Siege of Kawagoe Castle

Kawagoe Castle (川越城, Kawagoe-jō) is a flatland Japanese castle in the city of Kawagoe, in Japan's Saitama Prefecture. It is the closest castle to Tokyo to be accessible to visitors, as Edo castle is now the Imperial palace, and largely inaccessible. Along with a number of other castles in the region, Kawagoe saw much action in the 15th-16th centuries, as the Later Hōjō clan and two branches of the Uesugi clan vied for control of the Kantō region. In the 1450s, Kawagoe was held by the Yamanouchi branch of the Uesugi; the Ogigayatsu branch controlled nearby Shirai castle in Shimōsa Province, and the newly built Edo castle, which significantly bolstered their tactical advantages over their Yamanouchi cousins. Decades later, when the Hōjō clan sought to gain control of the Kantō, Hōjō Ujitsuna took Edo castle in 1524, and subsequently seized Kawagoe in 1537, with the latter serving as an important base of operations. For roughly two decades after that, the Uesugi launched a number of attempts to regain the region. This culminated in the 1545 Siege of Kawagoe Castle, as the heavily outnumbered Hōjō garrison of Kawagoe defeated an attempted siege of Edo castle. This victory would lead to the end of Uesugi power in the region, and the near-total destruction of that clan. The Hōjō having secured themselves in the region, Kawagoe served for another forty-five years as a satellite fortress defending Edo, and the clan's central castle at Odawara. Kawagoe commanded the road to Echigo province to the west, and its location on the Arakawa River and near the Edo River were important elements of its tactical significance in defending the Kantō from attacks from the north. From the fall of the Later Hōjō until the end of the Edo period, it was the headquarters of the Kawagoe Domain.

Hikawa Shrine (氷川神社) is a Shinto shrine in Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. In order to separate it from Hikawa Shrine in Omiya Ward, Saitama City, it is often called Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. Hikawa Shrine is known for its Reitaisai, or a festival considered the origin of Kawagoe festival, which was registered as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property and listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. It's also well known for its "corridor of windchiimes".

Kawagoe (川越市, Kawagoe-shi) is a city in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 February 2021, the city had an estimated population of 353,214 in 162,210 households and a population density of 3200 persons per km². The total area of the city is 109.13 square kilometres (42.14 sq mi). The city is known locally as "Little Edo" (小江戸, Koedo) after the old name for Tokyo, due to its many historic buildings.

Seiya-san Muryōshuji Kita-in (星野山無量寿寺喜多院) is a Buddhist temple located in the city of Kawagoe in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. It is noted for its main hall, which was part of the original Edo Castle, and the statues of 540 Rakan, disciples of the Buddha. It is also known informally as the Kawagoe Daishi (川越大師).

Senba Tōshō-gū (仙波東照宮) is a Shinto shrine in Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. It enshrines the first Shōgun of the Tokugawa Shogunate, Tokugawa Ieyasu. It is enumerated as one of the Three Great Tōshō-gū Shrines (日本三大東照宮). The shrine was founded in 1617.

Kawagoe Festival Museum (川越まつり会館) is a Kawagoe City local museum in Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture.

Naka-in is a Tendai Buddhist temple in Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture. Sangō is Seiyasan. Jigō is Muryoju-ji. Ingō is Naka-in.

Kashiya Yokocho (Penny Candy Lane) is a shopping street in Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture. Confectionery stores including penny candy stores line both sides of the street.

Renkei-ji (蓮馨寺) is a Buddhist temple of the Jōdo-shū sect in Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture. Its mountain name (sangō) is Kōhozan, while its monastery name (ingō) is Hōchi-in. The temple is dedicated to Amida Buddha.

The Kawagoe City Industry and Tourism Center is a commercial facility in Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture. It was established by Kawagoe City after converting sake storehouses (酒蔵) of the former sake brewery. The facility opened on October 1, 2010 with the nickname of ‘Koedo Kurari’.

Hon-Kawagoe Station (本川越駅, Honkawagoe-eki) is a passenger railway station on the Seibu Shinjuku Line located in the city of Kawagoe, Saitama, Japan, operated by the private railway operator Seibu Railway. This is one of three main stations of the city; the other two are Kawagoe Station and Kawagoeshi Station.

Kawagoeshi Station (川越市駅, Kawagoeshi-eki) is a passenger railway station located in the city of Kawagoe, Saitama, Japan, operated by the private railway operator Tōbu Railway.