Kawagoe City Industry and Tourism Center

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’.

Origins and history
The Kawagoe City Industry and Tourism Center opened in October 2010 (22nd year of the Heisei Era) by preserving and renovating sake storehouses (酒蔵) (registered tangible cultural properties) of the former Kagamiyama Brewery, which started business in 1875 (8th year of the Meiji Era). The former Kagamiyama Brewery is the last sake brewery doing business in Kawagoe, with its sake storehouses (酒蔵) constructed in the Meiji era, Taisho Era and Showa Era remaining. It went out of business in 2000 (12th year of the Heisei Era). In order to meet a request from citizens to preserve and utilize the historical and cultural facilities, Kawagoe City obtained the land and the buildings to design and establish a facility for local industry and tourism. This facility is aimed at offering opportunities for citizens and tourists to mingle, revitalizing the city. Local products are displayed for sale. Sake storehouses (酒蔵) include Meiji Kura for souvenirs, Taisho Kura for a restaurant and Showa kura for sake tasting.

The origin of its nickname ‘Koedo Kurari’: ‘Koedo’ is the nickname of Kawagoe City. The word ‘Koedo’ was combined with ‘Kura’ which relates to Kawagoe’s famous Kurazukuri, and ‘Ri’ which is associated with one’s home.

History

 * 1875 (8th year of the Meiji Era) Kagamiyama Brewery started business
 * 2000 (12th year of the Heisei Era) Kagamiyama Brewery went out of business
 * 2008 (20th year of the Heisei Era) Three storehouses of former Kagamiyama Brewery were registered as tangible cultural property
 * 2010 (22nd year of the Heisei Era) Kawagoe City Industry and Tourism Center (Koedo Kurari) opened
 * 2018 (30th year of the Heisei Era) Showa kura renewal opened (sake tasting)

Architectural overview

 * Address: 1-10-1 shintomi-cho, Kawagoe, Saitama
 * Use districts: industrial districts, building coverage ratio 80% floor-area ratio 400%
 * Fire prevention districts: quasi-fire prevention districts
 * Site area: 3,064.09 m2
 * Total floor area: 1,234 m2
 * Meiji Kura: 419 m2, two-story storehouse building, partly one-story, constructed in the middle Meiji Era
 * Taisho Kura: 305 m2, two-story wooden building, partly one-story, constructed in the early Taisho Era
 * Showa Kura: 232 m2, two-story storehouse building, constructed in the sixth year of the Showa Era
 * Tenji kura: 278 m2 one-story wooden building, construction date unknown
 * Open space: 500 m2

Cultural properties
Registered tangible cultural property (structures) Registration date: March 7, 2008 (20th year of the Heisei Era) Type: Industrial second/Structures Registration criteria: contributing to historical scenery of national land

Date 1868–1911 (middle Meiji Era) construction, two-story storehouse building, partly one-story tile-roofing building area Date 1912–1925 (early Taisho Era) construction, two-story wooden building, partly one-story tile-roofing building area Date 1931 (Showa Era) construction, two-story storehouse building, tile-roofing, building area
 * Former Kagamiyama Brewery Meiji Kura
 * Former Kgamiyama Brewery Taisho Kura
 * Former Kagamiyama Brewery Showa Kura

Related items

 * Kawagoe City’s Koedo Kurari Kagamiyama Brewery, originating in the eighth year of the Meiji Era, was converted to Koedo Kurari (registered tangible cultural property) by Koedo Kurari, kept at the National Diet Library.