Kawagoe day trip from Tokyo: cost calculator (Kawagoe Discount Pass vs Koedo Kawagoe Coupon)
Short answer: from Ikebukuro, the train to Kawagoe costs ¥980 per adult round trip in single tickets (Tobu Tojo Line ¥490 each way, about 30 minutes). If you walk around town, the Kawagoe Discount Pass (¥710) is cheapest. If you take the loop bus twice or more, the Koedo Kawagoe Coupon (¥1,110) beats the ¥1,200 Premium pass and every other option. Prices from the official Tobu and Tobu Bus pages (checked 2026-10-09).
Getting to Kawagoe
Loop bus in Kawagoe
From Kawagoe Station East Exit the Koedo Meisho Meguri Bus costs ¥220 to Kitain-mae and ¥230 to the old town stops (Hikawa Shrine, Ichibangai, Nakacho). Fares between other stops are shown on board. The calculator uses the cheaper of single bus fares and the ¥500 bus 1-day ticket.
Kawagoe passes and tours PR
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From our own visit
Kawagoe is all about Koedo, the old town. We enjoyed walking past the old merchant houses and buying dango (rice dumplings on a stick) to eat as we went. Somewhere in town there is a foot-reflexology path you walk on to press your soles. It hurt a lot.
Which ticket is cheapest, worked out
| Ticket (from Ikebukuro) | Adult | Child | Covers | Who can buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single tickets | ¥980 round trip | ¥500 | Tobu train only (IC card ¥481 each way) | Anyone |
| Kawagoe Discount Pass | ¥710 | ¥370 | Tobu round trip Ikebukuro ⇄ Kawagoe, shop discounts. No buses. | Foreign visitors (passport) |
| Koedo Kawagoe Coupon | ¥1,110 | ¥580 | Tobu round trip to Kawagoe or Kawagoeshi, Kawagoe ⇄ Kawagoeshi trains, the whole Koedo Meisho Meguri loop bus and some Tobu bus routes, shop offers | Anyone |
| Kawagoe Discount Pass Premium | ¥1,200 | ¥600 | Tobu round trip, Kawagoe ⇄ Kawagoeshi trains, designated Tobu buses including the loop bus, shop offers | Foreign visitors (passport) |
| Bus 1-day ticket (Tobu Bus) | ¥500 | ¥250 | Loop bus and designated Tobu buses, bought in Kawagoe | Anyone |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a day trip to Kawagoe from Tokyo cost?
For transport from Ikebukuro, per adult: ¥710 with the Kawagoe Discount Pass if you walk, ¥1,110 with the Koedo Kawagoe Coupon if you also ride the loop bus, or ¥980 in single train tickets. Children (6–11) pay ¥370, ¥580 and ¥500. Food and entry tickets are extra.
Is the Kawagoe Discount Pass Premium worth it?
Usually not, if you start at Ikebukuro. It costs ¥1,200, ¥90 more than the Koedo Kawagoe Coupon (¥1,110), which also covers the round trip and the loop bus. The Premium is the better choice on days the coupon cannot be used (Kawagoe Festival days and 31 December to 3 January), if you want to buy a digital ticket in advance, or if you want its shop and department store offers.
Is the Kawagoe Discount Pass worth it?
Yes, if you have a foreign passport and start at Ikebukuro. It costs ¥710 against ¥980 for two single tickets, a saving of ¥270 per adult. It does not cover buses, so add bus fares if you ride.
Where do I buy the Koedo Kawagoe Coupon?
At ticket machines or ticket offices of Tobu Tojo Line and Ogose Line stations, including Ikebukuro (not at Kawagoe or Kawagoeshi). The price depends on your station: ¥1,110 adult and ¥580 child from Ikebukuro. You can use it on one day within 10 days.
Can I get to Kawagoe on the Seibu Line or JR?
Yes. Seibu trains run from Seibu-Shinjuku to Hon-Kawagoe, and JR runs to Kawagoe Station. Seibu's Kawagoe Access Ticket (¥1,800 adult, ¥700 child) is a round trip from Seibu-Shinjuku or Takadanobaba including the Koedo limited express both ways. Seibu also sells a Koedo-Kawagoe Free Coupon with the Koedo Junkai Bus; check the price at the station. This calculator covers the Tobu route from Ikebukuro.
Good to know
- The loop bus runs from about 10:00 to 16:20 on weekdays and 9:20 to 17:05 on weekends and holidays (first and last departures from Kawagoe Station, timetable as of 1 April 2025). Suica, PASMO and cash are accepted.
- Children: Tobu child fares are half the adult fare rounded up to ¥10. On Tobu buses, up to two children aged 1–5 ride free with each paying passenger.
- Kawagoe Discount Pass: show your passport when you buy, and return to Ikebukuro on a Tobu train. It is valid on one day within one month of issue.
- Refunds of an unused Discount Pass or Premium cost a ¥150 fee per pass.
- Kawagoe Festival (mid-October): the coupon and the bus 1-day ticket are not valid, and buses may be diverted.
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Official sources (checked 2026-10-08)
- https://www.tobu.co.jp/foreign/th/pass/kawagoe.html
- https://www.tobu.co.jp/foreign/cn/pass/kawagoe.html
- https://www.tobu.co.jp/en/ticket/kawagoe/premium.html
- https://www.tobu.co.jp/en/sightseeing/information/pdf/kawagoeDiscountpass.pdf
- https://www.tobu.co.jp/en/faq/
- https://www.tobu.co.jp/odekake/ticket/tojo-line/koedo.html
- https://www.tobu.co.jp/pdf/ticket/unchinTable.pdf
- https://www.tobu.co.jp/en/access/kawagoe/
- https://www.tobu-bus.com/pc/area/koedo_routetour.html
- https://www.tobu-bus.com/pc/area/koedo.html
- https://www.tobu-bus.com/pc/service/regularfare/
- https://www.seiburailway.jp/railway/ticket/specialticket/kawagoe_access/
- https://www.seiburailway.jp/railway/ticket/specialticket/koedokawagoe-freecoupon/
The Ikebukuro–Kawagoe fare (¥490) is the 31–35 km band of Tobu's official fare table; the 30.5 km distance and the fare were cross-checked with a route search (Ekitan).