Kawagoe is a satellite city of Tokyo but it is also the governmental, commercial and business centre of the southwestern (geographically it is central, but the administration and the public classify it as southwestern) Saitama Prefecture. It is a core city (and a business core city) designated by Japanese national government.

Kawagoe is famous for its sweet potatoes, and the local "Candy Street" sells such treats as sweet potato chips, sweet potato ice cream, sweet potato coffee, and even sweet potato beer, brewed at the local Koedo Brewery.

Some of its streets preserve the old castle town of the Edo period (17th to 19th centuries). Prominent sites in Kawagoe include the bell tower as seen above. The bell tower serves as the symbol for Koedo and rings three times a day. (Wikipedia)