Honmaru Goten (Kawagoe Castle)

Kawagoe Castle’s only remaining building

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#4 of 5 most visited in Kawagoe

Honmaru Goten (本丸御殿), meaning "the palace in the inner-most circle of defense", is the only surviving building of the former Kawagoe Castle. It is the palace building that served as the lord's residence and offices.

Kawagoe Castle was originally built in 1457. When Tokugawa Ieyasu took over its rule, he installed an important loyal subject as its lord, due to Kawagoe's importance as a trade city and a strategic point of defense north of the capital. Throughout the Edo Period, 21 different lords, all closely allied with the Tokugawa Shogunate, resided at Kawagoe Castle.

Today's structure was added to the castle in 1848, shortly before the end of the feudal age. It has spacious tatami rooms, a garden, and pictures of cultural heritage which are put on display. Visitors are also able to sit with three models of a feudal lord and his vassals, and imagine what it must have been like to hold a discussion in that room.

Honmaru Goten is a ten minute walk from the Warehouse District or Kitain Temple. The Kawagoe City Museum is located just across the street.

How to get to and around Kawagoe

Hours

9:00 to 17:00 (entry until 16:30)

Closed

Mondays (or following day if Monday is a national holiday), the 4th Friday of each month (except national holidays), December 29 to January 3

Admission

100 yen (Honmaru Goten only)
370 yen (also including including city museum and art museum)
600 yen (also including city museum, art museum, festival museum)

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