A Window to the Past

It greatly thrived in 1612 when Sōjō Tenkai trusted by Ieyasu Tokugawa became the chief priest. Due to Kawagoe’s great fire in 1638, most of the Kita-in Temple burnt down, but from the Edo period, the third generation Shogun Iemitsu removed and reconstructed “Iemitsu Tanjō no Ma” and “Kasuga no Tsubone Keshō no Ma” from the Edo Castle. In addition, the entire area was designated as an important cultural property. One of Japan’s three major arhat, “Gohyakurakan”, can be seen.

The Kawagoe Castle was built in the first year of Chōroku (1457) under the command of the vassals, Ōta Dōshin and Dōkan (father and child) for Ōgigaya Uesugi Mochitomo to compete against Koga Ashikaga Shigeuji. In the Edo period, it was of utmost importance to protect the north side of Edo, which is why the top vassal traditionally become the lord of the castle. The current building is constructed in the first year of Kaei, in 1848. After two and a half years of restoration, it is now open to the public.

The history of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine goes a long way and is said to have started due to the separation of worship of the Ōmiya Hikawa Shrine, a part of MusashiIchinomiya, under the reign of Emperor Kinmei in the 6th century when the culture of the burial mound was passed on. Thereafter, ever since Ōta Dōkan built a castle, it is revered as a Sōja of this place, and is familiarized as “Ohikawa Sama”.

Kurazukuri Zone is the most popular place to visit in Kawagoe. Kurazukuri is a unique style of architecture that has been rebuilt after fires decimated the town in 1893. These traditional storehouse buildings remain preserved and are still in use today by many shops. The bell tower known as the Toki-no-kane stands over the street at the center of Kurazukuri Zone. The bell’s chimes can be heard ringing throughout the area four times a day adding to the atmosphere while visitors shop and sample the local cuisine.

Koedo Kurari is an improved facility of what used to be the building Kyūkagamiyama brewery established in 1875, with the atmosphere of the original brewery remaining to this day. The brewery, built through the Meiji, Taisho, and Shōwa period, has been remodeled and designated as one of Japan's registered tangible cultural properties along with the three warehouses: souvenir shop (Meijigura), Restaurant (Taishōgura), Japanese sake shop (Shōwagura), and meeting space (Tenjigura).