Travelling in Japan can be quite time-consuming, not to mention costly. If you don’t have the time or the monetary funds to hop from Tokyo to Kyoto, then you’d appreciate Kawagoe.
Kawagoe is only 30 minutes by train from central Tokyo and has been given the nickname, “Little Edo.” You’ll understand this nickname upon seeing the streets of Kawagoe. It is lined with many Kurazukiri, warehouse-style, clay houses that were the popular type of architecture during the Edo Period, thus, Kawagoe’s nickname.
In the past, Kawagoe was also a capital of trade, supplying many goods to Tokyo. Shogun in Tokyo named their loyal men as the lords of Kawagoe castle. And because of the close ties between Kawagoe and Tokyo (which was named “Edo” back then), the area of Kawagoe inherited a lot of the style and architecture from the capital.
So if you like the Kyoto feel and historical vibe of Japan, take a stroll around Little Edo. The area is picturesque and truly breathtaking for fans of history.