About

Discover Kawaguchi

The first stop into Saitama prefecture travelling north from Tokyo on the JR Keihin-Tohoku line. As Kawaguchi lies over the Arakawa (River Ara) and outside the boundaries of Tokyo city it was the site of much industrial development before, and especially after, the Second World War. A great many smelting and die-casting foundries were set up and the city gained a reputation for small scale steel and precision instrument production (it was apparently the place in Japan for the production of athletic shot-puts). However as the urban sprawl spread across the Kanto plain the need for living space grew so in the last five years most of the factories and plants in Kawaguchi have been demolished to make way for apartment blocks and high rise condominiums. The station area has been extensively redeveloped with a great many new shops and shopping centers opening up. These two developments have changed the face of Kawaguchi from an aging and declining industrial town into a thriving commuter town with an expanding number of young families.

Explore

What to Experience in Kawaguchi

a body of water with a mountain in the background

a car driving down a street with a mountain in the background

"MOUNT FUJI"

A large white mountain towering over a city

white and brown mountain near body of water during daytime

A mountain with a body of water in front of it

a mountain with a snow capped peak in the background

a mountain covered in snow next to a body of water

Mt. Fuji as reflected in a lake.

Cuisine

Taste of Kawaguchi...

JGH Tokyo Hostel is a great, cheap place to stay. It's a short walk from Nishi-Kawaguchi Station, the second stop outside Tokyo-proper, and from there a short trip into Tokyo. They claim to be the cheapest accommodation in Tokyo and it's a believable claim. The manager/receptionist speaks good English and is very friendly. There's a supermarket just 100 m down the road, open till midnight, and a 24-hour coin laundromat opposite. Single capsule style rooms from ¥1495, Single private for ¥2610, Double for ¥1675 per person (all shared bathroom).

Plan Your Trip

Essential Information

Getting There

Multiple Options

From Narita Airport, you can take the JR Narita Express to Tokyo Station and change to the Keihin-Tohoku Line. The journey costs ¥3300, although for foreigners the one-way cost can be brought down to ¥1500 by purchasing a N'EX Tokyo Direct Ticket (From March 2015 this ticket will only be sold in a round-trip version for ¥4000). Of course, this journey is fully covered if you use the Japan Rail Pass or JR East Rail Pass. You can also use the Keisei Skyliner train from Narita, changing at Nippori for the JR Line. The Keihin-Tohoku Line stops at Nippori during the morning and evening hours. During the mid-day hours it skips Nippori, so you will have to take the Yamanote Line up to Tabata and change there to the Keihin-Tohoku Line. This is cheaper, at a cost of ¥2560. Even cheaper from Narita is to use the Keisei limited express - a commuter train which can get very crowded - and change at Nippori for the JR Line (¥1160)....

Travel Tips

Getting Around & Staying

Getting Around

JGH Tokyo Hostel is a great, cheap place to stay. It's a short walk from Nishi-Kawaguchi Station, the second stop outside Tokyo-proper, and from there a short trip into Tokyo. They claim to be the cheapest accommodation in Tokyo and it's a believable claim. The manager/receptionist speaks good English and is very friendly. There's a supermarket just 100 m down the road, open till midnight, and a 24-hour coin laundromat opposite. Single capsule style rooms from ¥1495, Single private for ¥2610, Double for ¥1675 per person (all shared bathroom).

Where to Stay

JGH Tokyo Hostel is a great, cheap place to stay. It's a short walk from Nishi-Kawaguchi Station, the second stop outside Tokyo-proper, and from there a short trip into Tokyo. They claim to be the cheapest accommodation in Tokyo and it's a believable claim. The manager/receptionist speaks good English and is very friendly. There's a supermarket just 100 m down the road, open till midnight, and a 24-hour coin laundromat opposite. Single capsule style rooms from ¥1495, Single private for ¥2610, Double for ¥1675 per person (all shared bathroom).

Money & Budget

JGH Tokyo Hostel is a great, cheap place to stay. It's a short walk from Nishi-Kawaguchi Station, the second stop outside Tokyo-proper, and from there a short trip into Tokyo. They claim to be the cheapest accommodation in Tokyo and it's a believable claim. The manager/receptionist speaks good English and is very friendly. There's a supermarket just 100 m down the road, open till midnight, and a 24-hour coin laundromat opposite. Single capsule style rooms from ¥1495, Single private for ¥2610, Double for ¥1675 per person (all shared bathroom).

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