There is no end to the number of attractive spots that you can visit as part of a day trip from Tokyo, including Kawagoe and the Minobusan Kuon-ji Temple. Although they might not be as familiar as some of the other tourist destinations near the capital, their historical and cultural charms will no doubt exceed even the highest of expectations. The good news is that Sunrise Tours now offers tours to both places!!
 Kawagoe, located in Saitama Prefecture, is less than an hour from central Tokyo by train. Kawagoe flourished in the Edo Period as a castle town and many of its traditional warehouses and buildings have been preserved. It is easy to see why the town is called "Ko-Edo," or "Little Edo" (Edo is the former name of Tokyo).
The tour covers the historical and cultural charms of Kawagoe, starting from the Kita-in Temple. 
This temple of the Tendai Sect of Buddhism is said to have been founded in 830 AD. The room, once a part of the great Edo Castle, is renowned for being the place where Iemitsu, the third Tokugawa shogun, was born. It was moved from Tokyo due to damage suffered during the Great Earthquake and World War II, and is now all that remains of the castle.
 A visit to Kurazukuri, one of the oldest clay-walled warehouses in Kawagoe dating back to 1792, and the Bell Tower, the symbol of Kawagoe (rebuilt in 1893) will make you feel as though you've slipped back to time.
 The Matsumoto soy sauce factory, which was founded in the Edo Period and has 250 years of history, is an experience you won't forget! You can see how tasty soy sauce is made; they even make soy sauce and sake ice cream!
 Surrounded by rich greenery of natural cedar trees and mass cherry blossom trees, Minobusan Kuon-ji Temple is the place like a private retreat for visitors. Among some fascinating high spots, the 300-year-old weeping willow style cherry tree survived and remains as beautiful and genuine as ever!!
 The tour departs Tokyo and takes two hours to reach Yamanashi via a drive that passes numerous fruit farms along the way.
 After arriving, your first challenge will be to scale Kuon-ji Temple's famous 287 steps.
At the top, inside the temple precincts, are exquisite carvings like the ones you see at Nikko Toshogu.
 Lunch consists of shojin ryori, vegetarian cooking eaten by Buddhist monks, and is served at a Japanese-style inn. The tour finishes at Nakatomi Washinosato where you can make your own washi (Japanese paper).
 The process is simple; just scoop water thick with pulp three times with a screen and your own private stock is created!
You can then draw pictures and letters on the washi using your finger. This tour is certainly one that ages can enjoy!
** Photos were provided by Commerce and Industry of Minobu Town.
|
