors open since it is a popular store within Kawagoe so there may be a line.
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- 🍱Hayashiya (林屋)
2-4 Nakacho, Kawagoe-shi, Saitama
Google Maps
⏰11am~6pm
- 🍱Hayashiya (林屋)
Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine (氷川神社)
Since the shrine is a place where Gods are gathered, when entering the shrine "cleansing and purifying" the body and soal is a must. If you have never seen it or had it explained to you before, it can be hard to know the proper cleansing process which is why we are going to break it down so that you can do it properly on your visit to not only Hikawa Shrine but other shrines throughout Japan.
⛩️Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine (川越氷川神社)
2-11-3 Miyashitamachi, Kawagoe, Saitama
Google Maps
Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine homepage (JP)
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- 1. After bowing, hold the ladle with your right hand and scoop some water.
2. Wash your left hand first, then switch hands and wash your right.
3. Holding the ladle in your right hand again, pour some water in the palm of your left hand and lightly rinse your mouth. Don't swallow! Spit out the water below.
4. After washing the left hand again, rinse the ladle so that water flows down the rail of the ladle.
5. Return the ladle gently, facing downwards to the original position.
- 1. After bowing, hold the ladle with your right hand and scoop some water.
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- An ema (絵馬) are small wooden plaques at shrines where people write their wishes on. If you have been to a shrine in Japan you are sure to have seen a long wall or display of them. They are a really neat part of Japanese culture and definitely something to try at least once. Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine has an ema like a tunnel and this mysterious and cute scene is also one of the most popular photo spots in the shrine.
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- Wind chimes symbolize the summer of Japan and are mostly made from glass. To help represent summer, Hikawa Shrine hangs about 2,000 wind chimes every year for a limited time and it is a beautiful sight. What makes these wind chimes special is that people's wishes are written on the tails of the glass wind chimes, making a unique infusion of two different sides of Japanese culture.
Following this honor, while the wind chime festival is being held, every day from 7~9pm, the creek inside the shrine will light up.
🎐Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine Wind Chime Festival (縁結び風鈴)
July 7~September 9, 2018
Schedule for 2019 is undecided
Large-Scale Shopping Facility Directly Connected to Hon-Kawagoe Station
Hon-Kawagoe PePe
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After enjoying the Edo atmosphere of Kawagoe, we took a look around the regional shopping mall PePe.
🛍️Seibu Hon-Kawagoe Pepe
1 Chome-22 Shintomicho, Kawagoe, Saitama
Google Maps
⏰10am~9pm
Official website link (ENG)
🍱Train Station Lunch Box "Ekiben"
Koedo Ohana (小江戸オハナ)
🍱Koedo Ohana (小江戸オハナ)
1F
10am~9pm
🍠Japanese Sweets Specialty Store with 230 Years of History
Kameya (龜屋)
🍠Kameya (龜屋)
1F
10am~9pm
🍮Traditional Japanese Sweets Store
Kuradukuri Honpo (くらづくり本舗)
🛒Fashion, Lifestyle Goods, Food
MUJI (無印良品)
🛒MUJI (無印良品)
1F
10am~9pm
👚Currently Trending Casual Clothing
GU
👚GU
2F
10am~9pm
1 Chome-22 Shintomicho, Kawagoe, Saitama
Google Maps
⏰10am~9pm
💻Official website
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- Basic Info
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Name Seibu Hon-Kawagoe Pepe Address 1 Chome-22 Shintomicho, Kawagoe, Saitama Station Seibu Hon-Kawagoe Station Tel 049-226-7777 Website http://www.seibu-shop.jp/honkawagoe/en/