Half-day Kawagoe Walking Tour
Description
Discover Kawagoe, a charming old town that once flourished as a castle town during the Edo period. Stroll through streets lined with beautifully designed buildings, hear the ringing of traditional bells, and experience the elegance of side alleys and backstreets where rickshaws still pass by. The unique architecture here blends elements from three different eras, Edo, Meiji, and Taisho, offering a rare glimpse into Japan’s rich history and culture that you won’t find in other cities. ・Explore Kawagoe’s historic streets, filled with traditional shops and timeless charm ・Enjoy the sights and sounds of a town where past and present harmoniously meet ・Experience the easy access from central Tokyo, just 30 minutes away, and visit a venue that hosted the golf competitions during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
Tour Options
Itinerary
Matsumoto Craft Soy Sauce has passed down the tradition of making soy sauce for over 250 years in Kawagoe. They still use traditional methods to make the soy sauce. NOTE: It’s only available on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays.
Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine Popular shrine for love charms and its ema (votive tablet) tunnel.
Kashiya Yokocho Charming old-fashioned alley known for traditional Japanese sweets shops.
Historic street lined with Edo-style buildings and local shops.
Toki no Kane Iconic bell tower and symbol of Kawagoe, dating back to the Edo period.
Kitain Temple Historic temple famous for rakan statues and remains of the old Edo Castle.
Historic temple famous for rakan statues and remains of the old Edo Castle.
This store is built in a brewery that has made Japanese sake for nearly 120 years. You can buy souvenirs from the local area here.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
- This tour can be customized depending on your interests
- Small groups, never more than 10 people
Reviews(2)
Kawagoe was nice and the main shrine was worth visiting so it was a shame that the guide, Charlotte, did not meet our expectations. She lacked enthusiasm and did not provide us with any information that was not in a basic guide book. We felt that she did not tailor the experience for our requirements since we have been to Japan multiple times before and rushed us through shrines which we would have liked to spend more time at. In addition, she kept losing her bearings and was lost throughout the walk so we only saw 1 shrine even though the tour description mentioned multiple shrines. She also did not send us the pictures she took of us, despite promising to send them. We were very disappointed that we did not see as much of kawagoe as we expected from the tour description and that we did not gain any additional historical/cultural knowledge from Charlotte. We have had positive experiences with Viator guides in the past so it is a shame that Charlotte did not live up to expectation. This was an extremely mediocre experience which has unfortunately made us hesitant to book future tours with Viator.
Dear Nandhini, Thank you very much for taking the time to share your feedback. We are very sorry to hear that your experience in Kawagoe did not meet your expectations. After carefully reviewing your comments together with our guide, we identified that the itinerary published on Viator was not sufficiently clear. During the tour, one of the planned temple visits was replaced with additional time at another location, and we understand that this may have led to disappointment. We sincerely apologize for this confusion. The tour description has already been updated to better reflect the actual experience. We also understand your comments regarding communication during the tour. We will remind our guides to explain any itinerary adjustments more clearly so that guests always understand the reasons behind them. Thank you again for taking the time to share your experience. We sincerely appreciate your feedback and will use it to continue improving the quality of our tours. Kind regards, Daria
<p>I spent a wonderful afternoon in Kawagoe learning about the Edo period in Tokyo with my most gracious and generous guides Manami and Takeshi! They made sure I enjoyed all the specialties of the area from the shrines and temples to sweet potato-bean paste dumplings, local candies, craft beer and sake-tasting. the Tour is at a relaxed pace and is customized to suit your preferences. Martha K</p>
