Kawaguchi

Kawaguchi (川口) is a city in Saitama prefecture.

Understand
The first stop into Saitama prefecture travelling north from Tokyo on the JR Keihin-Tohoku line. As Kawaguchi lies over the Arakawa (River Ara) and outside the boundaries of Tokyo city it was the site of much industrial development before, and especially after, the Second World War. A great many smelting and die-casting foundries were set up and the city gained a reputation for small scale steel and precision instrument production (it was apparently the place in Japan for the production of athletic shot-puts).

However as the urban sprawl spread across the Kanto plain the need for living space grew so in the last five years most of the factories and plants in Kawaguchi have been demolished to make way for apartment blocks and high rise condominiums. The station area has been extensively redeveloped with a great many new shops and shopping centers opening up. These two developments have changed the face of Kawaguchi from an aging and declining industrial town into a thriving commuter town with an expanding number of young families.

Its location means that it's great for getting into central Tokyo (Tokyo station 23 minutes, Shinjuku 21 minutes, Ebisu 28 minutes, Roppongi 41 minutes) but because it's in Saitama the rents and costs are proportionally lower.

Lastly as Kawaguchi is on the River Ara ("Kawaguchi" means river mouth) it means that unlike many towns there is a lot of greenery to be found. Along the river bank, between the river and the raised flood banks, the city government has put football (soccer), rugby and baseball pitches, a couple of golf course, picnic areas and just open space for all to use. It makes a big difference to have somewhere green and quiet to head after a week working in the concrete jungle.

Tourist information site
The local Tourism and Products Association has a Japanese-only guide site.

By plane
From Narita Airport, you can take the JR Narita Express to Tokyo Station and change to the Keihin-Tohoku Line. The journey costs ¥3300, although for foreigners the one-way cost can be brought down to ¥1500 by purchasing a N'EX Tokyo Direct Ticket (From March 2015 this ticket will only be sold in a round-trip version for ¥4000). Of course, this journey is fully covered if you use the Japan Rail Pass or JR East Rail Pass.

You can also use the Keisei Skyliner train from Narita, changing at Nippori for the JR Line. The Keihin-Tohoku Line stops at Nippori during the morning and evening hours. During the mid-day hours it skips Nippori, so you will have to take the Yamanote Line up to Tabata and change there to the Keihin-Tohoku Line. This is cheaper, at a cost of ¥2560. Even cheaper from Narita is to use the Keisei limited express - a commuter train which can get very crowded - and change at Nippori for the JR Line (¥1160).

Allow just over an hour to travel from Narita to Kawaguchi by Skyliner, 90 minutes by Narita Express, and 100 minutes by Keisei limited express.

From Haneda Airport, take the Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho, OR the Keikyu Line to Shinagawa, and change to the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line for the run to Kawaguchi (One hour, ¥760 and ¥780, respectively)

By train
Kawaguchi is served by several train stations at various locations in the city.


 * Kawaguchi and Nishi-Kawaguchi stations are located in the southern part of the city on the JR Keihin Tohoku Line. Kawaguchi can be reached in approximately 25 minutes from Tokyo station at a cost of ¥290; Nishi-Kawaguchi is another three minutes up the line. From the western end of the Tokyo metropolis, take the Yamanote Line and change to the Keihin-Tohoku line at Tabata station, or take the Saikyo Line and change at Akabane station.

Keihin-Tohoku line trains run directly to/from Yokohama (One hour, ¥690).


 * Higashi-Kawaguchi station is located in the northern part of the city on the JR Musashino Line.
 * The Saitama Rapid Railway serves several stations in Kawaguchi, including Kawaguchi-Motogo station, about 1 km east of JR Kawaguchi, as well as Higashi-Kawaguchi station. Trains on this line run through to the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line and Tokyu Meguro Line. Direct connections can be made to stations such as Komagome and Meguro on the Yamanote Line, but the Saitama Rapid Railway is more expensive; taking the JR line to Kawaguchi station will be much cheaper.

By bus
From Shinjuku station, walk out the West exit. Go to the ground floor of Yasuda Seimei 2 to take "Keio Bus" for ¥1700. The trip takes 1 hr 45 min.

Budget
JGH Tokyo Hostel is a great, cheap place to stay. It's a short walk from Nishi-Kawaguchi Station, the second stop outside Tokyo-proper, and from there a short trip into Tokyo. They claim to be the cheapest accommodation in Tokyo and it's a believable claim. The manager/receptionist speaks good English and is very friendly. There's a supermarket just 100 m down the road, open till midnight, and a 24-hour coin laundromat opposite. Single capsule style rooms from ¥1495, Single private for ¥2610, Double for ¥1675 per person (all shared bathroom).

Go next

 * Hatogaya
 * Koshigaya
 * Soka
 * Warabi
 * Toba
 * Saitama
 * Tokyo
 * Misato
 * Asaka