Saitama投稿日：2025/09/29
Eat your way around the castle town of Kawagoe! Special feature on sweet potato sweets and gourmet food
Introduction
Located about 30 minutes by train from Tokyo, Kawagoe City in Saitama Prefecture is a beautiful town that retains a strong Edo-period atmosphere. Known as "Little Edo" (Koedo) for its old warehouse-style streets, it's a popular tourist destination. If you visit Kawagoe, be sure to enjoy some gourmet food while walking around town. In particular, there's a surprising variety of sweets and dishes made with Kawagoe's specialty, sweet potatoes. In this article, we'll introduce you to Kawagoe's charming streets and a variety of sweet potato delicacies. Enjoy a trip to Kawagoe, where traditional Japanese scenery and delicious new and old delicacies coexist.
The historic streets of Kawagoe, "Little Edo"
Kawagoe flourished as a castle town during the Edo period and developed as a merchant town. The storehouse-style buildings that remain today were built for fire prevention purposes, and their dignified appearance makes you feel as if you have traveled back in time to the Edo period.
Warehouse-style townscape
The symbol of Kawagoe is its rows of warehouse-style buildings, characterized by their black walls and thick doors. Among the rows of shops, there are many things to see, such as stylish cafes renovated from old houses and shops selling traditional crafts. Take a leisurely stroll and get a feel for Japanese history.
Tokinokane (Bell of Time)
The "Toki no Kane" (Bell of Time), located in the townscape of storehouses, is a symbol of Kawagoe that has been telling the time since the Edo period. Its beautiful sound still rings out four times a day, informing the people of the town. Its sound has even been selected as one of Japan's "100 Soundscapes to Preserve."
The appeal of Kawagoe's specialty, sweet potatoes
Kawagoe has long been known as the "town of sweet potatoes" due to its thriving sweet potato cultivation. Sweet potatoes provided food for the common people during the food shortages of the Edo period, and are still deeply loved by the people of Kawagoe today.
Why sweet potatoes in Kawagoe?
Kawagoe is blessed with well-drained Kanto Loam soil, making it ideal for growing sweet potatoes. In addition, because it prospered as the kitchen of Edo, transportation to transport sweet potatoes to Edo was convenient, and sweet potatoes became widely known as a local specialty.
Perfect for eating on the go! Sweet potato sweets and gourmet food
Kawagoe is lined with shops selling a variety of sweets and gourmet foods made with sweet potatoes.
Potato crackers
These rice crackers are made from thinly sliced and deep-fried sweet potatoes. They have a simple sweetness and a crunchy texture, and once you start eating them, you won't be able to stop.
Sweet potato soft serve ice cream
This soft serve ice cream has a rich sweet potato flavor. The sweetness of the fluffy sweet potato and the cool ice cream are an exquisite match. The purple soft serve ice cream made with purple sweet potatoes is also popular.
Potato chips
A popular restaurant serves thinly sliced, deep-fried sweet potato chips on a long skewer. You can enjoy a variety of flavors, including salt and honey. The crispy texture and gentle sweetness of the sweet potato are appealing.
Imokoi (Potato Love)
This is a Japanese confectionery that represents Kawagoe. The chewy dough is filled with candied sweet potato and bean paste. It is best eaten warm.
Sweet potato rice
This is rice cooked by mixing glutinous rice with sweet potato. You can enjoy the soft texture and gentle sweetness of the sweet potato. Some stores also sell it as onigiri.
Recommended Kawagoe Food Walking Plan
A day touring Kawagoe
Morning: After arriving at Kawagoe Station, take a bus or walk to the kurazukuri townscape. First, take a photo in front of the Toki no Kane Bell.
Lunch: Dine at a quaint old-fashioned restaurant or a long-established eel restaurant.
Afternoon: Let's start our food tour! Stroll around town with some sweet potato soft serve ice cream or potato chips in hand. At Kashiya Yokocho, you can buy nostalgic snacks and large fugashi (wheat gluten) confectioneries.
Evening: When you're tired, take a break at a stylish cafe and enjoy sweet potato cake and a latte. You might also want to buy some sweet potato snacks or sweet potato shochu as souvenirs.
Little Edo Coffee
*This is only a plan recommended by the editorial department. Please check the actual traffic conditions yourself.
access
We will explain the easiest way to get from Shinjuku to Kawagoe in about 5 lines.
Kawagoe (Little Edo) is conveniently located less than an hour by train from Shinjuku.
The easiest way is to take the direct train to Kawagoe on the JR Saikyo Line . You can get to JR Kawagoe Station from Shinjuku Station without changing trains (about 50-60 minutes).
Alternatively, if you want to get there as quickly as possible, take the "Koedo" limited express train from Seibu Shinjuku Station, which will take you to Seibu Hon-Kawagoe Station, which is close to the tourist center, in about 45 minutes (a separate limited express fare is required).
From either station, the Kurazukuri street is just a short walk or bus ride away.
Location of Saitama Prefecture
summary
Kawagoe is a fascinating city filled with Japanese history, culture, and delicious cuisine. It's easy to visit on a day trip from Tokyo. Experience traditional Japanese scenery as you stroll through the kurazukuri (warehouse-lined) streets, and sample the unique and delicious sweets and dishes made with sweet potatoes. It's sure to enrich and transform your image of Japan into something even more enjoyable. Sweet potatoes are a healthy and nutritious ingredient. As a taste of autumn in Japan, be sure to try a variety of sweet potato delicacies and discover their charm.
We also introduce "10 things to do in Saitama (Kawagoe)", so please check it out ▼▼