What to do and see in Saitama Prefecture, Kanto: The Best Historical & Heritage Tours

The best tour for the people who cannot be satisfied with only Tokyo! Kawagoe is an old town which flourished as a castle town in the Edo Still to this day you can see elaborately designed buildings, ringing bells, elegant side streets and back streets and rickshaws passing. The design of the stores and houses on the street mix the features of three different eras - Edo, Meiji, and Taisho. Kawagoe has a Japanese culture and history which we cannot see in the other cities. In addition, the access from the center of Tokyo is good (30 minutes). It was selected to host the golf competitions in the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020.

Inclusions: Professional guide

Exclusions: Food and drinks, Hotel pickup and drop-off

[Private Tour] Visit the historic town of Ogawamachi, also known as "Small Kyoto". Learn about traditional Japanese paper; washi and Japanese sake in Ogawamachi, a town built around a river, roughly an hour away from central Tokyo. Ogawa, meaning small river, is where the name of this town comes from, and the water of this river is what is used in creating Ogawamachi's washi and sake. The creation process of washi in this town is registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, and on this tour you will get the chance to try it yourself! You will also visit a sake brewing factory and a 100% locally produced and consumed craft beer shop where you can taste local drinks. Make sure to explore the old back streets of Ogawamachi that have stayed unchanged for centuries!

Inclusions: Tour Guide, Private tour, Necessary expenses for the tour guide

Exclusions: Travel expenses and entrance fees for your own, Money for food/drinks, souvenirs and extra activities for your own, Hotel pick-up and drop-off, The use of private van

Hi, everyone. This is all of a sudden, do you know the Japanese culture? Are you interested? Why did I start "Kawagoe guide"? I was born in Kawagoe and spent 26 years here. Many travelers are intrigued by the architecture of the city but do not understand the history behind it. I will be pleased to guide you through the path of the past and we will have fun doing it. In fact, I played truant from English study. Instead of going to English classes, I would remain home and sleep.Haha However, I wanted to be a backpacker and travel to over 20 countries. So, I started to study English desperately. I had trouble speaking and understanding the local language however, I was taken care of abroad by the local people. It is now my turn to repay the kindness that was shown to me. Let's talk about Japan together.

Inclusions: Bottled water

Exclusions: Snacks

A local guide who knows Kawagoe well will guide you with strong love for the region. This tour takes you to the highlights of Kawagoe's sightseeing such as Time bell tower, Old storehouse street and Candy Lane. Furthermore, we could let you know the charms of Kawagoe by local views. At first, let’s toast with a cup of Japanese sake at Koedo Kurari which is a sake experience spot. There are variety of Sake from the prefecture. And you can choose your favorite one at the modern vending machine. Then, the tour visits a local shrine and experience Shinto style customs a little. Let’s walk around Kawagoe's backstreets like locals. When we arrive at the famous old storehouse street, we will be surprised by its well-balanced street that it is unified by old style buildings with a black plastered wall. During the tour you can understand the present days and the old days of Japan's ordinally life. Because this is a historical merchant town, "Kawagoe". .

Inclusions: English speaking guide

Exclusions: Lunch

We will visit Kawagoe, a small city close to Tokyo, also called "the little Edo". Feel free to send a message or to visit our website, if you want to book this tour on another day. This name is refering to the historic area of the city. Wellknown for its festival the third weekend of october, this city welcome the Edo period lovers.

Inclusions: Transport by train, Air-conditioned vehicle

Exclusions: Hotel drop-off, Hotel pickup, Food and drinks

Ancient graves, ancient craft and local cuisine. Yoshimi is a town located right in the center of Saitama Prefecture. On this tour you will be visiting a unique National Historic Site; the Yoshimi Hundred Caves. The caves are known to be ancient tomb graves from the Kofun Period (250-538 AD), and are just as exciting as visiting Egyptian pyramids! You can even walk through the caves to explore them. Another part of this tour is having a go at making an ancient craft. The lucky charm that you make here can be taken home as a souvenir of your trip. At the end of the tour, your otomo tour guide will introduce you to a delicious dish, using the local speciality; strawberries. You will not find a unique tour like this elsewhere!

Inclusions: Tour Guide, Private tour, Necessary expenses for the tour guide

Exclusions: Travel expenses and entrance fees for your own, Money for food/drinks, souvenirs and extra activities for your own, Hotel pick-up and drop-off, The use of private van

International architectural styles in Kawagoe's historical Coedo Town. Kawagoe, with its streets filled with traditional houses and old warehouses, is a popular place for those who wish to experience the history of Japan. This impressive town not only has Japanese style architecture, but it is also a place where you can enjoy beautiful, retro-looking Western style architecture as well. We recommend you bring your camera to capture this interesting townscape, with its mix of architectural styles. We also recommend you visit in the evening/late afternoon when other tourists have started to leave and the town is calmer and more peaceful. If you are at all interested in architecture or photography, this tour is not one to miss!

Inclusions: Tour Guide, Private Tour, Necessary expenses for the tour guide

Exclusions: Travel expenses and entrance fees for your own, Money for food/drinks, souvenirs and extra activities for your own, Hotel pick-up and drop-off, The use of private van

Visit ancient Japanese gods and try an ancient craft. Japanese history cannot just be put down to ninja and samurai. On this tour you will be taken all the way back to ancient Japan to learn about Japanese gods and old myths. In Japan, since ancient times, it was believed that a god existed in everything, whether an object or a living or moving thing, and so there is an abundant number of gods that the Japanese worship even today. One of these gods, Susanoo, is thought to be the child of the god who created Japan, and is the god that this tour is based around. Visit little animals that appear in myths and have a go at creating an ancient accessory; magatama. Magatamas were worn around people's necks and used in daily life in ancient Japan!

Inclusions: Tour Guide, Private Tour, Necessary expenses for the tour guide

Exclusions: Travel expenses and entrance fees for your own, Money for food/drinks, souvenirs and extra activities for your own, Hotel pick-up and drop-off, The use of private van

Kawagoe has good access and it is a very convenient tourist spot. Kawagoe is a town of history retaining the culture and aroma of Edo period 400 years ago. Why not visit the temples and learn about historical heritage, and fill up on Japanese food at an authentic Japanese restaurant? Taking a stroll through the town, you will feel as if you have a travel back in time to ancient Edo period. You can experience the traditional and pure Japan which you can not see in Tokyo. At the Ichiban-gai street, you will see see 100% fire -resistant houses which are more than 100 years old, and "Toki-no-kane", which is said to be the highest wooden belfry in Japan. Do not forget eating local specialties, sweet potato, grilled eel and various sweets.

Inclusions: As a souvenior, I give you your Kanji name written on Japanese paper by a professional calligrapher.

Exclusions: Lunch, Transportation fee for you and the guide, Entrance fee including for you and the guide

Take a step back in time (figuratively of course) and visit a small slice of Edo era Japan, also known as the ancient castle town of Kawagoe. Spend the day with one of our friendly hosts strolling among the 17th century wooden buildings and charcoal-tiled houses of the kurazukuri (warehouse) district. Marvel at the Toki no Kane Tower or stop by the Festival Museum to glimpse the three story floats that parade the streets. From the Hattori Museum of Folklore and the Kawagoe Castle to soya shops and Penny Candy Lane - there's so much to experience. Within 24 hours after booking you'll receive a short questionnaire about your personality and interests. Based on your responses, you'll be assigned a like-minded host. Your host will communicate with you directly to suggest an itinerary to help you discover what makes the city unique. You'll also agree on a meeting time and place. Your itinerary is flexible, so during the experience, you can always change your mind about what you want to do.

Inclusions: Private and personalised itinerary, 6 hours with a host, Return travel from Tokyo to Kawagoe , Walking experience (if required, your host can suggest public transport or private taxi options)

Exclusions: Food and drinks, Tickets to any attractions other than those included, Transport costs other than those included, Gratuities (optional)