Kawagoe Ichibangai

Kawagoe Ichiban Gai Street, which is lined with kurazukuri (warehouse style) buildings, is about a 10-minute walk away from Hon-Kawagoe Station on the Seibu Shinjuku Line. A third of the street was burned down due to a big fire during the Meiji Era, but the kurazukuri buildings remained. Since then, the number of kurazukuri merchant houses increased as the style is the best construction for fireproofing. As times changed, many kurazukuri houses started to be demolished, but residents began activities to preserve the townscape and in 1999, the street was designated an Important Preservation District for Groups of Historic Buildings of Japan by the Agency for Cultural Affairs. The Ichibangai Shopping Street, with its Edo atmosphere, is bustling with people there to shop for everyday products as well as gift items, Japanese style dinnerware and food, and to eat at the restaurants. The town is also known for its jinrikisha sightseeing services which is popular among tourists for its flexible services including station pickup.