Koedo Kurari
小江戸蔵里
Just a three-minute walk from Hon-Kawagoe Station, this complex tourist facility is a renovation of the roughly 120-year-old former Kagamiyama Sake Brewery. It comprises four buildings — the Meiji Kura, Taisho Kura, Showa Kura, and Exhibition Kura — housing a market selling Kawagoe local specialties and sake from 32 breweries across Saitama Prefecture, a restaurant serving dishes made with local ingredients, and a brewery-run taproom pouring freshly brewed craft beer. The atmospheric buildings retain the imposing character of the original storehouses, making it an easy stop for souvenir hunting or a short break. Thanks to its convenient location just a short walk from the station, it's popular as a spot to visit either before or after exploring Ichibangai. Inside, you can also sense the building's history through its exposed roof beams and earthen walls, and there's a corner for tasting local Kawagoe sake as well as light meals made with Saitama-grown ingredients. Since you can gather all your Kawagoe souvenirs in one place without having to carry bags around all day, many travelers make it their last stop of the trip.
Highlights
The buildings, constructed in the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa eras respectively and preserved as-is, each offer a different atmosphere to enjoy. The "Meiji Kura" marketplace stocks classic souvenirs like Kawagoe sable cookies and sweet-potato treats, while the restaurant in the "Taisho Kura" serves dishes made with local ingredients. The rice-bowl menu at the in-house eatery "Makanaidokoro Ippuku" is also popular.
History
The facility's origins lie in the Kagamiyama Sake Brewery, which operated from the Meiji era onward. After the brewery closed, the City of Kawagoe renovated and repurposed the historic buildings, opening them in 2010 as the industrial tourism facility "Koedo Kurari." A highlight distinct from the kurazukuri townscape is the imposing wooden beam framework and earthen walls unique to a former sake brewery.
Visit Tips
- Suggested duration
- About 30-60 minutes
- Crowd levels
- The restaurant can get crowded around lunchtime on weekends and holidays
- Best time to visit
- Recommended as a stop on your way to or from Ichibangai, or when using Hon-Kawagoe Station
| Address | 1-10-1 Shintomicho, Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture |
|---|---|
| Hours | Varies by facility (Meiji Kura 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. [Nov-Jun] / 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. [Jul-Oct]; Taisho Kura weekdays 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. & 5:00-10:00 p.m. [weekends/holidays 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.], and more) |
| Admission | Free to enter (dining and shopping inside are paid) |
| Official Website | Visit official website |
Access
- 3 min walk from Hon-Kawagoe Station (Seibu Shinjuku Line)