It is a chilly Sunday morning. And it's pretty early.
Despite that, the precincts of Naritasan Kawagoe Betsuin are crowded with traders and bargain-hunters brought together by the temple's monthly open-air market.
"I came here before eight this morning, but it wasn't early enough," says Kimiyo Mihira, a Kawagoe resident who is browsing a kimono stall with her two teenage daughters. The price tag shows that each garment is a mere 1,000 yen.