6 Kawagoe Tours from Tokyo Worth the Yen

1.Kawagoe Japanese Food Tour : Unagi Kaiseki and Sake near Tokyo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · from $181Our pick

At 5 pm in Kawagoe, an English-speaking guide introduces you to unagi, or Japanese eel, while a chef with more than 40 years of experience demonstrates its preparation. You can handle a live eel, grate fresh wasabi, and enjoy an appetizer, shirayaki, and unajū. A three-sake pairing is available for an extra fee.

“A wonderful experience where I got to not only experience the incredible flavours of high quality eel but also learn about the rich history of the food itself and why it’s famous in the local area. With everything that’s included it’s completely worRead more”

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2.Kawagoe Private Custom Tour with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 29 reviews · 4 - 7 hours · from $98

Spend 4 to 7 hours exploring Kawagoe with a private English-speaking local guide. See the Bell Tower, merchant houses, Kitain Temple, and castle grounds, with room to customize the route and stop for local sweets. Public transport is the usual way to get around; vehicle transport can be arranged on request. The guide’s name is not specified.

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3.Little EDO Sushi Making workshop in Kawagoe

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · from $84

At MUSUBIYA in Kawagoe, an English-speaking Japanese sushi chef guides a small group through making sushi rice, nigiri and maki in a 140-year-old former rice merchant’s building. The hands-on class includes ingredients and a meal, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal menus available by advance request.

“I learned a lot about the history of sushi, how to make sushi rice, how to cut neta, and how to make nigiri sushi.”

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4.Tokyo to Kawagoe: Private Historical Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 14 reviews · 6 hours · from $264

Meet a private English- or Japanese-speaking host near Shinjuku Station, then spend six hours exploring Kawagoe, Tokyo’s old castle town. See places such as Kita-in Temple, Toki no Kane and Hikawa Shrine, with time for traditional streets and local snacks. Your host can tailor the walk to your interests. Transport, meals and attraction tickets cost extra.

“Gita interessante con diverse cose da vedere e ben spiegate dalla guida che è stata molto simpatica e disponibile. Ci sono certamente posti e attrazioni più belle da vedere a Tokyo e dintorni, ma vale sicuramente la pena per una mezza giornata.”

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5.Historic Town of Kawagoe – Small town of Edo 3h Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 3 hours · from $70Best value

Walk Kawagoe with English-speaking guide Masahito Ito, also called Ito-san or Masa. This three-hour tour visits traditional kura-style buildings, cultural sites and Candy Alley, with a drink and cake or snack included. Groups are limited to six, so you have room to ask questions as you explore this historic town.

“Our Kawagoe visit with Ito-san was truly amazing. We did a family trip and he was great with each one of us, answering all of our questions and giving us great information about Kawagoe and Japan History. The tour included a drink and sweets which make a good pause to recover, he was great taking us to all places in the tour description and helping us to get goushuin book and translating for us when we entered a local clothing store. Thank you so much Ito-san, you made our Kawagoe experience a great memory we will cherish with joy!”

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6.Day Tour from Tokyo : Experience Kawagoe and Edo Japan

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 6 hours · from $135

This six-hour guided day trip from Ikebukuro takes you to Kawagoe’s Kitain Temple, Kurazukuri warehouse streets, Hikawa Shrine, and the preserved rooms of Kawagoe Castle. English-speaking guide Beth has led visitors through the town’s history and local food stops. Temple and palace admission are included; train fares and meals are extra.

“Great communication and historical knowledge shared by my guide Beth. Met at the train station and Beth helped me ensure that I was in the right place. Amazing trip as I am very interested in Edo. Very flexible approach so I saw the best of Kawagoe. Had fun trying out sweet potatoes pie and also local coffee shop for a sit down when needed. Beth has amazing knowledge of the area and she really listened to my requirements so that we saw all the original buildings and architecture. Don’t hesitate to do this tour. Made a real change from the hustle and bustle of central Tokyo !”

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