Two months have passed since the resumption of accepting foreign tourists, and inbound demand cannot be expected, such as cancellations of reservations due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection at rental kimono shops in Asakusa, Tokyo.

Tokyo Asakusa rental kimono shop

Before the spread of the new corona infection, many foreign tourists visited the rental kimono shop in Asakusa, Tokyo to stroll around the town and take commemorative photos in kimono.



Occasionally, store representatives and staff would go on business trips to dress dozens of tourists.



However, now sales have fallen to about half of what they were at the time, and the number of stores has also been reduced.



I was hoping for the resumption of accepting foreigners from June this year, but it is said that almost no foreign tourists come to the store even after two months.



In October this year, about 30 foreign tourists were booked for the first time in about three years, but it was canceled due to the rapid spread of the new corona infection in Japan.



At stores, demand for brightly colored kimonos favored by foreigners has decreased, so the number of kimonos lined up has been reduced and there is no choice but to store them in bags at the store or at home, etc., and inbound demand cannot be expected. continues.

Reiko Ono, the representative of the rental kimono shop Hanaga, said, "Compared to before COVID-19, the situation continues to be tough. Many people are now able to experience Japanese culture and enjoy Asakusa as before. I want it," he said.

Utsunomiya, the “Town of Gyoza”

Also, at the gyoza shop in Utsunomiya City, known as the "town of gyoza," a foreign tourist visited the store for the first time in two and a half years, but there are no reservations for the rest of the tour, and anxiety continues.



Satsuki, a gyoza restaurant in the suburbs of Utsunomiya City, has found a way to attract foreign tourists and has been working on developing new menus, etc., while sales have dropped significantly due to the prolonged corona wreck.



In addition to the pork-free halal gyoza for Muslims, which was developed 4 years ago, the new vegan gyoza for strict vegetarians has been eagerly awaited by foreign tourists. I was.

On the 6th of this month, about two months after the resumption of acceptance, 26 tourists from Singapore visited the store and enjoyed eating "Halal gyoza" and experiencing gyoza making.



One female customer said, "Immigration procedures were difficult, but I came here because I really wanted to experience Japan's unique culture. I hope it will be easier to enter the country in the future."



The person in charge of a travel agency in Singapore who accompanied me said, "For now, Japan only accepts tourists, so it is difficult for foreigners to travel freely because they cannot move around freely."



It was the first time in two and a half years that a foreign tourist visited this store, but it means that there are no reservations for tourists in the future.

The store manager, Tokio Yamashita, said, "It's been a long time since I've been to the store, and I'm deeply moved. I want to."