By train

Kawagoe station (川越駅) is a stop on the JR Saikyo Line and the private Tobu Tojo line. From Tokyo the fastest route is the Tobu Tojo line from Ikebukuro, which takes 30mins on the express and costs ¥450. From Omiya the Saikyo line takes 17 mins and costs ¥320.

Hon-Kawagoe station (本川越駅) is closer to the temple district and is part of the private Seibu-Shinjuku line. Express trains from Shinjuku take 47 mins and cost ¥480.

Crea Mall, the shopping strip running between Kawagoe and Hon-Kawagoe stations, offers many of the usual chains and numerous ramen shops. There is a good kaiten sushi place towards the Kawagoe end.

• Oatman Diner, +81 49-222-8398, [1]. Mon-Fri 11.30AM-3PM 6PM-11PM, Sat 11.30AM-12PM, Sun 11.30AM-11PM. Just off Crea Mall, this hamburger joint is decorated like a retro American diner with wacky memorabilia covering all available surfaces. Oatman has a wide selection of burgers, hot dogs and tex-mex style dishes as well as an interesting cocktail list. The portions are generous by Japanese standards and the burgers are juicy and yummy. English Menus. Meals ¥600-¥1150, Drinks ¥400-¥600.

Koedo - a Unagi restaurant that serves Sweet-potato beer. This drink is a sweet beer made from the area's famous purple sweet potatoes.

• Kashiya-yokocho*…It is located near Youjyuin-temple (養寿院) since Edo period. It was prospering as temple town of Youjyuin and one of the place which started to make dagashi (駄菓子=cheap sweets). In the beginning of Showa period, in its peak, there were about 70 shops. It is still mirthful and selling cheap sweets, and including those made from sweet potato, one of the well-known products of Kawagoe.