After spending a few days in Tokyo, the big city can be a little tiring. Escape the city into little Edo, Kawagoe Warehouse District. After a big fire which burnt down more than half of Kawagoe, the locals built the new buildings in the storehouse-style to withstand fire.
About Kawagoe Warehouse District
The Kawagoe Warehouse District is also called Kurazukuri no Machinami (蔵造りの町並み). In this district, every shop fits in the atmosphere of the old Tokyo, even Starbucks which is housed in the similar fire-resistant buildings. The city bus which also passes by the street also looks retro.
The best spot to take photograph or meet up with fellow friends is the bell tower, a landmark at the Warehouse District called the ‘toki no kane’.
Spot Information
- Spot name: Kawagoe Warehouse District
- Street address: Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture 350-1100, Japan
- Access: Walk from the Kawagoe Shi Station for around 18 minutes to reach the Kawagoe Warehouse District. Alternatively, take the bus number 2 from Kawagoe Station, and you’ll reach the warehouse district in 8 minutes.
Penny Candy Alley
Located a short walk away from the Warehouse District is the Kashiya Yokochō (菓子屋横丁). Make sure you come here with an empty stomach so you could try out the various local sweets. From the healthy baked sweet potato ice cream to the delicately crafted traditional Japanese sweets, you can find many type of snacks on this street which has 22 traditional candy shops.
Tamariki Seika （玉力製菓）
One of the candy shops is Tamariki Seika (玉力製菓) where you can buy colourful patterned hard candies as souvenirs. The hard candies from Tamariki Seika might remind you of Sticky, an Australian rock candy brand which has branches in Kuala Lumpur, but the patterns and candy flavours sold at Tamariki Seika are unique to their shop. There are unique-shaped candies, the classic marble-shaped candies, patterned candies, candies made as gifts and also candies on a stick. The shop is closed on Mondays.
Shop Information
- Name: Tamariki Seika （玉力製菓）
- Address: 2 Chome-7-7 Motomachi, Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture 350-0062, Japan
Iwata
On a hot day, a visit to Iwata is a must! Have a stylish fruity popsicle (390 yen) from Iwata(いわた), a popsicle and candied sweet potato shop. Try out fancy flavours like watermelon and winter melon, berries and peach or mango and pineapple. They also have a tester set of candied sweet potato at 550 yen, which is heavenly warming to enjoy on a cold day.The shop is closed on Wednesdays.
Shop Information
- Name: Iwata （いわた）
- Address: 1 Chome-8-17, Shintomicho, Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture 350-0043, Japan
Yoshioka YA
For those who want to spend some small cash for a little bit of each, the Yoshioka YA(吉岡製菓/よしおかYA) is the shop you want to drop by. There are small packets of sweets from 40 yen to the regular-sized packet of sweets. The shop is closed on Mondays.
Shop Information
- Name: Yoshioka YA(吉岡製菓/よしおかYA)
- Address: 2 Chome-11-4 Motomachi, Kawagoe-shi, Saitama-ken 350-0062, Japan
Taisho Roman Dream Street
Another street which is nearby would take you back to the Taisho era. There are 20 old western buildings modeled after Taisho era buildings which were built in the 1920s here. The area used to be an arcade-style shopping area.
Kawagoe Discount Pass
You can buy the Kawagoe Discount Pass at the Tobu Tourist Information Center Ikebukuro, Tobu Tojo Line counter in Ikebukuro Station, or at the Tobu Top Tours Ikebukuro Station branch.
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