Seibu Railway will operate the “Beer Express Red Arrow – Midsummer Beer Journey” using regular trains for three days from July 25 (Fri) to 27 (Sun) in conjunction with the “Kawagoe Million Lights Summer Festival” to be held on July 26 (Sat), 2025.
Draft beer poured by staff with experience as a studium seller
The Kawagoe Million Lights Summer Festival, a summer tradition in Koedo Kawagoe, is a citizen-participation summer festival that has its roots in lanterns commemorating the death of Matsudaira Naritsune, who served as the lord of Kawagoe Castle during the Edo period, and this year marks its 44th year. By holding events to encourage visitors to use the railway, Seibu aims to reduce traffic congestion, which is an issue in the central city area around Hon-Kawagoe Station.
A bar counter will be specially installed in car 4 of one of the regular Shinjuku Line Limited Express “Red Arrow Koedo” trains heading from Seibu Shinjuku Station to Hon-Kawagoe Station. Staff with experience selling beer at the Belluna Dome will board the train and serve two glasses of freshly poured draft beer and a selection of snacks for you to enjoy on the way to your destination.
Awa Odori dance on the Hon-Kawagoe Station platform
There will be nine trains in total over the three days that will be the Beer Express, with the trains running during the evening rush hour on July 25 (Fri) when you can enjoy Friday night, and during the daytime hours on July 26 (Sat) and 27 (Sun), which are convenient for exploring Kawagoe. In addition to a boarding ticket, you will need to purchase a ticket with a designated car and seat in advance from Lawson Ticket. The participation fee is 3,278 yen (tax included) per person, and you can board the train from intermediate stops such as Takadanobaba Station.
In addition, on July 26 (Sat) and 27 (Sun), a food stall-style food and drink sales booth will be set up inside the ticket gates of Hon-Kawagoe Station, and the “Laview Home Bar” will be held, where you can eat, drink, and take a break on the “Laview” Express train that stops at platform 1. Those who participate in the Beer Express on both days will also have the privilege of being able to sit preferentially in the Laview car for about 90 minutes after arriving at Hon-Kawagoe Station. There will also be a paid driving simulator experience on the platform, and a Koenji Awa Odori dance performance and balloon art performance will be held only on the 27th (Sunday).
