Conclusion: A perspective linking Kawagoe’s past, present, and future

Kawagoe is not just a tourist destination known as “Little Edo.” Here, the past, present, and future overlap in multiple layers, and rich layers of time are alive. From its beginnings as a castle town in the Middle Ages, it became a commercial city in the Edo period, and has undergone changes since the Meiji period, accepting modern culture, resulting in the formation of a unique city. The “geographical assets” that were born during this historical flow, such as the street layout, streetscapes, and place names, are still engraved in the landscape of Kawagoe today.

While modern Kawagoe welcomes over 7 million tourists a year, it also faces issues such as the lives of its residents, redevelopment, and landscape preservation. When considering the future of the city, it is essential to have a broad perspective that looks to the future while combining the geographical background of the past with the city’s current functions.

From the perspective of historical geography, Kawagoe is a place that requires “sustainable urban regeneration” that creates new value while making use of the urban structure inherited from the past. Redevelopment and landscape preservation, tourism and civic life, tradition and creativity. By viewing these seemingly contradictory themes as “connections” rather than conflicts, new possibilities for Kawagoe will be opened up.

Tourism is not just about conveying the charms of Kawagoe, but also about passing on the city’s memories to future generations. When visitors notice the time that flows behind the streets and the lives of the people, Kawagoe will be able to weave an even deeper story.

I hope that this website will encourage all visitors to Kawagoe to look not only at Kawagoe as a tourist destination, but also at Kawagoe as a city.