KochiKame Memorial Museum | Review by Stanley Kuo

On the day of the Kawagoe Festival, I followed the floats all the way to the area around the Time Bell, and of course I couldn't miss the Starbucks Coffee Kawagoe Bell Street Store. This Starbucks blends seamlessly into the traditional Japanese streetscape of the old warehouse district, bringing modern coffee culture and the atmosphere of Little Edo together naturally without feeling out of place at all. If you aren't paying close attention, you might actually walk right past it.

After chasing the floats all morning and doing quite a bit of walking, this was the perfect opportunity to stop, order a cup of coffee from the friendly and charming staff, find a comfortable seat, and get some proper rest.
While I was waiting for my coffee, an ornate float happened to slowly pass by outside the store. It was such a rare opportunity that I couldn't miss it, so I quickly picked up my camera and captured the beautiful sight of the float moving through the old streets.
Back at my seat, I held the coffee I'd just ordered and looked out the window. The streets were still filled with lively festival scenes, accompanied by bursts of festival music and crowds of people coming and going. At that moment, though, I could sit leisurely inside the store, slowly savoring my coffee and enjoying the excitement from a little distance.
On one side was the lively bustle of the Kawagoe Festival, and on the other was the relaxed calm of the café. Even though they were in the same place, it felt as if there were two completely different rhythms of travel, adding a rare sense of peace and comfort to this brief rest.
It turns out that the joy of traveling isn't just about being right in the middle of the excitement. Sometimes, stopping and quietly watching it unfold before you can also be a pleasure⋯⋯

Before visiting, I didn’t know much about Tokorozawa Sakura Town. I only knew it was a complex attraction combining culture, art, and entertainment, with a museum, restaurants, stores, event and performance spaces, and even a shrine. As for what the place was actually like, I didn’t have much of an idea.

This time, I took the train to Higashi-Tokorozawa Station. As soon as I stepped outside, I was drawn to the distinctive architecture and thought that this place seemed to hold some kind of exciting appeal. Following the map on foot, I noticed many creative little touches along the streets, and before long, I saw the most eye-catching landmark of the trip—the Kadokawa Culture Museum.

Designed by renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, the building’s unique and dynamic exterior alone creates a powerful visual impact. Even just standing in front of it, you can sense how strikingly different its presence is from the surrounding environment.

Inside, the museum combines a variety of elements, including history, art, books, and anime culture. I happened to visit during a special Galaxy Express 999 exhibition. Large-scale projections, edited animation clips, lighting, and sound effects created an immersive experience that felt like stepping into the world of the series. The overall visual effect was truly breathtaking.

Another thing that left an especially strong impression on me was the famous Bookshelf Theater. Huge 8-meter-high bookshelves surround the space, and the layered rows of books create an astonishing sense of scale. Combined with the lighting and projection effects, they add an even more fantastical atmosphere. Even if you aren’t particularly fond of reading, it would be hard not to be captivated by the sight of this spectacular sea of books. For me, seeing the Bookshelf Theater in person was reason enough to make a special trip here.

I also knew before visiting that sweet potatoes are one of Saitama Prefecture’s signature specialties, but I didn’t expect to be lucky enough to try a limited-time sweet potato pudding here. I originally just wanted to try something new, but the flavor ended up leaving a strong impression on me. I looked it up afterward and found that it doesn’t seem to be available in Taiwan yet, making this small surprise during the trip feel even more rare and special.

Looking back, I originally didn’t have particularly high expectations for Tokorozawa Sakura Town. But after visiting, everything from the architecture and exhibitions to the spatial design and local specialty foods offered an experience that exceeded my expectations. What began as a trip driven by curiosity ended up becoming one of the most memorable stops on my visit to Saitama.

For this day trip to Nagatoro and Chichibu, I chose a different mode of transportation from most travelers. I set out from Kumagaya aboard the SL Paleo Express steam train instead of taking the Seibu Limited Express Laview from Ikebukuro to Chichibu. Besides enjoying the natural scenery along the Chichibu Railway, I specifically set aside the afternoon for downtown Chichibu, hoping to visit some of the area’s famous power spots and try the distinctive Chichibu Pilgrimage Circuit.
My first stop was the historic Chichibu Shrine. The carvings decorating the shrine’s main hall are quite ornate, and the intricate carvings throughout the grounds are well worth slowing down to appreciate in detail.
As for the Chichibu Pilgrimage Circuit, after considering the departure time of my return train and how far I could walk, I decided to visit just Temple No. 15, Shorinji, which I felt a special connection with. Before setting out, I read other travelers’ accounts of their pilgrimages and always wondered what kind of appeal could make people willing to spend the time visiting these temples one by one. It wasn’t until I personally set foot on the pilgrimage route that I gradually came to understand the unique attraction of traveling through Chichibu’s mountains, forests, and communities while enjoying the local scenery and experiencing its traditional religious culture. Chichibu has 34 pilgrimage temples in total, so it looks like I’ll need to plan a separate trip dedicated to the pilgrimage if I want to visit them all.
At the end of the trip, I arrived at Seibu-Chichibu Station, where Matsuri no Yu, connected directly to the station, was the perfect place to recharge and enjoy local food. Of course, my first choice was Chichibu’s specialty, waraji katsudon! The pork cutlets were fried until golden and crispy, coated in the restaurant’s special sweet-and-savory sauce, and served with steaming white rice. It was a very satisfying meal. I had already sampled local beer aboard the SL Paleo Express through a Chichibu Nishiki event, but before leaving, I naturally wanted to seize one last opportunity to try more beer brewed in Chichibu. As I enjoyed the food and drinks, most of the fatigue built up from walking all day seemed to disappear in an instant.
Another delightful surprise on this trip to Nagatoro and Chichibu was the beautiful fall scenery along the way. Although the maple leaves had not yet completely turned red, they happened to look exactly the way I like them best. The intermingling shades of red, yellow, and green made the forests appear even more vivid and layered. Together with the ginkgo trees that had quietly begun turning yellow, there were beautiful views everywhere that made me stop and admire them.
Looking back on the day, from the nostalgic steam train and Nagatoro’s natural scenery to Chichibu’s shrines, pilgrimage, and local food, every experience left me with different memories. My only slight regret is probably that I discovered so late just how captivating the scenery and charm of Nagatoro and Chichibu are. It also made me start looking forward to my next visit.