Excellent events at Renkeiji in Kawagoe
Each year Renkeiji plays a pivotal role in the opening ceremony of the annual Koedo Kawagoe Spring Festival. They have a very popular event during the cherry blossom season, with wine last year, but with tea this year! But its not the only big event on at the temple annually. In fact, there are dozens of events on at the temple throughout the year. Including, but not limited to, a flower festival each season and the popular ‘Remix’ event in Autumn and Koedo Imo Park in winter. You will find information for the upcoming events below.
Renkeiji Temple Kawagoe
Grounds of Renkeiji KawagoeRenkeiji is a Buddhist temple in Kawagoe. For me personally I always think of it as marking the start of the tourist district in Kawagoe. Moreover, the temple is tightly wound into the fabric of Kawagoe’s history. In addition, it is central to several of the larger events throughout the year. Not just religious events, but cultural, food and music events too. Including hosting the opening ceremony of the Koedo Spring Festival and the annual Tojin Soroi Festival. It also has an event on the 8th of every month for the temple’s market day. Sometimes its a flea market. In addition, it hosts various smaller events throughout the year…
Each seasonRenkeiji have a market on the 8th of every month, weather permitting. In addition, each season Renkeiji have a flower festival with flower workshops. That is, once every three months. The date for the next one is on Saturday April 11th 2026 from 10 am to 3 pm. Official website.
SpringMarch: Koedo X Sakura X Cha
The tourist area of Kawagoe is fondly known as Koedo Kawagoe or Koedo (Little Edo) for short. Sakura is the Japanese for cherry blossoms and “Cha” is the word for tea. In 2023 and 2024 it was “Wa” for wine, but this year they will have a tea event instead. Enjoy cherry blossoms with your tea in Little Edo. And Renkeiji has some truly beautiful cherry blossoms, as you can see in the current feature photo at the top of the post.
The cherry blossoms x tea festival is on Sunday March 30th 2025. They will also have another event on the Saturday, March 29th called “Nagaya no Hanami”. Furthermore, on that day (Saturday) they will also have an one day street piano on the temple grounds. Moreover, you can see musket shooting at the crossroads outside the temple at 1.40 pm that day (Saturday). In addition the fire brigade marching band will perform in the precincts for the opening ceremony of the Koedo Kawagoe spring festival on Saturday March 29th 2025.
Other events on during the Koedo Kawagoe spring festival:
The excellent Koedo Kawagoe Spring FestivalMay: Kura Festival
Later in spring, there is a Kura Festival annually. In 2024, it will be on Sunday May 26th 2024, from 12.30 to 3 pm. It is mainly a “talk” event, but you can buy Koedo beer on the premises on the day! Official event page.
AutumnThere are two big events annually in Autumn. Kawagoe Remix and Tojin Soroi. However, I don’t think Tojin Soroi is on this year. Instead there is an International festival in Westa. But at Renkeiji this year there is also another interesting cultural event; the fox’s wedding. First up, Kawagoe Remix:
A new Kawagoe Remix was born from the pandemicTojin Soroi which is normally on mid November, BUT it is not yet scheduled for 2024. Instead they will have an international festival in Westa / Unicus;
Kawagoe International exchange festival replaces Tojin SoroiThe Fox’s WeddingThe 3rd “Kitsune no Yomeiri” Fox’s wedding is on Saturday November 9th 2024. The drama starts at 3.30 pm on the grounds of Renkeiji, from there they will parade up Ichibangai, Taisho Roman Street and Kawagoe Kumano Shrine. Official website.
WinterKawagoe Coffee FestivalEach year in December at least 16 different coffee shops participate in the Kawagoe Coffee Festival. Famous coffee shops from all over the country come together and you can enjoy the unique flavors of each restaurant. Each booth sells drinks and beans. There is also food at the event. You can purchase a ticket that allows you taste four cups of special coffee from popular coffee shops!
Koedo Hamburger FesThe second annual Koedo Hamburger Fes is on Saturday December 7th 2024 from 10 am to 4 pm. Last year for the inaugural event approximately 3,500 people visited. This year, the theme is “Saitama vs. Tokyo”. Five famous hamburger restaurants from Saitama and five from Tokyo will compete! You can vote in the venue for which burger you thought was the most delicious. In addition, an one-day only limited hamburger created in collaboration with Mrs.hamburger, Kawagoe’s most famous burger joint, will be unveiled! Official website.
Tea festivalThe tea festival is also on in December. In 2024, it will be on Sunday December 15th. Approximately 12 different tea rooms and tea speciality stores participate in the festival, including Nelson’s Tea, a Kawagoe tea shop that specializes in tea from Sri Lanka. In 2023, there was also a table dressing exhibition at the event. Kocha Romankan Shimano Tea Room also participated. Kawagoe Tea Festival official Instagram page.
SetsubunOf the religious events at the temple, their setsubun festival is popular. During the pandemic they didn’t have their usual procession and bean throwing ceremony, but both were on in 2024, but on a date in January rather than February. Moreover, you had to apply to participate. This year, 2026, it is on Sunday February 1st.
Coedo Imo ParkThis year the Coedo Imo Park is changing location and will not be on in Renkeiji:
The fourth annual Coedo Imo ParkVenueRenkeiji, 〒350-0066 Saitama, Kawagoe, Renjakucho, ７−1. View on Google Maps.
Temple’s website – there are so many events at Renkeiji nowadays that they don’t add them to the temple website, only the really really big or religious events.
Wine event official post on Facebook.
Official Koedo Imo Park Instagram
Renkeiji by night during the Remix eventNearby- There is a lovely restaurant next door “Today’s Lunch” that serves delicious healthy food.
- Kawagoe Kumano Shrine
- Hatago Coedoya hotel
- The Best 100% Wagyu beef sliders in Kawagoe
Editor’s note: first published as Koedo Imo Park on February 10th 2023. Changed to information for the cherry blossom event and republished on February 25th 2023. Events have been added periodically throughout 2023 and 2024.
Support this blog for free by sharing this post:- More