Information for the New branch of Glin Coffee near Kawagoe’s famous sunflowers and with secret sunflowers of their own! At the newly reopened Kawagoe Agriculture Interaction Center promoting “Green Tourism”. This post also contains event information. Quick update 2025: the sunflowers are in bloom now and the field can be booked and sunflowers picked until Sunday September 14th. Booking recommended – it can be done same day subject to availability.

In November 2022 the Kawagoe City Agriculture Interaction Center was reopened after more than a year of renovations. The Agriculture Center has always been pivotal in sustainable living in the Isanuma area of Kawagoe. But the new center seeks to further promote green tourism in the area. Green Tourism is defined, by the World Trade Organization, as “tourism activities that can maintained or sustained indefinitely in their social, economic, cultural and environmental contexts.” The trendy Glin Coffee, a rapidly growing brand of Kawagoe, will play a key role in attracting visitors to the area. In addition, there is a new affordable, fully equipped barbecue area on one end of the center, with views of Isa Marsh past a manicured wide lawn. In summer, the photogenic sunflowers will be an added draw.

Glin Coffee Isanuma Green Tourism Branch

The Isanuma Green Tourism branch of Glin coffee has prime space in the center. Whether you sit indoors or out, you have a view of the lake and the lush lawn. Moreover, there are some cherry blossoms, plum blossoms and wisteria in view seasonally. Right now, one of the plum blossom trees has quite a few flowers on it:

Thanks to the high ceiling and dozens of windows / sliding doors, even inside feels open, light and airy. You can buy coffee, desserts, light snacks and even some local produce. Right now they have a seasonal winter beverage: a “Snow Chocola Berry Parazen”.

Secret Sunflowers Kawagoe

The sunflowers are on the opposite end of the center to the lake, lawn and Glin Coffee. But thanks to the architecture of the Agriculture Center, the back of the building actually accentuates the view of the one of the two sunflower fields! The sunflowers are on the farming land of the center, a lot like what we call allotments back in Ireland. The land can be used by locals to grow fruits or vegetables.

The sunflowers at Kawagoe City Agriculture Interaction Center usually bloom in August annually. However, there is another field, very close by, that is in bloom now on September 10th 2024 (pictured below). In total, there are four completely different sunflower fields in this area of Kawagoe. One of which, by the marsh, became quite famous during the pandemic. Those usually grow in September and right beside them there is an area where summer sunflowers grow from early August. Then the two behind the agriculture center – one that blooms in August, photo above, one that is in bloom now. There are approximately 20,000 in bloom now (September 2024). The first photo below is from September 10th 2024, then second one from September 18th 2024:

Even though the Agriculture Center was closed in 2022, they did actually grow the sunflowers. There was even a sunflower picking event. I did actually share the information for the sunflowers at the time, on social media and within the Isanuma Flower Garden sunflowers post. But now that the Agriculture center is back open, with a new trendy cafe, I’ve moved the information to this post. But the locations are really very close to each other. It only takes about ten minutes on foot from the Isanuma Flower Gardens sunflowers to the Agriculture Center sunflowers.

Sunflower picking 2025

The sunflower picking is from September 6th to 14th 2025. It costs 100 yen. You can apply here.

>>Don’t miss this pancake cafe across the road!<<

Kawagoe City Agriculture Interaction Center

Apart from Glin Coffee, the center has some meeting rooms, a hall and the aforementioned barbecue area. When I first wrote this post the barbecue area wasn’t open yet, but it is now in 2024. And it looks like a particularly good barbecue area. It is fully equipped and has a large roof so you can even use it on a rainy day. Costs vary greatly depending on what and how much you need to hire. And you can get a full set with food and everything, but that needs to be booked five or more days in advance. See all the barbecue options here.

>>Check out this cafe in a beautiful Kominka across the road<<

Mostly the center has facilities for people using the allotments. So there are toilets, showers and changing rooms. They run some events during the year, which offer opportunities to try some agricultural experiences. For example, planting rice. There is a medium sized parking lot and a place to park bicycles too. In addition, on the east corner of the center grounds you can rent bikes:

Hello Cycling!

Hello Cycling is actually quite expensive in other parts of Saitama and other prefectures, but in Kawagoe it is reasonably priced. It costs 60 yen per 15 minutes, but it is capped at 1000 yen for a full day (subject to change). Despite having a very English company name, they currently have no English information on their official website. Basically, you need to download the app or sign up on the web to use the bikes. But the inaccessibility of the app with some international phones, coupled with the lack of English / other languages, has led to quite a few negative reviews online from non-Japanese speaking users.

Events

Kawagoe AR Adventure Tour

From January 10th to March 31st 2025 this is one of the sites of a digital stamp rally. On January 18th and 19th there will be special events for the occasion with food trucks on site. More about this digital event.

Aosora Festival 2025

This has become a regular event at the Interaction Center. It is an event with food and crafts aimed at children / families. The next one is on Sunday January 26th from 10 am to 3 pm. Official event page.

Agriculture Interaction Center Festival 2024

The Kawagoe Agriculture Interaction Center festival is on Saturday November 23rd 2024, from 10 am to 3 pm. There are live performances on the day. They will have various hands on experiences. Including a petting zoo with rabbits and guinea pigs. There will also be stalls on the day. Official event page on the Kawagoe City website.

Information

Venue: Kawagoe City Agriculture Interaction Center 川越市農業ふれあいセンター

Address: 887 Isanuma, Kawagoe, Saitama 350-0855. View on Maps. Sunflower fields on maps

Hours: 9 am to 5.15 pm

Cost: free to visit, sunflower viewing also free.

Access

You can get a bus to relatively nearby – around a ten minute walk. If you get a bus bound for Ageo Station West, Kawagoe Sports Park or Kawagoe Medical center, alight at Kamoda 鴨田 bus stop. There is also a bus that goes to Isanuma Adventure Forest 伊佐沼冒険の森 (formerly just called Isanuma Park 伊佐沼公園) which is about a 20 minute walk from the center. The center has a free parking lot.

Agriculture Center Official website | Glin Coffee Isanuma Green Tourism branch Facebook post