Kawagoe, known as Little Edo of Saitama, is a small town just 50 km northwest of central Tokyo.
Three main train lines connect central Tokyo with Kawagoe, and each one arrives at a different station. Hon-Kawagoe Station, run by Seibu, is closest to Kawagoe's tourist attractions. Visitors can explore Kawagoe at a relaxed pace on foot or by bicycle, since the main attractions are only about 500 meters to 1 kilometer apart. Alternatively, a loop bus service runs between the city's main sightseeing spots.
How to Get from Tokyo to Kawagoe
A) Tobu Line (great if starting from Ikebukuro)
- Popular route: **Ikebukuro → (Tobu Tojo Line) → Kawagoe / Kawagoe-shi**
- Travel time: ~30-35 minutes
- One-way fare (paper ticket): **approx. 490 yen**
- For savings/discounts: passes for international visitors are recommended
1) **KAWAGOE DISCOUNT PASS**: **710 yen** (1 day)
2) **KAWAGOE DISCOUNT PASS Premium**: **1,050 yen** (1 day) (also covers Kawagoe city buses, subject to pass conditions)
*Note: check the official Tobu website for details on benefits, conditions, and ticket sale locations*
B) Seibu Line (good if you want to get off at Hon-Kawagoe, near the sights)
- Route: **Seibu-Shinjuku → (Seibu Shinjuku Line) → Hon-Kawagoe**
- Travel time: ~45-60 minutes
- One-way fare: **approx. 520 yen**
- Common passes:
1) **SEIBU KAWAGOE PASS**: **700 yen** (1 day / round trip)
2) For a reserved-seat limited express: see the **Kawagoe Access Ticket (Limited Express "Koedo")**
C) JR Lines (JR Pass valid on covered sections)
- Example route from Shinjuku to Kawagoe on JR:
- Options include transferring at Ikebukuro to the Tobu Tojo Line (often cheaper) or heading to Omiya and transferring to the JR Kawagoe Line
- Fare and travel time depend on the route chosen
- One example: **770 yen / ~1 hour**
Getting Around Kawagoe
On foot (best for the old town area)
Many of the main sightseeing spots are close together, making it easy to stroll around and stop for photos.
Bicycle rental / bike share
There are two main options.
1) **City bike share (Kawagoe City Bicycle Sharing / HELLO CYCLING)**
- You can generally pick up and return bikes at multiple locations, with many stations open 24 hours (except a few with set hours)
- Fees: example rates published by the city (may vary by bike type/station)
- First 30 minutes: **160 yen**
- Each additional 15 minutes: **160 yen**
- Maximum 12 hours: **2,500 yen**
2) **Daily bicycle rental shops (example providers)**
- Example prices (shops near the station):
- Standard bicycle: **770 yen/day**
- Electric bicycle: **1,210 yen/day**
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3) Kawagoe sightseeing loop buses (two different operators)
A) Tobu Bus: "KOEDO KAWAGOE LOOP BUS" (a bus that loops around the city)
- Example fares (depending on section/stop):
- Example: Kawagoe Station → Ichibangai: **210 yen**
- Example: Hon-Kawagoe Station → Ichibangai: **200 yen**
- **One-day Pass** (unlimited rides under conditions):
- Adult **400 yen** / Child **200 yen**
- Timetable/routes: check the Tobu Bus website (weekday/weekend schedules may differ)
B) Eagle Bus: "CO-EDO LOOP BUS" (a retro-style bus popular for photos)
- One-way fare: **220 yen**
- **Daily Pass**:
- Adult **600 yen** / Child (under 12) **300 yen**
- There are two main routes (e.g. the Kita-in area / the Kurazukuri Street area) with a separate "Timetable" page
Retro-style Kawagoe sightseeing bus
Click to download the Kawagoe sightseeing map (PDF)