The Kawaguchi Lake Herb Festival will be cancelled starting this year after organizers cited severe traffic congestion around the venue [1].
The decision marks the end of a decades-long tradition that drew hundreds of thousands of tourists to the Yamanashi Prefecture region. The closure highlights the growing tension between international tourism growth and the quality of life for residents in rural Japanese towns.
The festival had run annually since 1992 [1]. It was held at Ōishi Park and Yagizaki Park along the lake, where approximately 100,000 lavender plants are grown [1]. Despite the logistical challenges, the event remained a major draw for visitors; the most recent festival in 2025 saw 220,000 attendees [1].
Local officials said the increasing traffic jams around the festival site had become a serious problem for the community [1]. The congestion often paralyzed local roads, making daily transit difficult for those living in the Fuji-Kawaguchiko area. This prompted the town to prioritize residential stability over the economic gains of the event.
While the organized festival has ended, the flora remains. The mayor of Kawaguchi Lake town said that although the festival has ended, the lavender can still be viewed. He said he hopes visitors will follow the rules and enjoy the scenery with Mount Fuji [1].
The 2025 event, which served as the final iteration, ran from June 21 to July 21 [2]. The town now seeks a balance between maintaining its status as a scenic destination and ensuring the local infrastructure can support the volume of visitors without disrupting the lives of its citizens.
“The festival had run annually since 1992.”
This cancellation reflects a broader trend of 'overtourism' in Japan, where iconic landmarks near Mount Fuji have struggled to manage sudden surges in global travel. By ending a structured event that attracted 220,000 people [1], the town is attempting to mitigate systemic infrastructure failure and resident burnout, shifting from a high-density event model to a more passive, regulated form of tourism.
