Kawagoe (川越), nicknamed “Little Edo” (Koedo), is a historic city in Saitama Prefecture that is easily accessible from Tokyo (about an hour’s journey). Kawagoe is famous for its well-preserved Edo-period atmosphere, classic streets, and unique traditional architecture.
Kawagoe Day Trip Itinerary from Tokyo
Time: 09:00 – 19:00
Start/End: Hotel in Tokyo
09:00 – Hotel Pick-up (Tokyo)
Your private driver will meet you in the hotel lobby with a comfortable vehicle (Alphard / HiAce). The journey to Kawagoe takes about 1 hour.
10:30 – Arrival in Kawagoe & Visit to Kita-in Temple
Begin your day at Kita-in Temple, a historic Buddhist temple known for its 500 Rakan statues (disciples of Buddha) and buildings preserved from Edo Castle. A peaceful and serene spot to start your morning.
11:30 – Strolling along Kurazukuri Street (Kawagoe’s Old Town)
Walk through Kurazukuri no Machinami, a charming street lined with traditional Edo-style merchant houses. With stone and wooden facades, craft shops, and traditional Japanese cafés, it feels like stepping back in time.
Must-see spot: Toki no Kane (Bell of Time), the iconic clock tower of Kawagoe.
12:00 – Snacks & Souvenir Shopping at Penny Candy Alley (Kashiya Yokocho)
A nostalgic narrow street filled with shops selling traditional Japanese sweets, mochi, and retro snacks. Perfect for light bites and picking up small souvenirs.
13:00 – Lunch at a Local Restaurant
Enjoy a local lunch featuring specialties like grilled eel (unagi kabayaki), handmade soba, or seasonal dishes in a traditional-style restaurant.
14:30 – Visit to Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine
A shrine popular for love and matchmaking prayers. A favorite among young couples in Japan. Don’t forget to write your wish on a wooden ema plaque or try the fish-shaped omikuji (fortune slips) that you “fish” out of a small pond!
15:00 – Free Time & Shopping on Kawagoe Bell Street
Enjoy free time to explore charming shops selling pottery, yukata, Japanese tea, and retro-style souvenirs.
17:30 – Return Journey to Tokyo
Relax during the comfortable one-hour drive back to Tokyo.
19:00 – Arrival at Tokyo Hotel
Arrive back at your hotel, bringing home memories of “Little Edo” — a town that beautifully preserves Japan’s historical charm in an authentic and captivating way.

About & Recommendations for Kawagoe
Main Attractions in Kawagoe
Kurazukuri Street (蔵造りの町並み) – Edo-Style Warehouse Street
The main street is lined with traditional kurazukuri-style merchant buildings (Edo-era fireproof storehouses).
You’ll find shops selling crafts, teas, sweets, and traditional clothing like yukata and kimono.
Highly Instagrammable — especially in the late afternoon when the street lamps light up.
Toki no Kane (時の鐘) – Historic Time Bell Tower
The iconic symbol of Kawagoe.
A 16-meter tall traditional wooden clock tower that still chimes every hour.
Standing since the early 17th century, it adds a nostalgic atmosphere of classical Japan.
Kashiya Yokocho (菓子屋横丁) – Penny Candy Alley
A narrow alley lined with shops selling retro Japanese sweets — a nostalgic culinary experience.
Try treats like imo karintou (sweet potato chips), grilled mochi, and seaweed-flavored candies.
Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine (川越氷川神社)
A shrine famous for love and relationship blessings.
Known for its Ema Tunnel — a walkway filled with wooden plaques bearing visitors’ wishes.
Try your luck with the unique fish-shaped omikuji fortunes, fished out of a small pool.
Kawagoe Sweet Potatoes (Satsumaimo)
Kawagoe is renowned for its sweet potatoes.
You’ll find many local treats made with them — sweet potato ice cream, dorayaki, candies, and even sweet potato beer!
Getting to Kawagoe from Tokyo
- Private Car: Around 60–90 minutes from central Tokyo (Shinjuku/Ginza area).
- By Train:
- From Ikebukuro: Tobu Tojo Line
- From Shinjuku: JR Saikyo Line via Kawagoe Line
Best Time to Visit
- Autumn (October–November): Fall foliage and local festivals.
- Spring (March–April): Cherry blossoms along canals and shrines.

Kawagoe Day Trip Cost from Tokyo
Alphard (2–5 passengers) – Without Guide/Tour Companion
¥80,000
HiAce (6–9 passengers) – Without Guide/Tour Companion
¥90,000
Included
- Private vehicle (Alphard / HiAce) according to itinerary and group size
- Licensed driver
- Driver’s fee, tolls, parking, fuel
Not Included
- Tour companion or Indonesian-speaking guide
- Lunch or dinner
- Personal expenses (shopping, Wi-Fi, kimono rental, winter activity tickets, etc.)
FAQ
International Flights
This Tour Doesn't cover International Flights.
You Should book these flight yourself. We recommended flights that arrive around / after noon, as you can only check in to your hotel starting 15:00. If your Flight arrive in the morning, we can arrange half day tour with an additional charge of JPY 50,000 per group
What Is A Tour Companion?
Tour Companion is someone who accompany you tour in Japan. They can be a friends, family members, or even professionals hired to assist during the travel.
Tour Companion will help you with various things such us preparing tickets, taking pictures, booking a restaurant, navigating unfamiliar places, translating from Japanese to your language, and even providing company and making your private tour more enjoyful and joyful.
However Tour Companion may have less detailed information about regions, culture, and history outside Tokyo, as they might not be local to that specific area. Hence the service more cheaper.
What Is A Local Guide Japan?
A local guide in Japan is an individual who is familiar with a specific region or city in Japan and offers their services to tourists or visitors. They have in-depth knowledge of the local culture, history, attractions, and can provide valuable insights and assistance to enhance your travel experience.
They can lead you on guided tours of popular tourist destinations, such as historical sites, temples, shrines, museums, and scenic spots. They provide detailed information, share interesting stories, and help you navigate through the attractions.
Local guides can introduce you to unique cultural experiences, such as tea ceremonies, traditional arts and crafts workshops, calligraphy lessons, kimono wearing, or participating in local festivals. They can help you understand the customs and traditions of Japan.
If you don't speak Japanese, a local guide can serve as a translator and help bridge the language barrier during your interactions with locals, restaurant visits, or shopping experiences. They can also help you read signs and navigate transportation systems.
How Can I Pay ?
We Welcome payments through bank transfers or widely accepted credit cards like VISA, Mastercards, JCB, and American Express, We Also Receive Payment from PayPal.
Payment
- Payment 1 : 25% of the price, at least 60 Days Before Departure
- Payment 2 : 25% of the price, at least 30 Days Before Departure
- Payment 3 : 50% of the price, at least on the first day tour ( JPY Cash )
Can I Join a trip with another group ?
No, we only serve private tour.
Because your comfort and privacy are important to us, we only offer private tours for your group. And we don't mix with different group.
Can I Book A Package Without A Hotel ?
Ofcourse You Can, Don't hesitate to get in touch with us for details.
Could You Help Us Arrange For An Apartment In Japan?
We can book high quality, repurtable apartment in Japan. However we can't reserve AirBNB accommodations for your safety and comfort during your journey.
Can I Customize This Tour Packages?
Ofcourse you can. We can adjust our current tour plans to match what do you wanna plan in Japan.
Which means we can add or remove some parts in itinerary to make it fit your interest better.
Changes could be things like:
- Adding more days to the tour
- Opting for public transport on certain days
- Changing the hotel ( Upgrade or Downgrade )
- Removing some destinations
- Adding a new destination
Tailor- Made Tours
"I have looked through your existing tours, but none align with what I wanna plan for Private tour in Japan."
We can make tailor a completely new one based on what you like.
But before we start creating this tailor made itinerary, we need two things :
- Your budget details, let us know how much budget you wanna spend in Japan. This is suitable way to make a tour plan that fits with your budget. But please remember we only create custom tours if your budget is at least the same as our tour packages.
- Non - Refundable Planning Fee ¥ 20,000. This Money will be deducted from your final invoice.
Please fill form private tour request first.
Form Private Tour Request
Do You Offer Airfare Sales?
WISATAJEPANG only offer tour arrangements in Japan. We don't handle airfare sales. However, we will provide recommendations on your plan tour in Japan. We suggest that you procure your air tickets from thrustworthy airline.
Do You Offer Travel Insurance?
WISATAJEPANG is specialist organize private tour in Japan that can arrange land tour during in Japan. We don't provide travel insurance. We recommend that all guest obtain comprehensive travel insurance from a reputable company.
As each individual or couple has unique requirements, we cannot make specific recommendations for insurance companies.
Term And Condition
CANCELATION FEE
1. More than 30 days before departure: 10% of the total price.
2. More than 20 days before departure: 50% of the total price.
3. Less than 10 days before departure: 100% of the total price.
ABOUT VISA
1. The Japanese Embassy has full authority to determine the approval or rejection of visa applications. WISATAJEPANG does not have the ability to influence this decision.
2. The Embassy of Japan may request additional documents for visa applications, and the submission of documents does not guarantee visa approval.
3. WISATAJEPANG cannot be held responsible if participants are denied entry or deported by Japanese Immigration, even if they possess a valid visa and appropriate documentation. The final decision regarding entry into Japan lies solely with Immigration authorities and cannot be contested.
4. In the event that a participant is deported from Japan or unable to enter despite holding a valid visa and having fully paid for the Japan tour packages provided by WISATAJEPANG, the payment made cannot be refunded.
5. Visa fees must still be paid, regardless of whether the visa application is approved or rejected by the respective embassy.
6. If an application is rejected after flight tickets and hotel vouchers have been issued prior to visa approval, cancellation fees for the flight tickets and hotel reservations will apply according to the policies of the airline and hotel.
7. If a participant has committed or is found guilty of an offense in Japan leading to deportation and the subsequent inability to continue the tour, WISATAJEPANG will cooperate with the authorities and no refund will be provided for the amount already paid.
Site Reviews
Wiwit, Dira, Shige, Thank you very much for your help and for the tour.
Wiwit, Dira, Shige,
Thank you very much for your help and for the tour. I truly enjoyed it, and Dira was very kind and accommodating to my requests. I hope we can work together again in the future. 🙏
Thank you so much for everything!
Thank you so much for everything!
Please forgive us if we were a bit fussy or couldn’t always be on time ☺️
InsyaAllah, we’ll recommend it to our family and friends 😄😄😄
InsyaAllah, we’ll recommend it to our family and friends 😄😄😄
Alhamdulillah, we really enjoyed how everything was arranged during our time in Japan.
Hopefully, we’ll have the chance to travel with you again soon—
haha!
We are very grateful for the excellent guidance 👍 Thank you to everyone who helped us. 🙏
Mrs. Junita Ujung
“We are very grateful for the excellent guidance 👍
Thank you to everyone who helped us. 🙏
It was very memorable, and Bang Fathan was very kind and helpful. It was so much fun 👍👍👍👍👍 His knowledge about Japan was amazing 👍 ”
Ms. Ananda Viona
“Thank you Mas Fathan and the entire WJ Team for accompanying and assisting us during our trip in Japan 🙏🏻 It was truly an incredible experience. Wishing all the best for all of us. See you in another opportunity and happy new year everyone 🙏🏻🥂🥳 ”
Mr. Juan Erick Simanjuntak
“A huge thank you to Mas Wiwit, Mas Hamit, Bang Evan, Mas Arderis, and Bang Fathan for the trip in Japan. Apologies if there were any mistakes in words or actions. See you again on another occasion. Wishing you success and good health always 🙏😇”
Wishing continued success for WisataJepang as well! 😊
Good evening,
My family and I are very pleased with our experience. There were several highly recommended places, all of which were wonderful.
The driver, Akira-san, and especially Mr. Kim, were exceptionally kind and thoughtful. Even though we couldn’t speak Japanese, they were very caring. To our surprise, Mr. Kim could speak Korean, which I can as well, so communication was seamless.
The driver provided many recommendations, even when the weather was unpredictable. We had so much fun throughout this trip. There was a particularly bad snowstorm on our way to Noboribetsu, but it turned into an unforgettable memory.
Thank you for the excellent preparation and for responding quickly to questions, such as regarding luggage arrangements.
In the future, if we explore another area of Japan, we will definitely come back.
Thank you! 😊
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