Kawagoe Festival

[takoyaki]

We're interested in checking out the Kawagoe Festival when we're in Japan next month. Has anyone been? Are the food stalls worth making a trip outside of Tokyo for (as my moniker implies, I do love some tako-yaki!)? Seems like this will take at least a half day to experience, so just trying to gauge if it's worth making room for in our itinerary. Any feedback on the festival or food stalls would be welcome, thanks!

[Robb S]

I haven't been to this particular festival, but generally speaking festival food stalls aren't worth going out of your way for - they tend to be fairly mediocre. Go for the festive atmosphere, or if there's something else you want to see in the area, but I certainly wouldn't make a special trip for the food.

There are a few places in Tokyo to get takoyaki and they're probably better.

[slew]

I have a friend that likes takoyaki, and he wants to hit this place on Odaiba in November... :)

http://www.odaiba-decks.com/?mode=dtm

[Markintokyo]

20 minute walk from the station to the festival, interesting but not culinarily inspiring. Go for the culture but not the food. Not far enough away from Tokyo to be unique or regionally quirky.

[takoyaki]

Thanks all for your feedback, I think we'll give the festival a miss and try to find some takoyaki and other snack foods around Tokyo instead.