People who need medical care and use wheelchairs, people with visual impairments who need guide help to walk in new places, people with hearing impairments who cannot hear tour announcements...
People with disabilities also want to experience the joy and excitement of traveling.
In 2026, a sightseeing train called Kurashiki Himawari-go, where people with disabilities, medical and welfare professionals, and volunteers enjoy a day trip together on a chartered train, was operated from JR Kurashiki Station to Akashi City, Hyogo Prefecture, and I accompanied them.
What is the Kurashiki Himawari-go Akashi trip?
The Himawari-go is a chartered train exclusively for people with disabilities that started in Tokyo in 1982.
At that time, barrier-free access to trains and stations was not as widespread as it is today, and traveling by train posed many difficulties for people with disabilities.
In such circumstances, the operation of the Himawari-go began, led by people with disabilities, their families, volunteers, and labor unions, and it spread nationwide. In Kurashiki City, the first Himawari-go was operated between Kurashiki Station and Hiroshima Station in 1985.
Passengers on the Kurashiki Himawari-go are mainly people with disabilities living, working, or studying in Kurashiki City, their families, and volunteers who agree with the purpose of the trip, regardless of their place of residence. From the beginning of its operation, it has been based on the idea that "regardless of whether one has a disability or not, participants are members of a symbiotic society," and both people with disabilities and volunteers pay the same amount for participation.
In 2026, 54 people with disabilities, 12 family members of people with disabilities, 99 volunteer caregivers, and other medical staff, totaling 239 people, boarded the train.
In 2025, the Kurashiki Himawari-go headed to Onomichi City in Hiroshima Prefecture. This year marks the 39th operation, with Akashi City in Hyogo Prefecture as the destination.
The day's events
On the day of the Kurashiki Himawari-go Akashi trip, rain was forecast a few days prior, but it turned out to be a sunny day with temperatures rising close to 30 degrees.
For people with disabilities, the Himawari-go is a major event held once a year.
For participants who require medical care depending on their level of disability, or for those who find it difficult to move in electric wheelchairs, the Himawari-go may be their only opportunity to travel.
The itinerary for the day was as follows:
Departing from JR Kurashiki Station with a grand send-off
Every year, the Kurashiki Himawari-go holds a departure ceremony at the Ikoi no Hiroba on the second floor of the north exit of Kurashiki Station, featuring performances by the Kurashiki City Fire Music Band, the oldest in Okayama Prefecture.
After completing the reception, participants receive original badges carefully sewn by welfare organizations, and each group, consisting of 2 to 3 volunteer caregivers for each person with a disability, watches the departure ceremony.
The mayor of Kurashiki City and the station master of JR Kurashiki Station also attended to celebrate the trip. The mayor came down to the platform to see them off, and the deputy station master accompanied the trip to support safe operations.
Traveling back and forth between Akashi and Kurashiki in front of many eyes
After the ceremony, they head to the platform at their own pace.
Until 2025, a national railway-type vehicle was used, but this year it was changed to the new model Urara. The gap between the platform and the train has been lowered, allowing participants who use wheelchairs or have difficulty walking to board more safely.
In addition, a spacious multifunctional toilet has been installed inside the train, making it easier for those who need assistance to use the restroom. However, since the toilets are only available in some cars, the organizing committee will set up portable toilets in the cars without them, as in previous years.
Those who can transfer from a wheelchair to the train will sit in regular seats, while those who board with a stroller or in a wheelchair will use long seats that make it easy to converse with their assistants, departing in a style of boarding that meets their needs.
From JR Kurashiki Station to Akashi Station, although it is a chartered train, it is a local train, so the journey takes about two and a half hours. However, many participants are looking forward to the "trip itself," which includes riding the train, not just sightseeing, so cheerful voices resonate throughout.
Inside the train, there are recreational activities such as singing and ventriloquism prepared, providing plenty of entertainment. A rock-paper-scissors game was also held, where participants could win tickets for Akashi-yaki and tako-senbei that can be used at the Uo no Tana shopping street in front of Akashi Station, leading to heated games to enhance the enjoyment of sightseeing.
During the journey, when the train stopped several times to adjust the intervals, the electronic display boards at the stopping stations showed "Himawari-go," attracting attention at various stations.
Additionally, since Urara currently only operates west of Himeji Station, this was a rare opportunity for it to reach Akashi Station, and we passed by general customers who came to take photos.
"What kind of train is that?" "There are a lot of wheelchairs on the Himawari-go!" These observations from onlookers may have led to a greater awareness that people with disabilities can also enjoy travel.
"Since we came all the way to Akashi!" Let's explore to the fullest
Since boarding and alighting from the train takes time, the time for exploring Akashi is about two and a half hours, including lunch.
The organizing committee anticipated a relaxed itinerary where participants would eat their bento and stroll through the Uo no Tana shopping street in front of Akashi Station to buy souvenirs.
However, despite the organizing committee waiting at the Uo no Tana shopping street, participants did not arrive for a long time. Many participants were actually exploring the Hyogo Prefectural Akashi Park and then headed up the hill to the Akashi City Cultural Museum.
A wheelchair user we met at the Akashi City Cultural Museum told us, "Since we came all the way to Akashi, I want to visit many places." The museum was air-conditioned, and after taking a short break after climbing the hill, participants were seen carefully observing the exhibits.
Additionally, a participant with a visual impairment shared, "It's enjoyable to walk in a new city because I have someone to guide me. Akashi has well-maintained tactile paving, making it even easier to walk around."
People who find it difficult to move often hesitate to travel, but they also want to enjoy traveling just like everyone else. The Kurashiki Himawari-go has various volunteers participating, as follows:
- Assistance Volunteers
Enjoy traveling together with wheelchair users and visually impaired individuals for a day. - Setup Volunteers
Set up temporary toilets, beds, and diaper changing stations inside the vehicle. Participation from early morning until the end is essential. - Recreation Volunteers
Create a fun and friendly atmosphere with their specialties in singing, ventriloquism, puppet shows, and kamishibai (paper theater). - Documentation Volunteers
Capture the day's events in photos and compile them into a record later.
Additionally, a medical team consisting of doctors and nurses also accompanies the trip, allowing participants with chronic illnesses or mobility difficulties to join the journey with peace of mind.
After finishing their sightseeing at Hyogo Prefectural Akashi Park and Akashi City Cultural Museum, the participants passed through the Uo no Tana shopping street around 2 PM, purchasing souvenirs while exchanging for Akashi-yaki (a type of savory pancake) and tako-senbei (octopus crackers) earned during the onboard recreation before returning to JR Akashi Station.
A Day Filled with Smiles from Supporters
The Kurashiki Himawari-go is filled with not only participants with disabilities but also many supporters such as volunteers and medical staff.
Last year (2025), the Saturday before the operation day was rainy, causing the Kurashiki City elementary school sports day to be postponed, resulting in fewer elementary school volunteers participating. However, this year, many elementary school volunteers joined.
Elementary school volunteers pair up with participants with disabilities along with their parents. Initially, they seemed nervous, but they gradually relaxed as they participated in breaking the kusudama to celebrate the departure and joined in the recreation with other participants, arriving in Akashi.
Upon arriving in Akashi, the elementary school volunteers, under the watchful eyes of their parents, actively pushed wheelchairs and assisted with souvenir purchases.
When they returned to JR Kurashiki Station and disbanded, both participants with disabilities and elementary school volunteers were seen reluctantly saying goodbye.
Additionally, there were participants from high schools and universities. From within Kurashiki City, several students from Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Washu Senior High School participated. They were active not only as assistance volunteers but also in onboard recreation.
Individuals with disabilities often interact with a fixed group of people, such as family, day service staff, and hospital staff. On the other hand, children may have opportunities to see people with disabilities in their daily lives, but they rarely have the chance to communicate closely with them.
This day likely became an opportunity for both individuals with disabilities and the children participating as volunteers to experience a society of coexistence.
Conclusion
Families who saw them off at JR Kurashiki Station also come to pick them up upon their return.
When volunteers tried to explain the day's events in detail to the families, many families expressed, "We can tell from their faces that they had a great time. Thank you," leaving with smiles as bright as those of the participants with disabilities.
The volunteers who saw them off also returned home with expressions filled with a sense of accomplishment, saying, "That was fun."
Until around the year 2000, the Himawari-go operated in various locations across the country, but currently, Kurashiki is the only place where it operates using a chartered train. The Kurashiki Himawari-go has become a place for people to gather, not only for those who want to travel by train with disabilities but also for those who participate every year, regardless of whether they have a disability or not.
This is one initiative we want to continue in the future.
Data on the Kurashiki Himawari-go Akashi Trip
| Name | Kurashiki Himawari-go Akashi Trip |
|---|---|
| Date | May 24, 2026 (Sunday) 7:50 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Location | Departing from JR Kurashiki Station |
| Participation Fee (including tax) | 4,000 yen |
| Website | Executive Committee for Running the Kurashiki Himawari-go |
Lunch at Akashi Park or Akashi Chamber of Commerce
Exploring around Akashi Station (Akashi City Cultural Museum, Uo no Tana shopping street, etc.)