Tackling Overtourism in Kawagoe: Industry-Government-Academia Collaboration Launches Puzzle-Solving Event on April 28, 2026

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Regional Design Lab Saitama (Labotama) of the Resona Group is launching a collaborative puzzle-solving event to disperse tourists and extend stay duration in Kawagoe, involving local students in the planning and promotion process.

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Regional Design Lab Saitama (Labotama) of the Resona Group is launching a collaborative puzzle-solving event to disperse tourists and extend stay duration in Kawagoe, involving local students in the planning and promotion process.

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Source: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000004.000181885.html | Date: Date unavailable

Regional Design Lab Saitama (President: Takafumi Sonoda; hereinafter "Labotama"), a member of the Resona Group, has planned and supported a round-trip puzzle-solving event organized by the Koedo Kawagoe Tourism Association. This initiative is a new tourism strategy addressing the challenge of overtourism in the popular destination of Kawagoe City. This project is a collaboration between industry, government, and academia to rediscover regional charms. Local students have participated in information gathering and promotional activities, creating a new Kawagoe experience from a youthful perspective. Sales for this event will begin on April 28, 2026. ### Purpose of the Event While Kawagoe is a popular tourist destination, visitors tend to concentrate on the famous "Ichiban-gai" (Warehouse District), posing challenges such as low visit distribution across the wider region and short stay durations, which limit the growth of local tourism spending. This initiative designs a course that encourages visitors to disperse through puzzle-solving, allowing them to experience the broad charms of Kawagoe. Since the puzzles are solved at various spots, the walking tour is expected to prolong stay duration, creating opportunities for dining and shopping in the vicinity, thereby improving the tourist experience and expanding local consumption. ### Collaboration with Local Schools As part of the industry-government-academia collaboration, students from four local schools participated in workshops to learn about Kawagoe's tourism charms and challenges in preparation for creating the puzzles. Students not only deepened their learning but also engaged in practical activities such as gathering information for event content and promotion. We plan to continue promoting this initiative alongside the local community, incorporating the flexible ideas unique to students in promotion and sales activities. ### Labotama's Tourism Initiatives Labotama is actively promoting initiatives to enhance re

Tackling Overtourism in Kawagoe: Industry-Government-Academia Collaboration Launches Puzzle-Solving Event on April 28, 2026

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