Ichibangai Shotengai

Ichibangai Shotengai is a delightful pedestrian-friendly historic street in Kawagoe that transports families back to old Japan with its beautifully preserved warehouse buildings and traditional shops. Kids will love exploring the candy stores filled with colorful Japanese sweets, sampling ice cream from street vendors, and spotting the distinctive black clay-walled buildings that make this area feel like stepping into a time machine.

• ✓Traditional candy stores (dagashi-ya) filled with colorful Japanese sweets and snacks kids can choose themselves
• ✓Sweet potato ice cream and treats (Kawagoe is famous for sweet potatoes)
• ✓Historic warehouse buildings with distinctive black clay walls perfect for family photos
• ✓Street food vendors offering kid-friendly snacks like senbei (rice crackers) and dango (sweet rice dumplings)
• ✓Traditional toy shops selling nostalgic Japanese toys and crafts

1. 1.Visit on weekday mornings (10am-noon) to avoid weekend crowds and have a more relaxed experience browsing the shops with kids.
2. 2.Bring cash in small bills (yen). Many traditional family-run shops prefer cash and ATMs accepting foreign cards can be scarce in the area.
3. 3.Stop at the bell tower (Toki no Kane) for a perfect photo opportunity and rest break. It chimes four times daily at 6am, noon, 3pm, and 6pm.
4. 4.Let kids try dagashi (traditional penny candy) at one of the nostalgic candy shops. Staff often let children browse freely and prices are very reasonable (often 10-100 yen per piece).
5. 5.Download Google Translate app with offline Japanese language pack before visiting, as English signage is limited in smaller shops.

Visit on weekday mornings between 10am-1pm for the best experience with fewer crowds. Spring (March-April for cherry blossoms) and autumn (October-November for fall colors) offer pleasant weather for walking. Avoid weekends and Japanese holidays when the street can become very crowded.

The street itself is free to explore and open 24 hours, though individual shops typically operate 10am-5pm or 6pm. Most shops close one day per week (often Tuesday or Wednesday). Limited English is spoken, but shopkeepers are generally friendly and patient with international visitors.

Year-round destination, though summer (June-August) can be hot and humid for walking. Cherry blossom season (late March-early April) and autumn foliage (November) make the street especially photogenic. Some shops may have special New Year decorations and treats in January.

Try Koedo Kurari, a food complex nearby with kid-friendly restaurants serving local specialties. For easy eats, look for restaurants displaying plastic food models in windows, which help non-Japanese speakers order by pointing.