On Kawagoe Ichiban Machi Street, the original Hara Family Residence (原家住宅) nowadays houses a pottery and china gallery. In contrast to the stately and solemn exterior, the interior of Fine China Store Yamawa (陶舗やまわ) is bright and stylish. Not to mention the intricate ceramics on exhibit, which you can bring home!
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People with a bit of knowledge of Aomori Prefecture will most likely have heard about the famous Hirosaki City. What they might not know or hear of is its sister-like city, Kuroishi (黒石市), which prospered with Hirosaki City as Hirosaki Castle’s castle town.
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When you visit an area with a traditional Japanese setting, wouldn’t you want to sit down and taste some tea-flavored desserts and a cup of nicely brewed tea? If your answer is yes, Wahōan (狭山茶カフェ 和芳庵) is the spot you want to visit. The cafe is operated by a local tea farming company, Nagamine-en (長峰園),
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Kawagoe Pudding (川越プリン) is the first pudding specialist from Kawagoe. Its logo, Toki no Kane Clock on a plate, makes it really clear where the pudding was made. After iterating through many cycles of trial and error with premium-grade ingredients, such as the highest quality Madagascar vanilla beans, the shop finally landed upon a recipe
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A must-try traditional Japanese confectionery shop in Kawagoe is Kameya (亀屋). It was established in 1783 and was chosen as a dedicated sweets maker for the lord of the Kawagoe Domain. As you can imagine, the highly regarded confectionery maker had earned a fortune. So in 1894, the fifth owner of the shop spent a
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Obuse, a small town in Nagano prefecture, famous for its chestnut produce and a large variety of chestnut sweets, is a must-go for all sweet tooths! And among all the sweets shops in Obuse, Obusedō (小布施堂) is probably the most famous sweets maker.
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If you like beer, the best spot in Kawagoe to enjoy the locally brewed COEDO Beer (COEDOビール) is Kawagoe Art Cafe Elevato (川越アートカフェ エレバート). But even if you don’t like alcohol, the cafe in the history-rich building is a great place for a break from exploring the traditional township. The desserts, such as the sweet
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While Kawagoe has many mouthwatering restaurants and cafes, most are not vegan-friendly. But don’t be too disappointed! Not far from the town’s landmark, Toki no Kane Clock, there is a long-established traditional Japanese cuisine restaurant called Kawagoe Kou Sushi (川越 幸すし) that offers a few vegan options. It can also accommodate both gluten-free and halal
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Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine (川越氷川神社) is arguably the most famous and popular shrine in Kawagoe. The old shrine, more than 1,500 years old, is where the locals pray for marriage ties. In addition to the normal things you would do at a Japanese shrine, such as writing wishes on the back of an ema plaque, there
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If you are an aviation buff, the 50-hectare Tokorozawa Aviation Memorial Park (所沢航空記念公園) in Tokorozawa City is a spot of your interest! The Tokorozawa Aviation Museum is where you can get close to an aircraft and better understand the aviation industry. In addition, the vast park built on the site of Japan’s first official airfield
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