Kawagoe - Relaxation for the soul and body in the suburbs of Tokyo

What to expect

Walk, architecture, and shops
You will stroll along the cobblestone street Kura no machi. You will see Japanese and foreigners walking in kimonos. Watch how rickshaws ride tourists. Admire the beautiful 300-year-old buildings. Optionally, you can visit shops selling antique porcelain, Japanese paintings, katana swords, traditional Japanese food, and various sweets.

Kumano Shrine - Goddess of wealth and blood type
You will visit the Shinto shrine Kumano, and I will show you how to pray to Bentensama - the goddess of wealth and art. I will explain why the Japanese clean money in the local pond and how to determine your compatibility based on a partner's blood type.

There is a cafe near the shrine where you can have dishes made from local products, such as the famous Japanese beef.

Toki no Kane Bell Tower - Best sound of Japan
This 16-meter bell tower is over 400 years old. Its bell rings four times a day - at 6, 12, 15, and 18 o'clock. The sound of the bell is known as one of the 100 best sounds of Japan. I will explain why this list exists in the country in the first place.

Renkeiji Temple - Buddha and candles
The Buddhist temple was built in 1549. It houses the Buddha of longevity and wealth. If you rub its statue, you will be healthy and happy. In the temple, you will light candles and incense for purifying your mind from negative thoughts.

Candy Alley - Classic Japanese sweets
Candy Alley is a paradise for children. For centuries, traditional Japanese desserts have been sold on this street - lollipops, rice crackers, Japanese plums in glaze, purple ice cream made from sweet purple potatoes. If desired, children can participate in baking crackers or make wooden food sticks themselves to take home.

Hot spring and dry sauna
After the walk, you will head to a natural hot spring - an onsen. These are public mineral baths outdoors in a garden with stones and flowers. You will enjoy a silk bath for skin softness, carbonated to relieve fatigue, with streams to alleviate joint and lower back pain, and more.

There are Ganbanyoku stone therapy rooms, dry saunas, on-site as well. You will lie on warm stone slabs and relax while your body experiences a powerful detox effect.

On the premises, there is a restaurant, souvenir shops, and local product stores.

If you don't like the sauna
If you prefer, we can replace the hot spring and therapy rooms with a visit to the Buddhist temple Kitain, where original interiors of the Edo Imperial Castle are preserved. You can also take a walk in a picturesque Japanese garden and a garden of stone arhats (Buddha's disciples). If you know your animal sign in the Chinese zodiac, you can find your arhat. Or you can visit the Hikawa shrine to worship the deity of marriage and childbirth.

From March 15 to April 15, during the cherry blossom season, we will add a walk along the river to enjoy the trees.

Additional expenses

• Onsen ticket - 1000 yen/adults, 500 yen/children. Shampoo, conditioner, and hair dryer use are included. Travelers cover the guide's ticket.
• If you get tired of walking, we can take a bus (up to 400 yen/person) or a taxi (up to 1000 yen/person). Travel expenses are covered by travelers.
• Food chopsticks-making masterclass (30 minutes) - 2000 yen/person (optional)
• Lunch, dinner, personal purchases - optional
• For an additional fee, I can meet you at your accommodation and escort you back. The cost depends on the hotel location.
• The tour can be extended for an additional 5000 yen per hour.

Rules for visiting baths and saunas

• Tattoos are not allowed in the baths. If the tattoo is small, it can be covered with a bandage.
• In saunas, special clothing is provided, so tattoos will not be visible. You can stay on the onsen grounds, use the spa, and restaurant.

Other details

• The tour will be conducted by me and my son - also an experienced guide - or one of us