Time Bell Tower

The Toki no Kane is a wooden bell tower with three tiers in the historic center of Kawagoe and reaches about 16 meters in height. The construction shows traditional carpentry techniques with dark timber and a curved roof rising above the upper levels.

Feudal lord Sakai Tadakatsu commissioned the first tower between 1627 and 1634 to provide residents with acoustic time signals. After the great fire in Kawagoe in 1894 the current structure was rebuilt the same year while preserving the original design.

The name Toki no Kane translates directly as Bell of Time and refers to its centuries-old function as an acoustic timekeeper for the city. Today the bells still ring four times each day and remind residents and visitors of the traditional rhythm from the Edo period.

The tower stands about a 15-minute walk from Hon-Kawagoe Station on Saiwai-cho street and can be reached in two minutes on foot from Ichiban-gai bus stop. Visitors can view the architecture from outside as the interior is not open to the public.

The Environment Agency selected the bell sound in 1996 for its list of 100 Soundscapes of Japan and recognized its cultural value as acoustic heritage. The deep tone that echoes over the old rooftops and narrow lanes is one of the few traditional time signals still heard in modern Japan today.