![[Held on Sunday, May 31] 2026 Achi Fest ～ The entire Achi area becomes the venue. A special town walk where new scenery and nostalgic backstreets intersect.](https://media.kuratoco.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/26213413/IMG_5002.jpg)
Did you know that there are appealing areas near JR Kurashiki Station besides the Bikan Historical Area?
Around the newly developed “Achi Terrace Kurashiki,” close to the station, a short walk takes you to the old-fashioned streets of Achi, which have a nostalgic, comforting feel.
On May 31, this area, where new and nostalgic elements blend together so pleasantly, will become a festival venue in its entirety.
What kinds of fun activities are in store for 2026? Here are some highlights.
The information provided is current as of when this article was published in May 2026. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is Achi Fest?
Achi Fest began in Achi 3-chome in 2019 as an effort to bring life back to the Achi-cho neighborhood.
It was initially held mainly in Achi 3-chome, but in 2025, the Achi Terrace Kurashiki, Achi 3-chome, and Achi 2-chome areas came together as three areas, expanding the event into a format where visitors can enjoy the whole town as they make their way around.
Attendance has grown year by year, and last year (2025), around 6,000 people visited, making it one of Kurashiki’s largest events. In 2026, 130 businesses will take part. There will be plenty to enjoy as you explore the town, including food, a market, stage performances, and traditional festival games.
Three areas, each with its own way to enjoy
The three areas—Achi Terrace Kurashiki, Achi 3-chome, and Achi 2-chome—each have different highlights. As you walk around town, you can experience the distinct atmosphere of each.
Achi Terrace Kurashiki area
The Achi Terrace Kurashiki area extends around Achi Terrace Kurashiki, about a five-minute walk from the south exit of JR Kurashiki Station, and the Ichibangai Shopping Street area.
With stage events as its centerpiece, visitors can also enjoy food and shopping, and feel the festival atmosphere right from the station area.
The stage will feature performances by local children and artists. The sales area will also have stalls run by high school students selling ramen, lemonade, baked goods, and more, bringing a lively energy from the younger generation to the area.
Achi 3-chome area
Achi 3-chome is an area where old buildings remain.
This year (2026), one of the main highlights is its two-part focus: “places for adults to enjoy” and “places for children to enjoy.”
- For adults: Tipsy Alley
Sake breweries and craft beer vendors will line the street, offering sake tastings and comparisons. Tables and chairs will also be provided, creating a space where visitors can relax and enjoy a drink and a bite to eat. - For children: Festival Games Street
Traditional games such as shooting galleries, goldfish scooping, and giant bubbles will be featured.
A special activity will also let visitors try watermelon splitting.
There will also be a matcha tea gathering hosted by high school students, which people of all ages can enjoy—a chance to take a relaxing break as well as have fun.
Achi 2-chome area
Achi 2-chome is an area within the Bikan Historical Area. The event uses three locations: Achi Space Plaza, Achi-cho Plaza, and Achi 2-chome Plaza.
Along with food trucks and a market, there will also be hands-on activities for children. It will be a venue where parents and children can spend time playing together.
You can drop by to eat, play, or take a short break.
As you explore the town, you can enjoy a conversation and spend time at your own pace.
The three areas cover a wide area, so you might enjoy taking your time to explore, stopping by the places that catch your interest.
Interview with the organizers about Achi Fest 2026
With so many ways to enjoy Achi Fest, what ideas are guiding its preparations?
We spoke with Uchida Kotaro and Inoue Masao of the Achi-cho Neighborhood Revitalization Executive Committee, who are preparing for the festival, about the highlights of Achi Fest 2026 and the thoughts behind it.
What are your hopes for Achi Fest?
Uchida (honorifics omitted)
From JR Kurashiki Station to Achi Terrace Kurashiki, Achi 3-chome, Achi 2-chome, and then the Bikan Historical Area. We continue this event hoping to connect these areas and bring life back to the Achi-cho neighborhood.
When we started in Achi 3-chome alone in 2019, around 900 people attended. The event gradually expanded, and last year (2025), around 6,000 people came across the three areas. It has grown into what it is today over seven years.
Inoue (honorifics omitted)
Achi Fest is an event created by the people of the town, with their own hands.
The executive committee holds repeated discussions, checks the activities in each area and the overall flow, and moves preparations forward.
Because this event takes place in a town that we cherish, we want people to experience Achi’s appeal not just in one location, but throughout the whole town.
What is different from last year (2025), and what are this year’s (2026) special highlights?
Inoue
A major feature this year is the participation of high school students.
Several schools, including Kurashiki Suisho High School and Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Seiryo High School, are expected to help run the event as staff and set up stalls selling baked goods and lemonade.
This is the first time high school students have been involved in Achi Fest, and the executive committee is looking forward to the fresh energy they will bring to the town.
Uchida
This time, we have launched a new event for adults in Achi 3-chome called “Tipsy Alley.” Around five sake breweries and five craft beer vendors are expected to set up stalls, where visitors can enjoy sake tastings and compare drinks by the cup.
We asked Aoe of the local Sake Kobo Aoe to help us select the breweries. We’ll provide tables and chairs and create a place where people can sit back and enjoy a drink. The executive committee also made the “Tipsy Alley” banners by hand.
What makes the Achi area special?
Uchida
Traces of the old shopping district still remain here. There are historic buildings such as Ohashi House, and I think the Achi-cho neighborhood is a special place in Kurashiki as an area where old houses still stand.
Inoue
There are new places like Achi Terrace Kurashiki, but if you step into a side street, you’ll find old-fashioned scenery. I think this mix of old and new is what makes the Achi-cho neighborhood appealing. Our goal is to bring life back to the area while preserving its streetscape.
How would you like visitors to enjoy the festival?
Inoue
Each of the three areas offers a different way to enjoy the festival. We’d be delighted if you explored the town on foot and experienced those differences.
Uchida
We have activities for both adults and children, so come and enjoy the Achi-cho neighborhood with family or friends.
From the Writer
From the stories of the committee members preparing for the event, we could sense their affection for Achi and the warmth of an event built by the people of the town.
A lively stage, a plaza where you can relax, and festival games for adults and children alike.
Each place has its own distinct character.
Why not experience the appeal of the Achi area while enjoying a different atmosphere in Kurashiki than usual?
2026 Achi Festival Information
| Name | 2026 Achi Festival |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, May 31, 2026 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. |
| Location | Achi Terrace Kurashiki, Achi 3-chome, Achi 2-chome |
| Admission (tax included) | Free *Food and drink costs are extra |
| Website | Achi Festival Instagram |
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