As the season of fresh greenery arrives, one tends to want to go out somewhere. When I see announcements for festivals and markets, I can't help but feel curious.
On May 31, 2026, the "2026 Achi Festival" was held in the area around Achi-cho, starting from in front of JR Kurashiki Station. The streets of Achi were busier than usual. As I walked around, I noticed the energetic figures of high school students everywhere.
As I walked through the venue, each area had a different atmosphere. I would like to introduce the scenes from the Achi Festival that I encountered while visiting the three areas.
What is the Achi Festival?
The Achi Festival is an event that started in 2019 in Achi 3-chome to revive the vibrancy of the Achi-cho area. Last year (2025), the event expanded to Achi Terrace Kurashiki, Achi 3-chome, and Achi 2-chome, attracting about 6,000 visitors.
This year (2026), 130 stores gathered.
It has grown in scale as an event where people can enjoy gourmet food, stages, and traditional festival games while walking around the town.
A bustling atmosphere from the morning of the event
On the day of the event (May 31, 2026), a pleasant blue sky spread out from the morning, making it a perfect day for a festival. Staff and vendors were busy preparing.
On the street leading from JR Kurashiki Station to the Achi-cho area, people began to gather little by little, and it seemed like it would be a lively day even before the festival started.
Music flows in the area around Achi Terrace Kurashiki
The first place I visited was the area around Achi Terrace Kurashiki, which is less than a five-minute walk from JR Kurashiki Station.
On stage, various programs were held, from lively music to adorable performances by children. As I passed by, I couldn't help but stop and listen.
Next to the stage, food trucks and stalls lined up, and many people were bustling around the venue.
The aromas of shaved ice, skewers, and ramen wafted through the air, creating an atmosphere that made one feel that "the festival has begun."
Local high school students shine
This year (2026), as a new initiative, booths run by high school students were added.
“Welcome! How about some pound cake?”
“How about some lemonade?”
Cheerful voices calling out could be heard from all around.
At the booth of Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Commercial High School and Takamatsu Agricultural High School, they were selling pound cake and eggs from chickens raised on feed mixed with charcoal.
At the booth of Mitsuyama Lemon, students from Kamogata High School were helping with sales.
The principal of Kamogata High School, Hisatsune Hiroe, also visited the venue and said, "Participation in events like this that connect with the community is a good social experience for the students."
The pound cake made with eggplant from Kurashiki Suisho High School has also been featured in the newspaper.
When I asked the students about their products, they all explained with great enthusiasm.
The ramen booth of Okayama Sanyo High School had a long line, and it seems that the booths run by high school students attracted a lot of attention. Their earnestness in unfamiliar customer service was very refreshing to see.
Voices of local people fill the Achi 3-chome area
Next, I headed to Achi 3-chome. Passing through a quiet alley south of Achi Terrace Kurashiki, I came across a charming street with traditional houses.
Unlike the lively atmosphere filled with music at the station, here the voices of local people could be heard from all around.
High school students offer hospitality with matcha experience
As the heat became intense, I stopped by the Uchida Residence, where the matcha tea ceremony by the tea ceremony club of Kurashiki Suisho High School was being held.
Outside, the temperature exceeded 30 degrees, but once inside the building, a cool air spread, allowing me to take a breath of relief. Eight club members and their teachers provided warm hospitality.
I asked Michihisa Tomoya, the president of the tea ceremony club at Kurashiki Suisho High School, about what inspired him to join the club.
“My grandmother used to prepare tea for me, and I drank tea with her since I was little,” he said.
Even to someone like me, who is not well-versed in the etiquette, he kindly taught me with a smile, allowing me to enjoy the tea casually.
Wagashi (Japanese sweets) is a special item shaped like the "pine" symbol of Kurashiki Suisho High School, created by Kikkoudou. For 500 yen, you can slowly enjoy delicious tea and wagashi in a calm space.
The tea ceremony club at Kurashiki Suisho High School is said to serve tea at the cherry blossom festival at Achi Shrine. I would love to visit if I have the chance.
High school students volunteering at Kodomo Yokocho
In Achi 3-chome, a special event called "Kodomo Yokocho" was being held. There were shooting games, soap bubbles, and toy scooping, and the venue was filled with the voices of children.
Here, students from the community exchange club at Kurashiki Suisho High School were volunteering, distributing flyers and assisting at the venue.
At the soap bubble corner, they guided children and played together by actually making soap bubbles.
At the toy scooping corner, they were smiling and talking to the children to entertain them.
Even in the heat, they were calling out with big voices, not losing to the small children, and it was impressive to see them working together.
Very popular! Watermelon splitting
At 11 a.m., a long line of children and families formed before the watermelon splitting experience began. Recently, opportunities to experience watermelon splitting have become rare. Perhaps that's why the children wanted to try it.
Participants formed groups of three, and the person blindfolded was allowed to hit the watermelon only once, while the people around guided them with their voices.
Groups that successfully split the watermelon received prizes, and even those who couldn't split it were able to enjoy watermelon as a participation prize.
The onlookers also joined in with their voices, creating a sense of nostalgic warmth reminiscent of old neighborhood summer festivals.
A refreshing drink found at Ogawara House
Next to the watermelon splitting venue, there was a booth run by the regional revitalization cooperation team from Tamashima and Kojima Shimotsui.
The "Peach and Matcha Cloud" sold here was a perfect drink for a hot day, combining the sweetness of peach and the flavor of matcha.
The matcha served here can also be enjoyed at the café KOTOKA located inside the Washu Visitor Center in Kojima.
Adult enjoyment: Horo-yoi Yokocho
Ohashi House was bustling with the adult-oriented "Horo-yoi Yokocho" next door.
Various sake breweries and craft beer shops lined up, allowing you to enjoy sake tasting starting from 300 yen per cup.
Tables and chairs were also provided, and people were seen enjoying drinks while having conversations.
Having walked under the strong sunlight, those holding cold beers looked somewhat enviable.
I couldn't drink alcohol since I came by car, but I enjoyed snacks from "Ten" located in Achi 3-chome and sweet sake from Kikuchi Sake Brewing Co., Ltd.
The sweet sake was so delicious that I couldn't help but buy a bottle to take home.
A warm atmosphere flows in Achi 2-chome area
Just across the traffic signal from Achi 3-chome, there is a venue in Achi 2-chome. In Achi 2-chome, vendors lined up in two spaces, and there was also a corner for parents and children to stop by.
Here, students from Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Commercial High School were in charge of promoting a stamp rally for children.
It was a project where participants collected stamps by answering quizzes placed at each store, and they were calling out while holding boards in the heat.
In another venue, there was also a booth introducing student works from Kurashiki City Technical High School, and children were very interested in the gacha gacha made by the students.
If you collect 10 stamps from the stations set up, you can receive a souvenir, so the children were eagerly collecting them.
The store staff and children naturally exchanged conversations through the stamp rally, creating a lively yet somehow heartwarming atmosphere.
Participating in Achi Festival
What stood out at the 2026 Achi Festival was the presence of high school students who were active in various areas.
They were involved in welcoming guests, customer service, interactions with children, and hospitality at the matcha tea corner. A friendly atmosphere reminiscent of a cultural festival was created by the local people and high school students working together.
It was a hot day, but each of the three areas had different highlights, making it impossible to see everything in one day. There was a warmth unique to the Achi Festival, where you could encounter voices and smiles of people as you walked around.
I thought it was an event that I hope will continue to be cherished so that in the future, when this season comes around, people will remember, "It's the time for the Achi Festival."
2026 Achi Festival Data
| Name | 2026 Achi Festival |
|---|---|
| Date | May 31, 2026 (Sunday) 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Location | Achi Terrace Kurashiki, Achi 3-chome, Achi 2-chome |
| Participation Fee (including tax) | Free *Additional costs for food and drinks |
| Website | Achi Festival Instagram |
