Kawagoe Kashiya Yokocho

Dagashiya Yokocho was one of the highlights of our day trip to Kawagoe. Literally, Kashiya Yokocho means candy alley.

The alley was lined with about twenty different shops selling candy ranging from Hershey Chocolate bars to old fashioned Japanese candy.


Some of the shops were Dagashiya (selling old fashioned Japanese candy) is reminiscent of the once popular and common neighborhood candy shops. These candy shops were the favorite hangout for children in the neighborhood. Kids would buy candy at the shops. Most of the candy were sold by the piece as such, transactions were done with coins rather than bills. The shops also carried inexpensive toys such as take-tombo, baloons and soap water to blow bubbles. Upscale toys included dolls and model kits. These shops were definitely focused on children. From time to time there may be a man in on a bicycle visiting the shops showing Kamsihibai (Story Tellers using Paper Picture Boards) for a few coins. The kashiya or dagashiya is not as common in Tokyo neighborhoods, perhaps because of the outflow of citizens to the newer suburbs and the influx of supermarkets.

One of the shops we stopped by had a huge assortment of bagged old fashioned Japanese style candy. The assortment included some familiar fruit flavored hard candy (strawberry, melon and tangerine),Tomoe Ame and others.

The shops also sold some really unique candy.

Natto snacks. Dried natto wrapped in nori. Also dried natto that are prepared to be eaten one by one like peanuts.

Sweet potato snacks. In my previous installment, I mentioned that Kawagoe was famous for their sweet potatoes. In the picture above Malcolm is puchasing some imo yokan. Yokan is actually hardened gelatin. Imo yokan is gelatin made using the sweet potatoes. In this case, from Kawagoe.

Fried sweet potato chips both sweet and spiced were available. Also there was a wonderful sugar coated sweet potato Amanatto. The Amanatto is candied slices of sweet potato cover in sugar, it tastes great.

One of my favorite candies is the candied ginger. I always buy a bag or two when in Japan. Aside from being a great snack, I also drop it in hot water or tea when I have a sore throat. It works great!!!

Dried seafood ranging from small shrimp, fish and squid. Some are flavored sweet. While others are more exotic such as curry or chili pepper.

Most of the items are under 1000 yen, very affordable.

Other shops were definitely tourist oriented. Including the takoyaki stand and the monaka stand.

One shop I did enjoy was the sembei stand. A man broiled fresh sembei that we could buy and eat while it was warm. What a treat.

Koedo

Kawagoe is also known as Koedo. It received the name of Koedo because of its street lined with old stately buildings. Many of which were built in the edo era and preserved or restored.

Kawagoe is a former castle town during the edo period. The castle is no longer standing but the old buildings surrounding the castle remain.

A walk through the many streets and alleys of Koedo is like a walk back in time. As you walk through the streets, you can imagine people walking in their kimonos and palanquins being carried by men. Almost like being in a samurai movie.

There are few doors to be seen in these buildings. There are wood sliding shutters that hide a sliding glass or wood door. No doors to pull out.

Many of the buildings have a shira-kabe fascade. Shira-kabe is the white washed walls of buildings.

The roofs of the buildings are covered with Japanese tile.

The bell tower is a famous landmark of Kawagoe. The bell is rung three times a day.

Kawagoe Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes are grown in Kawagoe. In fact, Kawagoe is famous for its annual crop of sweet potatoes.

Sweet potatoes are available fresh and are sold in the shops in Kawagoe. Confections from sweet potatoes are also sold in bags and boxes.

Of course, where there is grain there is alcohol. Kawagoe has its own brand of beer called Koedo Beer. Koedo Beer is made from sweet potatoes.

If you are a regular reader of our blog, you all know that we never pass up an opportunity to try the local brew. Koedo Beer is brewed as both a hefezeizen and the dinkel. I tried the dinkel. The dinkel had a very distinct potato flavor much like drinking imo shochu (shochu made from potatoes). The flavor of the sweet potatoes was gently hidden in the beer but very noticeable. It was very smooth but definitely had a Japanese beer buzz factor.

This is good beer. Not a gimmick. Must have one or two or three on your trip to Kawagoe!!!!

Kawagoe Matsuri

The highlight of our trip was the Kawagoe Matsuri.

Kawagoe is located approximately 35 minutes from Shinjuku, in Saitama prefecture.
We took the Tobu Tojo Line from Ikebukuro to Kawagoe.

The Kawagoe Matsuri is known as one of the three major Matsuri (Festivals) in the Kanto Region.

Upon arriving at the train station, we found some coin lockers to store our jackets. We were blessed with a clear sunny day with temperatures in the 70's. As such, we did not need our coats during the day.

We exited the station and walked.....and walked. We did not realize that Kawagoe's main street was pretty far away from the Tobu and JR stations. We hiked about 10 minutes to the main shotengai (Shopping promenade).




Along the way, we saw the neighborhood mikoshi (portable shrines) and dashi (mountain carts) on display. Each neighborhood shrine is responsible for caring for the dashi and mikoshi. The dashi and mikoshi are pulled or carried by neighborhood citizens. The dashi and mikoshi had been staged in front of the Seibu rail station. This is the common staging area for the festival.

In the morning, prior to departing for the staging area, the mikoshi and dashi undergo a traditional ritual. There is a blessing by a shinto priest. Members of the neighborhood association and guests partake in sake for good luck. Often, there is the rythmic clapping that is so distinct to Japan that is used to bring good luck. And of course, last minute practice.