Koedo Kurari (小江戸蔵里 川越市産業観光館) can be your first and last stop when you visit Kawagoe‘s traditional area. This facility was renovated from old warehouses and is filled with Kawagoe’s souvenirs. If you love Japanese sake, sake tasting can also be done here at a reasonable price!
About Koedo Kurari
Koedo Kurari was originally the base of Kawagoe’s representative sake brewer, Kagamiyama Brewery (鏡山酒造). The spacious complex was transformed into a tourist facility and community center in 2010, where various events are held on weekends.
The souvenir shop is just a 3-minute walk from Seibu Railway’s Honkawagoe Station (本川越駅). When you first arrive at Kawagoe, take a brief look at the souvenirs sold here and note the price of the ones you are interested in. If you spot the same item at other shops close by, you can then decide where you want to purchase the item from!
Koedo Kurari’s Three Warehouses
The three splendid warehouses in the complex are named Meiji Warehouse (明治蔵), Taishō Warehouse (大正蔵), and Shōwa Warehouse (昭和蔵), according to the era when they were built. They are all designated as national tangible cultural properties, and each has its own theme.
- Shōwa Warehouse: Where you can taste and compare sake from various breweries in Saitama Prefecture. Soy sauce and miso tasting may also be available.
- The amazing thing is that vending machines are for sake tasting. It is one of those things that you can only experience in Japan!
- It is also where you can compare the six different flavored Kawagoe’s bear, COEDO Beer (COEDOビール).
- Meiji Warehouse (the last photo in the IG post): Souvenir shop with souvenirs and products from Kawagoe’s long-established stores and famous shops
- Taishō Warehouse: Offering delicious dishes using local specialties and processed products
On Koedo Kurari’s ground, you can also take a peek at one of the magnificent festival floats used in the Kawagoe Festival, held at the third weekend in October each year!
Koedo Kurari’s Opening Hours and Access Information
- The opening hours are from
- 10 am to 6 pm for the Meiji warehouse
- 11 am to 10 pm on weekends and public holidays for the Taishō warehouse
- On weekdays, the Taishō warehouse is open from 11 am to 3 pm and from 5 pm to 10 pm.
- 11 am to 7 pm for the Shōwa warehouse
- Koedo Kurari is open from
- It is around a 15-minute walk from Kawagoe Station and a 3-minute walk from Honkawagoe Station.
- If you take the CO-EDO Loop Bus (小江戸巡回バス), get off at Kappō Kawashima (割烹川島).
Exploring Taishō Roman Yume-dōri Street
On the way to Kawagoe’s traditional township, you might walk past Taishō Roman Yume-dōri Street. So how about stopping by the street before heading into the area filled with houses in the Edo period style? Your visit to Kawagoe will be a tour back in time in reverse chronological order!
If that sounds like a good idea, refer to our Guide to the Taishō Roman Yume-dōri Street!
Other Attractions in Kawagoe
Kawagoe’s historical area has many attractions, shops, cafes, and workshops that might interest you. You might also want to visit a couple of interesting shrines and temples and perform simple rituals that might boost your fortune!
So refer to our Guide to the Little Edo, Kawagoe, for more travel ideas!
