Townapedia
Kurazukuri Street in Little Edo
Kurazukuri Street in Little Edo · Dandy1022, CC BY-SA 4.0
Kawagoe Station from above east exit Nov 15 2020 03-11PM
Kawagoe Station from above east exit Nov 15 2020 03-11PM · Nesnad, CC BY 4.0
Atre Kawagoe at night
Atre Kawagoe at night · Tyuvc, CC BY-SA 3.0
Kawagoe Station east entrance 20160320
Kawagoe Station east entrance 20160320 · DAJF, CC BY-SA 4.0
Kawagoe stn east exit - Jan 19 2018
Kawagoe stn east exit - Jan 19 2018 · nesnad, CC BY 3.0
Kawagoe station east exit
Kawagoe station east exit · Tyuvc This photo was taken with Nexus 5, CC BY-SA 3.0

Kawagoe, Japan

川越市

Kawagoe is a town of 354,571 people in Saitama, Japan, founded in April 1, 1889.

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Population354,571 GeoNames
Local name川越市
RegionSaitama
Elevation26 m 85 ft
FoundedApril 1, 1889
Time zoneAsia/Tokyo
Land area109.1 km²
Nearest airportYokota Air Base (OKO) 22 km

Why visit Kawagoe

Townapedia lists 73 museums and landmarks, 32 parks and trails, 284 places to eat, 8 places to stay and 9 attractions in and around town.

Highlights include Bunri University of Hospitality, Kagawa Nutrition University, Kawagoe Festival Museum and Mizuko Shell Mound.

About Kawagoe

Kawagoe (川越市, Kawagoe-shi) is a city in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 February 2021, the city had an estimated population of 353,214 in 162,210 households and a population density of 3200 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 109.13 square kilometres (42.14 sq mi). The city is known locally as "Little Edo" (小江戸, Koedo) after the old name for Tokyo, due to its many historic buildings.

From the Wikipedia article Kawagoe, Saitama (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Travel tips from other travellers: Kawagoe on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Things to do9

Bunri University of Hospitality

School · 6.3 km

Higher education institution in Saitama Prefecture, Japan

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Kagawa Nutrition University

School · 8.3 km

Private university in Japan with campuses in Saitama Prefecture and Tokyo

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Musashino Gakuin University

School · 10.0 km

Higher education institution in Saitama Prefecture, Japan

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Seigakuin University

School · 10.5 km

Higher education institution in Saitama Prefecture, Japan

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Shobi University

School · 2.3 km

University in Kawagoe, Japan

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Toho College of Music

School · 3.7 km

Private university in Tokyo, Japan

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Tokyo International University

School · 4.7 km

Private university in Tokyo, Japan

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Sukaraza Theater

Cinema and theater · 1.7 km

Open in Google Maps

ウエスタ川越

Cinema and theater · 0.7 km

Open in Google Maps

Museums and landmarks73

Mizuko Shell Mound

Monument and historic site · 9.8 km

Shell midden, settlement in Saitama, Japan

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Tōyama Memorial Museum

Museum · 8.8 km

Museum in Kawajima, Saitama, Japan

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

川越市蔵造り資料館

Museum · 1.7 km

closed

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

旧山崎家別邸

Monument and historic site · 1.5 km

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Tantoku Garden

Monument and historic site · 1.1 km

2, 川越市

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カワモク本部事務所棟(旧六軒町郵便局)

Monument and historic site · 1.2 km

1, 川越市

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500 Statues of Rakan

Monument and historic site · 1.1 km

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

61 more on the map.

Parks, trails and playgrounds32

Kawagoe Sports Park Athletics Stadium

Park · 4.6 km

Park in Japan

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Aoi-teien

Park · 1.0 km

Open in Google Maps

Semba Kashi Historic Park

Park · 0.8 km

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クレアパーク

Park

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ときのかねひろば

Park · 1.7 km

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三光町団地児童遊園

Park · 1.4 km

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三角広場

Park

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上野田公園

Park · 1.3 km

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丹徳庭園枯山水庭園

Park · 1.1 km

Open in Google Maps

公園

Park · 1.0 km

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初雁公園

Playground · 1.8 km

Open in Google Maps

20 more on the map.

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Restaurants and cafes284

Tully's Coffee

Cafe · Coffee Shop

8一1

Mo-Su 08:00-20:00

Open in Google Maps · 049-291-6211

Rays GyM 川越店

Cafe · プロテイン

KonomiGobankan101, 川越市

10:00-23:00

Open in Google Maps · 0492929111

丸源ラーメン 川越岸町店

Restaurant · Ramen · 1.2 km

3, 川越市

Mo-Su 10:30-24:00

Open in Google Maps · +81-49-256-9327

二代目笑堂

Restaurant · Japanese, Chinese · 1.2 km

World famous ramen group Owner is an entertainer and it is super interesting There is a DJ booth

8, 川越市

11:30-22:00

Open in Google Maps

武蔵野うどん竹國 川越上野田店

Restaurant · Noodle, Japanese · 1.6 km

18, 川越市

11:00-15:00,17:00-21:00

Open in Google Maps · +81 49 293 9588

LUCKRUSH

Bar and pub · Japanese

12一3

Mo-We 18:00-03:00; Th 18:00-01:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-15:00, 18:00-02:00

Open in Google Maps · 080-6523-3923

Ogakiku

Restaurant · Japanese · 1.4 km

Mo-Fr 11:00-14:00, 16:30-19:30; Sa-Su 10:40-18:00

Open in Google Maps · +8149-222-0034

Starbucks

Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.7 km

Mo-Su 08:00-20:00

Open in Google Maps · +81 49-228-5600

Rosenburg

Cafe · Sandwich · 1.6 km

Mo-Su 10:00-18:00

Open in Google Maps

Starbucks

Cafe · Coffee Shop

Mo-Su,PH 06:45-22:00

Open in Google Maps · +81 49-298-6715

川越ベーカリー 樂樂

Bakery · 1.8 km

Mo-Su 07:30-17:00

Open in Google Maps · 049-257-7200

Kamakura Pasta

Restaurant · Chinese, Italian · 1.0 km

17, 川越市

Mo-Su 11:00-20:00

Open in Google Maps

272 more on the map.

History

Kawagoe is part of ancient Musashi Province. In the medieval period, the Kawagoe area was associated with the Uesugi and Hōjō clans. Kawagoe Castle was built in 1457 by Ōta Dōshin and Ōta Dōkan on behalf of Uesugi Mochitomo, and the castle and surrounding area later came under Hōjō control. In the 1450s, Kawagoe was held by the Yamanouchi branch of the Uesugi Clan. Decades later, Hōjō Ujitsuna seized Kawagoe Castle in 1537, and the city served as an important base of operations when the Later Hōjō clan sought to gain control of the Kantō. For roughly two decades after that, the Uesugi launched a number of attempts to regain the region. This culminated in the 1545 Battle of Kawagoe, as the heavily outnumbered Hōjō garrison of Kawagoe defeated an attempted siege of Kawagoe Castle. This victory would lead to the end of Uesugi power in the region, and the near-total destruction of the clan. The Hōjō having secured themselves in the region, Kawagoe served for another forty-five years as a satellite castle town defending Edo, and the clan's central castle at Odawara. Kawagoe's location on the Arakawa River and near the Edo River were important elements of its tactical significance in defending the Kantō region from potential attacks from the north.

From the History section of Kawagoe, Saitama on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to stay8

Churches and places of worship62

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Shopping56

Gas and EV charging5

Schools, colleges and libraries21

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Healthcare28

Map of Kawagoe

250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Getting there and nearby towns

Yokota Air Base (OKO) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 22 km away.

  • Tokorozawa 12 km south, about 12 min by car
  • Nishi-Tokyo-shi 21 km south, about 21 min by car
  • Kokubunji 23 km south, about 23 min by car
  • Kawaguchi 23 km southeast, about 23 min by car
  • Musashino 23 km south, about 23 min by car
  • Kazo 25 km northeast, about 25 min by car
  • Ōme 26 km southwest, about 26 min by car
  • Kumagaya 27 km north, about 27 min by car
  • Koshigaya 27 km east, about 27 min by car
  • Tokyo 31 km southeast, about 31 min by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

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Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built November 4, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.