Journeys in Japan

Nostalgic Kawagoe (4x38)

Air date: Nov 26, 2013

Kawagoe City in Saitama Prefecture, famous for the Kawagoe Festival with its dazzling floats, is only 30 minutes away by train from the center of Tokyo. Also known as Ko-Edo or Little Edo, it flourished with wealthy merchants who supported the prosperity of Edo (the old name of Tokyo). Each year, more than 6 million domestic and international tourists visit the old castle town that still has many historical buildings retaining the essence of the Edo period (17th to mid-19th centuries). The stunning Kawagoe Festival in October transports visitors back in time to another world. On this journey, our traveler, looking for a break from the hustle of his adopted-Tokyo, visits Kawagoe to enjoy the old Edo ambience. He visits the Shingashi River, which used to be the main water route between Kawagoe and Edo, and Kashiya Yokocho with the sweet, nostalgic aroma of candy. He also enjoys a performance by a theater troupe at a popular theater that has continued from the Edo period, and has the chance to see master craftsmen hand paint the family crests of Kawagoe merchants on paper lanterns at Kawagoe Chochin. He also lets his imagination wander back to the glorious days gone by at a high-end Japanese restaurant, which was once the private villa of a Kawagoe merchant. For the climax of the journey, he visits the Kawagoe Festival to enjoy the magnificent floats and masked figures dancing to pulsating music. This journey fully introduces the attractions of Ko-Edo Kawagoe, near Tokyo.