【Jimny Trip】Will the rain help avoid crowds!? Enjoying Koedo Kawagoe & the retro station in Yorii, and indulging in Chichibu Waraji Katsu

Today it’s unfortunately raining... but I thought I could enjoy the usually crowded Koedo Kawagoe on such a day, so I headed there. Fortunately, the rain eased up, and I went north to see the retro station building. I ended my day in Chichibu, savoring Waraji Katsu.

Even in the rain, the beautiful townscape of Koedo Kawagoe

I set off with the expectation that visiting during the rain would allow me to avoid the typical crowds at tourist spots and enjoy the beautiful townscape at a leisurely pace. Fortunately, I found a parking spot and got out of the car to start exploring right away.

The first place I walked was Taisho Roman Dream Street. From March to May, it seems that koi nobori (carp streamers) are displayed. I could immediately feel the atmosphere unique to tourist spots. This street was sparsely populated, and at this point, it appeared to be free of crowds.

However, a nearby eel restaurant had a long line. When I headed towards the main Kawagoe Ichibangai shopping street and the confectionery alley, it was bustling with many tourists, proving that it's popular regardless of the weather.

Though my plans didn’t quite work out, I was satisfied with the charming scenery scattered here and there. Numerous buildings from hundreds of years ago remain, and it's impressive that this can be enjoyed without taking much time from Tokyo — truly "Koedo Kawagoe."

If you're stopping by while sightseeing in Kawagoe, I recommend "Small Trip Kawagoe Onsen." It’s easily accessible from the shopping street, and you can spend a relaxing time with excellent facilities.

Towards the retro station building in Yorii

I arrived at the retro wooden station building of the Chichibu Railway Hakurei Station. This unmanned station opened during the Meiji era and currently has a simple automatic ticket gate installed.

Not only the station building but the platform is also wooden, giving the impression that time has stopped. Near the station, there is a man-made lake called Tamayodo Lake, which seems to be a mecca for carp fishing. In front of the station, there are plenty of gourmet spots, including udon shops, pork rice bowl shops, and tonkatsu places.