While its better-known cousin Nikko is highly recommended, the World Heritage-listed time capsule of Old Japan, Kawagoe, is considerably closer to downtown Tokyo. It is just 30 minutes or so by train from Shinjuku, and charming in its own right. The main attraction is a historically preserved main street of Edo-era kurazukuri (clay warehouses), which now hosts all manner of cafés, restaurants and shops within their walls. Nearby Kitain Temple is one of Japan’s most important, housing the only remaining structures of Edo Castle.
