Kawagoe - Guide
Townscape of Kawagoe [川越の商家町]
Kawagoe, Saitama Pref.MAP
At the center of Kawaguchi City remain many traditional-style store buildings, thus its core area being designated as a historic district by the state. Most of them were built after a devastating fire in 1893 but in a style close to that of the feudal times, so the city is called the Little Edo (Edo is the former name of present Tokyo). In a country where most of urban old townscapes were destroyed by WWII, this is a precious place where you can imagine what merchant areas were like around Edo. Some buildings are open to the public as small museums
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.Near Seibu Line Honkawagoe Sta.
Kosaiji Temple [広済寺]
Kawagoe, Saitama Pref.MAP
Kosaiji is a Soto Zen temple around the historic district.
Near Seibu Line Honkawagoe Sta.
Yoju-in Temple [養寿院]
Kawagoe, Saitama Pref.MAP
Yojuin is a Soto Zen temple around the historic district.
Near Seibu Line Honkawagoe Sta.
Hongyo-in Temple [成田山川越別院（本行院）]
Kawagoe, Saitama Pref.MAP
Hongyoin is a Shingon Buddhist temple near the historic district.
Near Seibu Line Honkawagoe Sta.
Kita-in Temple [川越大師（喜多院）] link
Kawagoe, Saitama Pref.MAP
[Backyard garden etc] 8:50-16:30 (-16:00 Nov 24-Feb 28); 400yen; closed Feb 2-3, Apr 2-5, some days around late April to early May, Aug 16, & Dec 25-Jan 8
Kitain is a medium-sized Tendai Buddhist temple.
Near Seibu Line Honkawagoe Sta.
Semba Toshogu Shrine [仙波東照宮]
Kawagoe, Saitama Pref.MAP
Semba Toshogu is a Shinto shrine next to Kita-in.
Near Seibu Line Honkawagoe Sta.
Naka-in Temple [中院]
Kawagoe, Saitama Pref.MAP
Nakain is a well-maintained Tendai Buddhist temple near Kita-in.
Near Seibu Line Honkawagoe Sta.
Kawagoe Hikawa Jinja Shrine [川越氷川神社]
Kawagoe, Saitama Pref.MAP
Kawagoe Hikawa Jinja is the top Shinto shrine in Kawagoe.
Others
Gyodenji Temple 行伝寺
Kawagoe, Saitama Pref.MAP
Gyodenji is a Nichiren Buddhist temple with well-maintained precincts.
Near Seibu Line Honkawagoe Sta.
Kawagoe-jo Honmaru Goten 川越城本丸御殿
Kawagoe, Saitama Pref.MAP
9:00-17:00; 100yen; closed Mon, 4th Fri of month (open if holiday), Dec 28-Jan 4
This building, constructed in 1848, was part of the office building inside Kawagoe Castle. The castle itself is almost completely lost.
Near Seibu Line Honkawagoe Sta.
Koedo Kurari 小江戸蔵里
Kawagoe, Saitama Pref.MAP
Koedo Kurari is a visitor center using a now-defunct sake brewery facility.
Near Seibu Line Honkawagoe Sta.
Map
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