While technically in Saitama rather than Tokyo proper, the small city of Kawagoe (川越) makes for the perfect day trip from the megalopolis at just a 30-minute ride from Ikebukuro Station. During a recent weekend, I took a Sunday off to check it out.
![Gabled Buildings](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/9104964201_0d145f1a12_b.jpg)
The area, known as Little Edo (小江戸) for its traditional wooden houses, provides a glimpse into a Japan which is more familiar to a samurai film than the modern-day urban sprawl we’re used to.
![Toki No Kane (Bell of Time)](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/9104966679_bf13ff724b_b.jpg)
One of its famous landmarks and symbol of the city is the Toki No Kane (時の鐘 – Bell of Time) which rings four times a day as it has done for 350 years.
![Tiled Roofs](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/9104964813_37e078bb43_b.jpg)
Some of the oldest buildings on the streets around Ichiban Gai date back to 1792.
![Knife Shop](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/9107194962_0f2c0ac6d9_b.jpg)
There are many traditional food and craft shops in the area, including this knife shop the proprietor was demonstrating just how thinly he could slice a radish!
![Neko Chan](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/9107196322_4898c0eefa_b.jpg)
A rather poorly looking Neko-chan.
![Purifying Water](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/9104965453_bbf9c1aed5_b.jpg)
There are also many temples and shrines dotted around the area.
![Kita-in Temple](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/9104967851_7849c3df54_b.jpg)
The biggest and most famous of which is Kita-in (喜多院) which was part of the original Edo Castle and contains 540 statues of Buddha’s disciples, each unique.
![Mizu Dragon](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/9104968413_c4f943dcd8_b.jpg)
The temple has a fancy water purification dragon.
![Eaves](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/9104969059_239ed65fa0_b.jpg)
![Magic Noodles](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/9104963639_0a81761487_b.jpg)
If you’re feeling peckish after all that walking there’s a shopping strip running between Kawagoe and Hon-Kawagoe stations, called Crea Mall, that has plenty on offer. More directions here.
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