About 30 Minutes from Tokyo: Koshigaya, Saitama Hosts First "EDO Nigiwai Market" -- Vegetables, Traditional Crafts and Japanese Culture

TOKYO, Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Located about 30 minutes from Tokyo, Koshigaya City in Saitama Prefecture will host the first "EDO Nigiwai Market — Koshigaya Vegetables and Traditional Crafts Experience Market" on November 15.

The event will take place at AEON LakeTown OUTLET, a major shopping destination in the area. Visitors can taste and purchase locally grown vegetables and food, discover traditional crafts such as daruma and hina dolls, and enjoy Japanese cultural experiences including live shamisen music, samurai performances, armor wearing and shuriken throwing.

The event is planned to continue approximately once every three months, featuring seasonal food, crafts and cultural experiences. Organizers aim to develop it into a gateway for both Japanese and international visitors to discover Koshigaya's history, culture and people.

Tourism Media Service spoke with the organizer about the concept behind the event and what visitors can expect.

The event is planned and operated by ROJICOYA, which develops cultural experiences and walking tours centered on Edo-period and traditional Japanese culture. A pre-event will be held on September 27, with visitor feedback and operational findings reflected in the first full-scale event on November 15.

The main theme is "Koshigaya — A Town That Helped Sustain Edo." Edo is the former name of present-day Tokyo and refers to the period from 1603 to 1868, when the city developed into Japan's political and economic center.

The market will introduce food, agriculture, craftsmanship and culture passed down in Koshigaya from the Edo period to today. Visitors will learn about the area not only through displays, but also by tasting, shopping, watching and taking part in hands-on experiences.

A Historic Post Town About 25 Kilometers from Edo

Koshigaya is located about 25 kilometers from Nihonbashi in central Tokyo. During the Edo period, it flourished as Koshigaya-juku, the third post town on the Nikko Kaido, a major road connecting Edo with Nikko.

A juku was a post town where travelers could rest, eat and stay overnight. Such towns also became important hubs for the movement of goods and information.

With rivers, waterways and fertile farmland, Koshigaya developed agriculture alongside transportation and trade. Local crafts and skilled handwork also grew as part of everyday life.

The EDO Nigiwai Market will show how that history remains connected to modern Koshigaya through local vegetables, food, crafts and culture.

For international visitors, "EDO" serves as an accessible gateway into Japanese history, while the event also introduces the farmers, craftspeople and residents who continue these traditions today.

Four Ways to Enjoy the Market

The venue will be organized around four main experiences, making it easy for visitors to understand what they can see and do.

Taste & Shop | The Flavors of Koshigaya

Visitors can discover vegetables grown in Koshigaya and other local foods.

Along with buying fresh produce and regional specialties, they can learn about the land where the vegetables are grown and the knowledge of local farmers. The aim is to introduce both the food and the people behind it.

See & Shop | Traditional Craftsmanship of Koshigaya

The market will introduce locally inherited crafts including Koshigaya daruma, traditional Japanese good-luck dolls; hina dolls, displayed during Hinamatsuri, Japan's annual Girls' Festival; samurai armor; and traditional boxes made from lightweight paulownia wood, known in Japan as kiri.

Visitors can see these items up close, purchase selected products and learn about the skills of the craftspeople who make them.

The experience also introduces monozukuri, a Japanese concept referring not simply to manufacturing, but to the care, skill and craftsmanship behind making things.

Watch & Listen | Japanese Live Music and Performances

The event will feature live performances of the shamisen, a traditional Japanese three-stringed instrument, as well as dynamic samurai performances.

Even visitors unfamiliar with Japanese history or performing arts can enjoy the sounds, movements and atmosphere as an introduction to Japanese culture.

Become a Samurai or Ninja | Armor & Shuriken Experience

Visitors can put on traditional samurai armor and step into the world of Japan's historic warriors.

A ninja-themed activity will also allow participants to try throwing shuriken, small throwing weapons commonly associated with ninja.

These hands-on activities are designed to make Japanese culture something visitors can experience rather than simply observe.

Together, the four elements — food, crafts, performances and hands-on activities — encourage visitors to explore the market while discovering different sides of Koshigaya.

From the Market to the Rest of Koshigaya

The attractions presented at the event are only an introduction to what Koshigaya has to offer.

A tourism information area will guide visitors to places throughout the city, including the historic Nikko Kaido and Koshigaya-juku area, local farms and workshops, shops, waterfront areas and cultural sites.

Among them are Hisaizu Shrine, a historic Shinto shrine; Koshigaya Noh Theater, where visitors can encounter Noh, one of Japan's oldest forms of classical performing arts; and Hanata-en, a traditional Japanese garden.

Visitors who enjoy Koshigaya's vegetables will be encouraged to visit farms and local produce shops. Those interested in craftsmanship can explore workshops and meet local makers, while visitors inspired by samurai culture or traditional performing arts can continue to historical and cultural sites around the city.

Organizers also plan to develop half-day and full-day tours connecting farms, workshops, shops, shrines, temples and cultural facilities, along with year-round bookable experiences.

A New Koshigaya Experience Every Three Months

Following the first full-scale event on November 15, the EDO Nigiwai Market is expected to continue approximately once every three months.

Each edition will feature seasonal vegetables, food, crafts and cultural experiences, giving visitors a reason to return and discover a different side of Koshigaya throughout the year.

The wider project positions the market as a gateway to the city. Rather than ending a visit at LakeTown, organizers hope visitors will continue on to farms, workshops, historic streets and cultural facilities around Koshigaya.

The project also aims to connect tourism with local industries and cultural heritage. By creating opportunities to meet farmers, craftspeople and cultural practitioners, organizers hope to encourage repeat visits, local spending and the continuation of regional traditions.

For travelers visiting LakeTown, the EDO Nigiwai Market offers an opportunity to discover another side of Koshigaya.

The hope is that visitors will leave thinking: "I didn't know Koshigaya had this kind of history and culture. Next time, I want to explore the city itself."

The market aims to become the first step toward discovering "the Koshigaya beyond LakeTown."

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Contact Information

For reservations and inquiries regarding the event, please contact ROJICOYA.

Official website: https://rojicoya.jp
Tel: +81-3-6812-0780
Email: [email protected]
Contact: Yoshika Yonemoto

SOURCE Tourism Media Service