If you’ve ever been in Kawagoe warehouse district before, no doubt you’ll have noticed the large European looking building among all the old Edo buildings. If you were there in 2023 to early 2024, you may have been curious as to why it was behind hoarding. Well, it is because the building has been undergoing a transformation. The building, which actually functioned as a bank until 2020, will reopen in less than a month as the trendy “Resona Koedo Terrace”. They have kept the stunning yaezakura cherry blossom on the grounds, as you can see in the featured photo at the top of the post. The yaezakura blooms around mid April annually.
The former Saitama Resona Bank Kawagoe
Although “Resona” is spelt as Risona in Japanese, the bank made their official English Resona. Likewise the new facility is spelt Resona Koedo Terrace. But if people translate it from the Japanese spelling it will also be frequently referred to as Risona Koedo (even Coedo) Terrace! Located on Ichibangai in the center of Kawagoe City, the building is a registered tangible cultural property of Japan. The bank moved out in 2020 and they have been transforming the interior ever since. It will reopen as the Resona Koedo Terrace on May 15th 2024.
Risona / Resona Koedo Terrace
The new facility at the former Kawagoe branch of Saitama Resona Bank hopes to contribute to industry creation and the promotion of the Kawagoe/Saitama brand. In collaboration with local companies, they have created co-working spaces to form new industries and foster entrepreneurs. Such as a shared kitchen called “Clock Kitchen” and “challenge shops” for example. At the same time, they will promote Kawagoe and Saitama brands through cafes (e.g. Koedo Deck) and restaurants (e.g. Eccola and Trattoria Azzurri) that use local ingredients, specialty products, etc. In addition, there is a gallery on the first floor too. There is also a kids space reportedly. But it is currently not listed on the official brochure for the new facility.
In addition, the outdoor area around the bank will be opened up as a place for local residents and tourists to gather and “enjoy themselves, helping to create hustle and bustle and enrich life”. To that end, for the opening day the well established and loved Kawagoe Farmer’s Market will host a market on the grounds:
Upcoming events
Pink Ribbon Light Up 2026
They light the building up pink (although it looks more red to be honest, at least it did last year) from October 1st to 12th, for pink ribbon month.
New Years Market 2026
There is a New Years Market on Saturday January 3rd and Sunday January 4th 2026, from 10.30 am to 3.30 pm. Official event page.
Christmas Market 2025
There is a Christmas Night Marche (market) on Friday December 12th and Saturday December 13th 2025. It is on from 4 pm to 8 pm.
Kawagoe Farmer’s Market
Going forward the Kawagoe Farmer’s market will rotate between here, U_place and Unicus Kawagoe. The next Farmer’s market at Resona is on (tbc). It is an organic marche. Keep an eye out for the stunning yaezakura on the grounds!
Information
Event: Grand opening of the Resona (Risona) Koedo Terrace りそなコエドテラス開業記念オープニングイベント
Date: Wednesday May 15th 2024.
Time: from 10.30 am to 3 pm.
Cost: there is no admission fee.
Venue: the former Saitama Resona Bank, Saiwaicho, Kawagoe, Saitama 350-0063. View on Google Maps.
Official event page of the Kawagoe Farmer’s Market.
Find even more things to do and see in Kawagoe.
You heard it hear first! There is currently no other information online in English about this exciting new development. I’d really appreciate if you visit, further to reading this post, and post about it on social media that you give Insaitama a shout out. Likewise, if you are sharing it on a blog post, please link this post. Thank you.
farmers markets are often pretty cool but that building looks so non-Japanese!