[Saitama, Kawagoe] Discover with the SEIBU KAWAGOE PASS! Explore Temples and Shrines in Kawagoe at a Special Train Fare!

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Looking to explore Kawagoe on a budget? Discover essential details about the SEIBU KAWAGOE PASS, including how to purchase it. Plus, we'll highlight three must-visit temples and shrines in Kawagoe, handpicked by GTN staff.

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Global Trust Networks

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Table of Contents
1. What is the SEIBU KAWAGOE PASS?
2. GTN Staff Picks! Top 3 Temples and Shrines to Visit in Kawagoe
3. ★ Additional Segment ★ Step Back in Time at Kashiya Yokocho!
4. Get Your SEIBU KAWAGOE PASS at GTN Haneda Airport Garden Store!

1. What is the SEIBU KAWAGOE PASS?

● A discount ticket exclusively for foreign nationals.
*A non-Japanese passport or residence card must be presented at the time of purchase.

● Valid for a single round trip between Seibu Shinjuku, Takadanobaba, Ikebukuro Stations, and Hon-Kawagoe Station (no stopovers permitted).
*The pass can be used at any time within the period indicated on the back of the card, but it is only valid on the day of actual use.

● Price: 700 yen (tax included)
*An additional fare is required when riding on limited express trains.

Picture courtesy of SEIBU RAILWAY

How to Purchase

Several options are available for purchasing the SEIBU KAWAGOE PASS.
*Please be aware that the purchasing methods differ before and after your arrival in Japan.

Purchasing Before Your Arrival in Japan

You can reserve a ticket via Seibu Railway's official website and exchange it for a physical ticket at the Seibu Tourist Information Center in Ikebukuro.

For detailed instructions on how to purchase, click here

Purchasing After Your Arrival in Japan

You can buy a hard ticket at designated sales locations.
*Please note that the types of tickets available may vary by location.

Sales Locations for Purchasing a Hard Ticket:
(1) Seibu Tourist Information Center Ikebukuro (8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
(2) Ikebukuro Station Express Ticket Counter
・1st Floor: 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
・Basement: Weekdays 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. / Weekends and Holidays 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
(3) Seibu Shinjuku Station Express Ticket Counter (7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.)
(4) Takadanobaba Station
・Waseda Exit / Big Box Exit

★ Recommended for Travelers Arriving at Haneda Airport ★
If you're arriving at Haneda Airport, you can conveniently purchase the SEIBU KAWAGOE PASS as a hard ticket at GTN, located within Haneda Airport Garden.

GTN Haneda Airport Garden Store

225 Haneda Airport Garden 2F, 2-7-1 Haneda Airport, Ota-ku, Tokyo 144-...

▼ Contact Information for GTN Haneda Airport Garden Store ▼
・Business hours: 10AM - 8PM
・TEL: 03-6822-3033

2. GTN Staff Picks! Top 3 Temples and Shrines to Visit in Kawagoe

While Kawagoe is known for its nostalgic tourist spots, it is also home to a dense collection of shrines and temples. Below, we've highlighted three temples and shrines recommended by GTN staff for you to explore!

(1) Kawagoe Kitain Temple

Kawagoe Kitain Temple, known as the "Master of Exorcism," is famous for its protective blessings against misfortune. The temple complex, with its open and inviting atmosphere, is home to several structures designated as Important Cultural Properties. These include the Sanmon Gate (*1), the Shoromon Gate (*2), and the Shoin (*3).

*1 Sanmon Gate: The temple's main gate.
*2 Shoromon Gate: A gate housing a temple bell.
*3 Shoin: A type of bay window facing the exterior of an alcove, initially used for reading and writing, hence retaining the name 'shoin'.

Jiedo, a building within the temple, is a Prefecturally Designated Tangible Cultural Property.

Among the numerous attractions within the temple grounds, the Shoin (Grand Entrance) stands out as a popular highlight. The Shoin, along with Kitain's Kyakuden (Guest Hall) and Kuri (Monk's Quarters), were part of the Edo Castle Palace and were relocated from Edo Castle about 380 years ago. The Grand Entrance featured in the photo is a component of the Kuri building.

Shoin (Grand Entrance)

The Shoin is particularly popular during the autumn foliage season. Visitors can enjoy the vibrant colors of the trees, making it one of Kawagoe's most renowned spots for viewing autumn leaves. The peak time to witness this spectacular display is typically from late November to early December. So, if you're planning a visit to Kawagoe during this period, why not take the opportunity to experience the breathtaking beauty of the autumn scenery?

Kawagoe Daishi Kitain

350-0036 1-20-1 Kosenba-cho, Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture

Kawagoe Daishi Kita-in is a Tendai sect temple located in Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture. Most of the buildings within the precincts, such as the Sanmon Gate, Bell Tower Gate, and Jigendo Hall, are designated as important cultural properties. In addition, the stone statues of the 500 Arhats, which are counted as one of the three major Arhats in Japan, are popular with many tourists because of their various facial expressions that perfectly capture the joys, anger, sorrows, and sorrows of humans. Especially, many tourists visit during the autumn leaves and spring cherry blossom season. There are also spots where you can experience traditional Japanese culture, such as tea rooms and gardens.

・Address: 1-20-1 Kosenbamachi, Kawagoe-shi, Saitama Prefecture, 350-0036　( 🗺: Check the Map )
(*) The opening and closing times vary depending on the season, so please check the Kawagoe Kitain website for details.

(2) Kawagoe Kumano Shrine

The Kawagoe Kumano Shrine is a well-known destination, frequented by many visitors seeking blessings for good fortune, successful matchmaking, and warding off evil spirits. Within the shrine grounds is the Itsukushima Shrine (Zeniarai Benzaiten), famous for its belief that washing money in the sacred water of the Treasure Pond can enhance one's financial luck.

Picture courtesy of Kawagoe Kumano Shrine

The shrine's emblem, the yatagarasu (three-legged crow), is also adopted as the symbol of the Japan Football Association, symbolizing the hope that it will lead the team to victory.

Picture courtesy of Kawagoe Kumano Shrine

Other unique features include the "Foot-Stomping Health Road," where visitors can experience foot pressure point therapy – a rarity in shrine grounds, and a ring toss game to test one's luck.

Furthermore, the shrine is particularly accommodating to foreign visitors, offering omikuji (fortune slips) in English and Traditional Chinese. Additionally, an information website is available, guiding visitors through the shrine in 50 languages, making it an ideal spot for international tourists.
*Click here to view the information website in 50 languages.

Kawagoe Kumano Shrine

350-0066 17-1 Renjakucho, Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture

Kawagoe Kumano Shrine is a shrine with a history that began in 1590 when it was commissioned by Kumano Hongu Taisha in present-day Wakayama Prefecture. In addition, the Yatagarasu, which is the company emblem, is a bird that serves the great god of Kumano.It is also said to be the bird that brings dawn and the sun, and is widely worshiped as a spiritual bird that leads to a world of hope. It is also used as the symbol of the Japan Football Association, and is said to contain the hope that it will lead them to victory. It is also known as a fun power spot, with many interesting gift items such as seasonal goshuin stamps and quirky fortunes.

・Address: 17-1 Renjaku-cho, Kawagoe-shi, Saitama Prefecture, 350-0066 ( 🗺: Check the Map)
・Opening/Closing Hours: [Weekdays] 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM / [Weekends and Holidays] 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

(3) Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine

Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, a popular tourist destination in Kawagoe, has long been revered as a deity of marriage. It is renowned as a sacred place for matchmaking and attracts numerous visitors from both Japan and abroad.

In addition to the regular omikuji (fortune slips), the shrine offers a unique "tai mikuji," a sea bream-shaped fortune that is believed to be particularly effective in fulfilling romantic aspirations. Instead of drawing a slip, visitors use a rod to 'fish' for a sea bream, which then reveals their fortune.

Moreover, the Shingashi River ( 🗺: check the map), flowing behind Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, boasts a 500-meter stretch lined with trees. It transforms into a breathtaking cherry blossom spot in spring. A stroll along the Shingashi River when visiting the Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine area is highly recommended for a scenic experience.

Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine

2-11-3 Miyashitamachi, Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture 350-0052

・Address: 2-11-3 Miyashita-cho, Kawagoe-shi, Saitama Prefecture, 350-005 ( 🗺: Check the Map)
・Opening/Closing Hours: Open 24 hours

In this article, we've primarily focused on temples and shrines in Kawagoe, but there are many more attractions to explore in the area.

As an ★ Additional Segment ★, we offer a brief introduction to Kashiya Yokocho below. Be sure to stop by this charming spot when you're sightseeing in Kawagoe! ♪

3. ★ Additional Segment ★ Step Back in Time at Kashiya Yokocho!

Kashiya Yokocho is a beloved tourist destination in Kawagoe, known for its nostalgic ambiance. With its array of traditional candy shops, it feels as though you've been transported back to the Edo period.

Confectionery alley

350-0062 2-chome Motomachi, Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture

Kawagoe's Kashiya Yokocho is a charming spot where old-fashioned sweets shops line the glass-encrusted cobblestone streets. It is a place where you can encounter nostalgic flavors and sweets, and take visitors back to their childhood, where you can enjoy the fragrant aroma of soy sauce and traditional candy, and it is a place that spreads a sense of excitement that transcends generations.

・Address: 2-chome Motomachi, Kawagoe-shi, Saitama Prefecture, 350-0062 ( 🗺: Check the Map)
*Please note that operating hours and regular holidays vary by store.

4. Get Your SEIBU KAWAGOE PASS at GTN Haneda Airport Garden Store!

The SEIBU KAWAGOE PASS is an excellent ticket option for exploring Kawagoe!
You can purchase it at the GTN Haneda Airport Garden store. Be sure to check it out when you arrive at Haneda Airport.

If you're visiting Haneda Airport, make sure to drop by our GTN Haneda Airport Garden branch!

For detailed directions to the GTN Haneda Airport Garden store, check out the video below!

And for more recommendations on spots and culinary delights, don't forget to check out the GTN Haneda Airport Garden Branch's Instagram page!

GTN Haneda Airport Garden Instagram

Great deals on Data SIM, eSIM, and SIM cards with phone numbers are also available!

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Written by

Global Trust Networks

Tokyo

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