"Overtourism" was shortlived in Kawagoe

City-cost writer Tonetoedo previously posed a question in the Q&A section about over-tourism in our neighborhoods. Asking "Do the claims of "overtourism" ring true to you or do you think it's overblown?" At the time, I responded that over-tourism was real in Kawagoe. But I take it back! Or at least, it was true for a time - a very short time, but it is not true now.

"Ichibangai" the main section of the old storehouse street in Kawagoe is still crowded on weekends, but its gone very quiet on weekdays. The above photo was taken on Wednesday March 19th. As you can see there are very few people. On the weekend you can't even see the storefronts for all the people walking up and down the beautiful old street. 

I speculate that weekend visitors is not enough to sustain many of the stores and restaurants. Moreover, according to local shop owners I was talking to, the biggest difficulty they are facing at the moment is that sales are down. So while there are many people around on Saturdays and Sundays, they are not spending money.

Generally in Japan the amount of disposable income has greatly reduced in the last few years, but what about visitors from overseas? Have their budgets gone down too? Or is Kawagoe getting more domestic tourists than overseas ones? I don't know the answers, but I presume it is a combination of several factors.

However, the Koedo Kawagoe Spring Festival starts in just over a week, so I am optimistic there will be a surge of visitors who come to enjoy the festivities. And when I can't get a parking spot in one of my go-to parking lots in down town Kawagoe, I won't complain about over-tourism, but just hope that the tourist has brought a wallet full to the brim!