Kawagoe

Known as “Little Edo”, Kawagoe (川越) was both a strategic post in the Kanto region and a key trading point for merchants during the Edo period (1603-1868). Today the main attraction is the line of well-preserved warehouses (kurazukuri) which were used by merchants to store their goods and wares. It is thought that at one point Kawagoe was home to over 200 of these structures and, although a fire in 1893 claimed one third of the town, many survive today (some have stood for over 200 years). Check out the Tourist Association’s guide map here (PDF download).