All Reviews of Koedo Kawagoe Ichibangai Shopping Street

If you’re in Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture, be sure to make time to visit Koedo Kawagoe Ichibangai Shopping Street! The area retains a strong Edo-period atmosphere, with many traditional warehouse-style buildings lining both sides of the street. The black-tiled roofs and dark wooden exteriors make it feel like you’ve instantly traveled back to ancient Japan, and walking along the street is truly nostalgic.

The shopping street has all kinds of distinctive stores offering everything from traditional Japanese sweets and souvenirs to specialty snacks. It’s perfect for strolling around and stopping whenever a shop catches your eye. Besides all the great shopping and food, the entire street is also very photogenic. Every casual snapshot has a distinctly retro Japanese feel.

After walking just a short distance from the station, an entire row of historic old buildings came into view, immediately catching my eye. This area was once a bustling center of commerce. To protect valuable goods from fire, buildings were constructed using distinctive fire-resistant techniques. With black roof tiles, white walls, and imposing kura-style storehouses, walking through the streets feels like stepping straight into a period drama.

While strolling along Kawagoe Ichibangai Shopping Street, there’s plenty of food to explore in addition to the Edo-period atmosphere. There’s the extremely popular Kawagoe Pudding, with its smooth, rich texture, and the charcoal-grilled eel rice at the famous Ogakiku, where people line up. In the cold winter wind, a skewer of piping-hot grilled dango with just the right balance of sweet and savory is especially warming and satisfying. This old street is full of stories, delicious food, fun things to do, and great photo spots. Every corner makes you want to slow down and take it all in.

Koedo Kawagoe Ichibangai Shopping Street preserves a complete Edo-period streetscape, with nostalgic kura-style buildings full of old-fashioned charm.

Along the way, there are lots of unique snacks, wagashi, souvenirs, and creative shops. Strolling around while tasting local foods is a great way to really feel Kawagoe’s historical and cultural appeal.

Koedo Kawagoe has such an old-school streetscape. Walking around is really exciting!
There are tons of shops lined up on both sides of the main road people use every day (it’s also a bus route).
Traffic is pretty heavy, so be careful not to step too far out into the street!

You can still see buildings and streets from the Edo to Showa periods here.