Kawagoe, Saitama

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Kawagoe's shops, temples and tower retain a feeling of the Edo period

Kawagoe (川越市) is a city located in Saitama, Japan and is about a 30-minute train ride from Tokyo.

As of January 1 2006, the city has an estimated population of 332,846 (130,436 households) and a population density of approximately 3,049 persons per km². The total area is 109.16 km².

The city was founded on December 1 1922.

The city is known locally as "Little Edo", or Koedo (小江戸), after the old name for Tokyo, "Edo". Prominent sites in Kawagoe include the bell tower as seen in the picture to the right. The bell tower serves as the symbol for Koedo and rings three times a day. Other sites include the 500 statues of Rakan and Kitain Temple, the gathering-spot for New Year celebrations. As it approaches midnight on December 31, waits of nearly three hours are commonplace at the temple.

Kawagoe is famous for its sweet potatoes, and on the local "Candy Street" one can find such treats as sweet potato chips, sweet potato ice cream, sweet potato coffee, and even sweet potato beer, brewed at the local Koedo Brewery.

Transportation

Railways

Main station: Kawagoe Station

Tobu Tojo Line:
*Kasumigaseki Station, Kawagoeshi Station, Kawagoe Station, Shingashi Station

JR East Kawagoe Line:
*Kasahata Station, Matoba Station, Nishi-Kawagoe Station, Kawagoe Station, Minami-Furuya Station

Seibu Shinjuku Line:
*Hon-Kawagoe Station, Minami-Otsuka Station

Statues of Gohyaku Rakan at Kitain Temple

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

[Special]

[Kawagoe official website] in Japanese.
[Photo of 500 rakans] in Japanese.

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