Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine
sightseeing
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Fee: None
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Shingashi river, which flows behind Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, is lined with 500 meters of cherry blossom trees that transform the area into popular "sakura"-spot in spring! The "Little Edo Kawagoe Spring Sailing" is an event arranged at the end of April. Sail down the river in a small Japanese-style boat as you enjoy the tunnel of fully blooming sakura above you and the river filled with pink flower petals floating beneath you. This is a must-experience for any fan of the Japanese cherry blossom.
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 two genuine Dashis (festival cars) that has been pulled at the Kawagoe Festival is on display along with materials related to the Kawagoe Festival. The powerful atmosphere of the Kawagoe Festival can be physically felt all year round. In addition, there is a demonstration of musical accompaniment (about 20 minutes) on a regular basis at the exhibition hall.
Toki no Kane is said to have been first built in the Castletown Tagachō during the Kan’ei era (1624-1644) by the lord of Kawagoe Castle, Sakai Tadakatsu. The current bell tower was rebuilt the year following Kawagoe’s great fire in 1893, and is a three-story tower with a height of about 16 meters. It is a symbol of Kawagoe and denotes that “time” is indispensable for daily life. As of today, the bell rings four times a day (6 am, noon, 3 pm, and 6 pm).
The Kawagoe Kurazukuri Museum was built by Koyama Bunzō, a tobacco wholesaler, right after the great fire in 1893 with reference to the few houses of Kurazukuri and Tokyo’s Nihonbashi Merchant that were not exposed to the fire. The design, structure, and the inside of the Kurazukuri House of Kawagoe can be toured, and a breath of Meiji’s atmosphere can be felt to this day.