Kawagoe · Around the Kura-zukuri Street and Bell of Time
Toki no Kane (Bell of Time)
How to get there and what to see · facts checked 2026-10-24
Photo: Yoshio Kohara・CC BY 3.0
A bell tower about 16 meters high rising above the old merchant street. It is Kawagoe's symbol and rings four times a day.
- Nearest station
- 15 min walk from Hon-Kawagoe Station
- Hours
- The bell rings at 6:00, 12:00, 15:00 and 18:00
- Admission
- No charge listed (marked 'free' on the tourist association page)
What to see
- The bell: rung automatically at 6:00, 12:00, 15:00 and 18:00.
- Three-tier tower: about 16 meters tall and a city-designated cultural property.
- Soundscapes of Japan: chosen in 1996 as one of 100 sounds worth preserving by the then Environment Agency.
History
It is said to have been first built in the early Edo period by the castle lord Sakai Tadakatsu. The present tower was rebuilt in 1894, the year after the great fire.
Getting there
A 15-minute walk from Hon-Kawagoe Station (Seibu Shinjuku Line). From Kawagoe Station, take the Kura no Machi bus to the 'Ichibangai' stop and walk 2 minutes.
Address：15-7 Saiwai-cho, Kawagoe, Saitama
Map of sights in Kawagoe
Tap a red pin to open that sight's page.
Nearby sights
← Kawagoe guide: trains from Tokyo
Sources
Hours, prices and history come from the official websites and public tourism pages listed here. They can change, so check the official site before you go.
- 川越市（時の鐘）（checked 2026-10-24）
- 小江戸川越観光協会（時の鐘）（checked 2026-10-24）
Map data：© OpenStreetMap contributors