Point 6|The dilemma of modern redevelopment and landscape conservation

Coexistence of urban development and historical landscapes in the area around the station and Clare Mall

In recent years, redevelopment has progressed in the areas around Kawagoe Station and Hon-Kawagoe Station, with modern buildings such as commercial facilities, apartment buildings, and station buildings being built one after another. In particular, the east exit of Kawagoe Station has seen the construction of a pedestrian deck (aerial walkway for pedestrians) connecting the buildings and a large shopping mall, improving convenience. A comfortable and easy-to-use urban space is spreading out, not only for locals but also for tourists.

However, a major issue is how this urban evolution can coexist with Kawagoe’s charming “Little Edo” historical streetscape. For example, when you walk from the station through Clare Mall to Ichibangai, where the kura-zukuri streetscape remains, the atmosphere changes from a modern commercial area to a historical landscape in an instant. How to deal with this “gap” is an important theme in Kawagoe’s urban development.

Clare Mall

Clare Mall is a central shopping street that developed from the Showa to Heisei eras, and is now a bustling downtown area lined with fashion stores for young people, restaurants, and large chain stores. With a total length of about 1.2 km, it is the second largest in Saitama Prefecture after the area around Omiya Station. However, some say that it lacks a sense of historical unity compared to the warehouse-style streets.

Kawagoe is now a model case that is attracting attention nationwide as a tourist city that must balance “preserving its landscape” and “economic development.” If the city places too much emphasis on preserving its history, redevelopment will not progress, and there is a risk that it will hinder the lives of residents and economic activity. On the other hand, if the city prioritizes convenience alone, Kawagoe’s identity as “Little Edo” may be lost.

Currently, Kawagoe City is taking steps to preserve the city’s landscape, such as enacting a landscape ordinance, preserving historical buildings, and burying power lines underground. However, to realize these ideals, detailed on-site coordination and dialogue among the various parties involved is essential.

Connecting history to the future… Kawagoe’s urban development is an effort that symbolizes the “modern dilemma” where the values of the past, present, and future intersect.