Saitama in Half a Day: Kitain Temple — Guide Seizo
September, 2026
This is a private guided tour report by Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.), a network of 1,000+ government-licensed, English-speaking local guides across all 47 prefectures of Japan.
Tour Itinerary
- 11:50 Meet up＠Tobu Tojo Line Kawagoe Station
- 12:20 Kitain Temple
- 13:30 Toki no Kane (Bell of Time)
- 13:40 Lunch＠Chikacho Fish Shop
- 14:30 Kawagoe Matsuri Museum
- 15:20 Kashiya Yokocho (Candy Alley)
- 15:40 Kura no Machi Ichibangai
- 16:05 Dismissal＠Kura no Machi Ichibangai
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Meeting at ＠Tobu Tojo Line Kawagoe Station at 11:50, the group explored Saitama until the tour ended at 16:05. The day ran to 4 hours and 15 minutes from start to finish. It included lunch＠Chikacho Fish Shop at 13:40.
The itinerary covered Kitain Temple at 12:20, Toki no Kane (Bell of Time) at 13:30, Kawagoe Matsuri Museum at 14:30, Kashiya Yokocho (Candy Alley) at 15:20 and Kura no Machi Ichibangai at 15:40.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Kawagoe Station West Exit／Eagle Bus to Kitain Temple／Eagle Bus by bus (220JPY); Kitain Temple／Eagle Bus to Museum・Art Museum Front／Eagle Bus by bus (220JPY). Across 2 sections the fare came to 440JPY per person.
Title: What Is a Private Day Tour of Kawagoe (Little Edo) Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a group from North America visiting Japan for the second time. After sightseeing in Tokyo and Kawagoe, they planned to travel to Karuizawa, Kamakura, and Osaka. At Kita-in Temple, they listened with great interest to explanations about the differences between temples and shrines, as well as stories related to Tokugawa Iemitsu and Kasuga no Tsubone. At the Kawagoe Festival Museum, they enjoyed viewing the large festival float on display and the video footage about the Kawagoe Festival. On Candy Alley (Kashiya Yokocho), they purchased sweet potato confections, a local specialty of Kawagoe. At the Toki no Kane (Bell of Time) and the warehouse district of Ichibangai, they enjoyed strolling through the old streetscape known as "Little Edo." After the tour, since they had reserved an eel restaurant in Kawagoe for dinner, we parted ways at the Ichibangai warehouse district. As I was able to respond to the guests' wishes as requested, I believe they were satisfied. A notable stop on the tour was Kita-in Temple in Kawagoe. Kita-in is a historic Buddhist temple with deep ties to the Tokugawa shogunate, and it is especially famous for its buildings that were relocated from Edo Castle, making them the only surviving structures from the original castle. The temple grounds also feature the Gohyaku Rakan, a collection of over 500 stone statues of Buddhist disciples, each with a unique facial expression and pose.
Click here for more details: Kawagoe Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Bus | Kawagoe Station West Exit／Eagle Bus～Kitain Temple／Eagle Bus | 220JPY |
| Section 2 | Bus | Kitain Temple／Eagle Bus～Museum・Art Museum Front／Eagle Bus | 220JPY |
| Total | 440JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Saitama tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at ＠Tobu Tojo Line Kawagoe Station at 11:50, and the tour finished at ＠Kura no Machi Ichibangai at 16:05.
How long does the tour last?
About 4 hours and 15 minutes in total, from 11:50 to 16:05.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Kitain Temple, Toki no Kane (Bell of Time), Kawagoe Matsuri Museum, Kashiya Yokocho (Candy Alley) and Kura no Machi Ichibangai.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 440JPY per person across 2 sections. Transport fares are paid by the guests and are not included in the guiding fee.
Is the guide licensed, and what language is the tour in?
Seizo is a government-licensed national guide-interpreter of Japan and guided this tour in English. Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.) works with more than 1,000 licensed guides across all 47 prefectures. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Can the itinerary be changed for my own trip?
Yes. This report describes one private tour as it actually ran. Every Saitama itinerary is built around the guests, so the places, the pace and the starting point can all be changed before the tour.
I am Seizo Kamiuto, National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter (English). I was born in Kagoshima City in Kyushu (Southern part of Japan) and grew up there until the graduation from a high school. I came to Tokyo to enter a University in Tokyo and since then, I have lived in Tokyo for more than 40 years and therefore I know Tokyo and its suburbs and Kagoshima City very well. After retiring from an IT company, I have been working as a Guide Interpreter of English since March 2018. I have guided many overseas guests to the popular sightseeing spots in Tokyo, Kamakura, Mt. Fuji area (Kawaguchiko Lake etc.), Hakone, Nikko, Yokohama, Kawagoe and Kagoshima and so on. I have received good reviews from many guests. I can explain the history and the culture of Japan in detail. I look forward to an opportunity to guide you in Japan. Thank you. Seizo Kamiuto
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Had an amazing tour with Seizi Kaminto. He was very knowledgeable, easy going, great sense of humour and taught us a lot about Japanese culture and history. We all thoroughly enjoyed the tour and our guide Seizo. Would highly recommend.
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We had an excellent time with Seizo Kamiuto as our guide for Kamakura. He was an excellent guide for the whole day and it really made a difference with an experienced person who knew the area. He was very friendly and accommodating with our plans for Kamakura, including me picking out which temples and shrines to visit. He met us at our hotel in Asakusa and dropped us back off at the hotel even if it is an hour from Kamakura. He also recommended a great sushi restaurant that I would not have even known existed, even if I was looking straight at it. I would highly recommend bringing a guide like Seizo if you want to maximize your time in Kamakura to explore the area.
Our tour went to 3 places in the morning and 2 places in the afternoon. The morning places were a bit out of the way and less crowded, but were beautiful on their own. The morning places where Engakuji Temple, Meigetsu-in Temple (slightly out of season for September but some hydrangeas were still blooming and the temple itself was very beautiful with nature all around), and Kencho-ji Temple. The afternoon was in the busier places of Kamakura, but the crowds weren’t too bad. They were Hasedera Temple and the Giant Buddha of Kamakura Temple. Each place was different and pretty in their own ways.
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We had a great time learning about little Edo. Our guide, Mr. Seizo, was very knowledgeable, accommodating, and patient with the number of questions we had.