Coexistence of urban development and historical landscapes in the area around the station and Clare Mall
In recent years, urban redevelopment has progressed rapidly around Kawagoe Station and Hon-Kawagoe Station, dramatically changing the scenery and convenience of the area. This area was once dominated by historical streets and residential areas, but modern commercial facilities, high-rise apartment buildings, station buildings, and more are being constructed one after another in an effort to enhance urban functions.
In particular, Kawagoe Station has installed pedestrian decks (aerial walkways for pedestrians) on both sides of the east and west exits, making movement around the station smoother. This has improved mobility around the station, and the concentration of large shopping malls, restaurants, service facilities, and more has strengthened the area’s function as a hub for daily life, tourism, and business.
Furthermore, these developments are not just about improving convenience, but also contributing to the revitalization of the local economy and strengthening the system for welcoming tourists. By integrating modern urban spaces while maintaining Kawagoe’s appeal as a tourist city, a comfortable and easy-to-live-in environment is being created for local residents.
This type of urban redevelopment is attracting attention as an effort to create an urban space where tradition and modernity coexist without compromising Kawagoe’s historical and cultural value.
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 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.
