Explore Kawagoe: From Historic Streets to a Soy Sauce Theme Park!

Matsumoto Craft Soy Sauce is an old well-established soy sauce brewery founded in 1767 in Kawagoe. Remarkably, they still produce their soy sauce in a warehouse dating back to 1830, using the same cedar vats that were used back then!

The distinctive flavor of their soy sauce is a result of several factors: carefully selected, high-quality ingredients; a traditional fermentation process that allows the sauce to mature for one to two years, influenced by the natural rhythms of the seasons; and the expertise of their skilled craftspeople, honed over generations.

Experience Matsumoto Craft Soy Sauce’s dedication to quality firsthand through their factory tour. As you step into the 190-year-old building, you’re immediately transported back in time. Rows of massive wooden vats line the space, while the rich aroma of fermenting soy sauce permeates the air, offering a sensory journey through centuries of tradition.

They also have a shop where you can purchase not only their renowned soy sauce, but also a range of innovative products that showcase the versatility of this traditional condiment, including various soy sauce-based dressings.

Matsumoto Craft Soy Sauce
10-13, Naka-cho, Kawagoe-shi, Saitama

While soy sauce is one of the cornerstones of Japanese cuisine, equally important is “”dashi,” a kind of soup stock. Unlike Western bouillon, which often involves long simmering, dashi extracts the essence of ingredients through brief heating or soaking in water. The most common dashi is made from kombu (kelp) and katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes), though niboshi (dried sardines) and shiitake mushrooms are also popular choices.

For those looking to explore the world of dashi, look no further than Bushu Kawagoe Todoroki-ya, a dry goods store with a century-long history. This establishment offers an impressive range of dried foods, from top-grade products supplied to high-class restaurants to affordable options for home cooks. The quality of their ingredients is so consistently high that some local families have been patronizing them for three generations!

Bushu Kawagoe Todoroki-ya
7-2, Renjaku-cho, Kawagoe-shi, Saitama

Now that we’ve explored two of Kawagoe’s historic soy sauce breweries and a dry goods store filled with a treasure trove of dashi ingredients, let’s delve into a dish that perfectly showcases these flavors: ramen. This beloved Japanese staple is a must-try for visitors to Japan.

Right next door to Matsumoto Craft Soy Sauce, you’ll find UNDERGROUND RAMEN Kawagoe Nakacho, an offshoot of the popular Kawagoe-born ramen chain “”Ganja.”” This spot has earned a devoted following among ramen enthusiasts for its exceptional quality.

The star of the menu is their ramen featuring Kawagoe soy sauce. The broth is a masterful blend of rich seafood dashi and aromatic soy sauce, perfectly complemented by springy, al dente noodles. It’s a harmonious combination that truly captures the essence of Kawagoe’s culinary traditions!

The Kawagoe Soy Sauce Ramen Tour offers guided experiences through soy sauce breweries along with ramen tasting and more, letting you have your fill of exquisite ramen while gaining a deeper understanding of the culture and traditions rooted in the area!

UNDERGROUND RAMEN Kawagoe Nakacho
10-13, Naka-cho, Kawagoe-shi, Saitama

Recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, traditional Japanese cuisine, known as “washoku,” has gained global acclaim for its health benefits and perfect balance of flavors. At the heart of this culinary tradition lies soy sauce.

Kinbue Syoyu Park is a theme park run by Kinbue Syoyu Brewing, a well-established soy sauce brewery founded in 1789. It can be reached in just a roughly 20-minute local bus ride from JR Kawagoe Station. Here, visitors can enjoy a complete soy sauce experience through tasting, learning, shopping, and having fun.

The tour begins with an exploration of soy sauce history, followed by an interactive experience where visitors can see, smell, and learn about the key ingredients: soybeans, wheat, and koji mold. Through this hands-on experience, visitors get to learn about the soy sauce production process.

Next, you’ll be taken to the Syoyu Kura Restaurant to taste dishes that highlight the rich flavors of soy sauce, such as homemade udon noodles. This includes unique soy sauce-infused sweets, ranging from traditional Japanese confections like “dango” to unexpected treats such as soft-serve ice cream and baumkuchen. You’ll be amazed at how well soy sauce complements these desserts!

After your meal, visit the theme park’s outdoor plaza, where you’ll find large wooden vats once used for soy sauce fermentation. You can step inside and get a magical shot to remember the occasion with the historic brewery as your backdrop! There’s also a treehouse made from wooden barrels that children will love.

Conclude your visit at the theme park’s souvenir store. The shop offers a wide array of specialty products, including traditionally brewed soy sauce and sweets made with this versatile condiment.

While definitely worth visiting, be aware that it is actually outside of Kawagoe City. If you’re short on time, we recommend the restaurant in Kawagoe called “Unton Place Shunka-shuto,” where you can enjoy the deep flavors of Kinbue Syoyu soy sauce. The restaurant is located in the Warehouse District, which is the main tourist destination of Kawagoe. You can savor a variety of dishes while enjoying the charming streetscape, including their homemade noodles and pork belly simmered in Kinbue Syoyu soy sauce!

Kinbue Syoyu Park
654, Kami-Ikusa, Kawashima-cho, Hiki-gun, Saitama

One of Kawagoe’s most captivating features is its iconic streetscape, lined with imposing buildings characterized by black-plastered walls and large, ornate roof tiles. This architectural charm extends beyond traditional Japanese structures to include early 20th-century Western-style buildings, such as the Kawagoe Christ Church and Shimano Coffee Taishokan.

To truly embrace the historical essence of this district, why not elevate your experience by donning a kimono? Fortunately, Kawagoe offers numerous shops where you can rent kimono at affordable rates. Part of the fun is selecting your ideal outfit from a diverse array of styles, ranging from classic, retro designs to more contemporary, vibrant options.

Once you’ve donned your kimono, it’s time to hit the streets!

If you’re unsure where to begin, head to the Kawagoe City Industrial Tourism Center (Koedo Kurari), just a 3-minute walk from Hon-Kawagoe Station on the Seibu Shinjuku Line. Here, you can gather tourist information, purchase local specialties, and even sample various types of sake.

Popular attractions in Kawagoe include Ichibangai Street, lined with distinctive black-plastered warehouses; the Toki no Kane (Bell of Time), Kawagoe’s iconic symbol that has been marking time for about 400 years; Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, dedicated to the deity of marriage; and Kashiya Yokocho, a narrow street packed with around 30 traditional confectionery shops.

Don’t miss the chance to try sweets made from Kawagoe’s famous sweet potatoes as you explore! For a unique perspective of the town, consider taking a rickshaw tour – it’s an excellent way to sightsee while soaking in the historical atmosphere.

Kawagoe is also renowned for its rich craftsmanship, and one establishment that exemplifies this heritage is Rikendo, a long-established seal store. In Japan, personal seals or “”hanko”” are crucial for official documents and contracts, serving a similar function to signatures in Western countries. At Rikendo, you can acquire a truly unique seal handcrafted by artisans whose skills are officially recognized by the Japanese government. Rikendo also offers a selection of stamps featuring retro designs, perfect for adding a touch of Japanese culture to your stationery collection.

Kawagoe City Industrial Tourism Center (Koedo Kurari)
1-10-1, Shintomi-cho, Kawagoe-shi, Saitama

Hand Engraving Stamp Shop Rikendo
1-32, Naka-cho, Kawagoe-shi, Saitama

Easily accessible from Tokyo, Kawagoe offers a wealth of attractions set against a backdrop of traditional streetscapes. This charming town provides visitors with a deeper insight into Japanese culture and history, promising an experience that will undoubtedly create lasting memories.