Kawagoe · Around Kawagoe Station

Kawagoe Hachimangu

How to get there and what to see · facts checked 2026-10-24

A shrine founded in 1030, in the Heian period. It is known for its path lined with red lanterns and for a ginkgo tree said to bring good matches.

Nearest station: 6 min walk from Kawagoe Station
Hours: No opening hours listed for the grounds (phone line 9:00–17:00)
Admission: No admission fee listed; the parking area in the grounds is free

What to see

Matchmaking ginkgo: the sacred tree in the grounds, planted to mark the Emperor's birth on December 23, 1933, according to the tourist association.
Sumo Inari Shrine: said to bring good health to the legs and hips.
Red lantern approach: it won the city's urban landscape award (2006, according to the city).
Hydrangeas: about 300 plants bloom in June. A purification ritual of walking through a ring of reeds is held in late June to early July.
Literature hall: first editions of every Akutagawa and Naoki Prize winner (reservation required).

Seasons

June is hydrangea season, with about 300 plants.

History

In 1030 the military governor Minamoto no Yorinobu prayed for victory here during the Taira no Tadatsune rebellion and, after winning, built the shrine. It will mark 1,000 years in 2030.

Getting there

About a 6-minute walk from the east exit of Kawagoe Station (JR and Tobu Tojo Line), or about 7 minutes on foot from Hon-Kawagoe Station (Seibu Shinjuku Line).

Directions in Google Maps →Official website →

Before you go

Commercial photographers are not allowed in the grounds.

Map of sights in Kawagoe

Tap a red pin to open that sight's page.

← Kawagoe guide: trains from Tokyo

Sources

Hours, prices and history come from the official websites and public tourism pages listed here. They can change, so check the official site before you go.