Kawagoe Kashiya Yokocho: A Showa Retro Candy Alley

Famous Alley of Little Edo Kawagoe

Close to the storehouse townscape of Kawagoe City in Saitama Prefecture, known as Little Edo, is Kashiya Yokocho (Candy Store Alley), where nostalgic traditional candy shops stand in a row. The stone-paved lane lined with colorful candies, toasty dango, and fugashi is full of Showa-era retro atmosphere. It is a popular Kawagoe sightseeing spot where adults and children alike can return to their childhood hearts.

The Famous Alley of Little Edo Kawagoe

Kashiya Yokocho is an atmospheric lane close to the storehouse townscape of Kawagoe. Candy-making is said to have begun here in the early Meiji period, and it developed by producing and supplying candy in place of the downtown areas of Tokyo damaged by the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. In its heyday in the early Showa period, it is said that about 70 candy shops lined the lane. Today about 20 shops sell candies and sweets made by traditional methods, preserving the nostalgic atmosphere.

Showa-Era Retro Candy Shops

The charm of Kashiya Yokocho is above all its nostalgic atmosphere evoking the Showa era. Along the stone-paved lane, colorful candies, cinnamon sweets, fugashi, and rice crackers are packed tightly together. The sweet aroma of handmade candy and dango drifts through the air, recalling childhood. Unique sweets such as the famous longest fugashi in Japan are also popular, making it a fun spot for street eating. You can also find sweet-potato confections and imo kenpi made with Kawagoe's famous sweet potato, perfect for choosing souvenirs.

The Storehouse Townscape and the Bell of Time

Also worth visiting alongside Kashiya Yokocho is Kawagoe's symbol, the storehouse townscape. The streets lined with imposing storehouse merchant houses are full of the charm of Little Edo. From Kashiya Yokocho, it is about a 10-minute walk to the bell tower Toki-no-Kane (Bell of Time), which announces the hours. The Bell of Time still tolls four times a day. Many people enjoy walking the town in retro kimono, and you can enjoy an atmospheric stroll that feels like slipping back in time.

Access and Basic Information

• Location: around Motomachi, Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture (northwest of the storehouse townscape)
• Transportation: about a 16-minute walk from Honkawagoe Station on the Seibu-Shinjuku Line; on foot or by bus from Kawagoe Station on the Tobu Tojo Line and JR Kawagoe Line
• About a 10-minute walk from the storehouse townscape and the Bell of Time
• Since it is a bit far from the station, using the Koedo Loop Bus is also convenient
• Most shops operate mainly during the daytime, and many close by early evening

Practical Travel Notes

Kashiya Yokocho itself is a compact lane, and just looking around takes about 30 minutes. Walking it together with the storehouse townscape, the Bell of Time, and Kitain Temple makes for about a half-day stroll. On weekends and holidays the lane gets very crowded and people concentrate in the narrow street, so if you want to look around slowly, weekdays or mornings are the target. When eating on the go, it is good manners to stop at the shopfront or designated places so as not to obstruct passersby. If you have small children, choosing the candies itself becomes a fun experience.

A Word of Advice

Kashiya Yokocho is a precious place that has continued to operate while preserving tradition, even after fire damage. Since each shop handles different sweets, peeking into several rather than just one lets you encounter unexpectedly nostalgic candies. For souvenirs, long-keeping fugashi and imo kenpi are popular. Together with the nearby storehouse townscape, the Bell of Time, and the bustle of the Kawagoe Festival season, savor a street-food trip in Little Edo Kawagoe, where the Showa and Edo eras coexist.

📚 Sources

This article is based on the history of Kashiya Yokocho in Kawagoe (dagashi-making began in the early Meiji era and grew after the Great Kanto Earthquake), guidance for the Kurazukuri townscape and Toki no Kane, and tourism information for Kawagoe City. It also draws on information about the noted fu-gashi and sweet-potato sweets and the Kawagoe Matsuri. Each shop's open days may change, so please confirm with official sources before you go.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time: About 30 minutes to walk Kashiya Yokocho alone; half a day with the Kurazukuri townscape, Toki no Kane and Kitain.
• How to get around: About a 10 minute walk from the townscape and Toki no Kane; the Koedo loop bus helps as the station is a bit far.
• Access: About a 16 minute walk from Honkawagoe Station (Seibu Shinjuku Line), or on foot or by bus from Kawagoe Station.
• Avoiding crowds: Weekends pack the narrow alley, so weekdays or mornings are best for a relaxed look.
• Etiquette: Eat street food at shopfronts or designated spots so as not to block the path.
• Souvenirs: Long-keeping fu-gashi and imo-kenpi are popular.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Location: 2-chome Motomachi, Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture
• Number of shops: The Kawagoe City official site states that "some 30-odd shops now stand side by side," while the Koedo Kawagoe Tourism Association describes "around 30 confectionery and other shops packed together"
• History of the alley: Sweets have been made here since the beginning of the Meiji era, and the alley came to produce and supply dagashi (penny sweets) in place of Tokyo, which had been damaged by the Great Kanto Earthquake (Kawagoe City official site)
• 100 Best Fragrant Landscapes: In fiscal 2001 (Heisei 13) it was selected by the Ministry of the Environment for its "100 Best Fragrant Landscapes" as "Kashiya Yokocho of Kawagoe" (Kawagoe City official site)
• The Kawagoe City Kurazukuri Museum is closed: The museum is closed while seismic reinforcement work on the merchant storehouse is carried out from fiscal 2023 (Reiwa 5) through fiscal 2026 (Reiwa 8). Take note if you are planning to visit it together with the kurazukuri (storehouse-style) townscape (Kawagoe City official site)
• Enquiries: Kawagoe City Museum, 049-222-5399 (regarding the work at the Kurazukuri Museum)

* Neither the Kawagoe City nor the Koedo Kawagoe Tourism Association official sites publish the opening hours and closing days of the individual shops in Kashiya Yokocho in one place. * Whether Kashiya Yokocho has its own parking lot, and how many spaces it would have, is not published officially. * As for the number of shops at the alley's peak, even within the Kawagoe City official website there are two different statements - "about 70 shops in the early Showa period" and "just over 60 shops from the end of the Taisho era into the early Showa period" - so the descriptions differ within the official source itself. (Sources: Kawagoe City official website, Koedo Kawagoe Tourism Association official website)