Asakuchi City and Satosho Town in Asakuchi District, located in the southwestern part of Okayama Prefecture, are areas where traditional local industries such as noodle-making and sake brewing thrive. Close to Kurashiki City, the area has recently begun attracting attention for its many shops selling delicious sweets.
With the aim of introducing people to the region’s appeal, the Asakuchi Chamber of Commerce, which serves this area, has decided to hold its first Instagram photo contest, with “sweets” as its theme.
Why not share the appeal of the “sweets” of Asakuchi City and Satosho Town on Instagram and win local specialties?
The information presented was current when this article was published in October 2024. Please note that it may differ from current information.
Overview of the Asakuchi-Satosho Instagram Photo Contest 2024
Here is a detailed introduction to the purpose and details of the first Instagram photo contest organized by the Asakuchi Chamber of Commerce.
Purpose
The Asakuchi-Satosho Instagram Photo Contest 2024 aims to share “sweets” sold in Asakuchi City and Satosho Town on Instagram, helping more people discover the area’s appeal and encouraging them to visit.
Contest details
To enter, post a photo of “sweets” purchased or eaten at a store featured in the pamphlet on Instagram with the designated hashtag “#AsakuchiSatoshoSweetsPhotoContest2024”.
Photos taken at the store or of products arranged at home are both welcome!
Anyone who has an Instagram account and follows the contest’s official account (@asakuchisyoukoukai_event) can enter.
Pamphlets are available at the Chamber of Commerce, tourist facilities, and participating stores in the Asakuchi-Satosho Instagram Photo Contest 2024.
The eligible “sweets” are not limited to desserts and confectionery. Some participating stores apparently offer “sweet noodles” as well.
Any food that tastes “sweet” is eligible for posting.
Participating stores in the Asakuchi-Satosho Instagram Photo Contest 2024 (27 stores)
From popular pastry shops to long-established sake breweries, 27 member businesses of the Asakuchi Chamber of Commerce are participating.
| Store name | Address |
|---|---|
| Kashishi Ogawaya | 294-1 Otani, Konko Town, Asakuchi City |
| café de 祥 | 349 Uramishinden, Konko Town, Asakuchi City |
| Kinoaji | 1736-1 Otani, Konko Town, Asakuchi City |
| Tomohara Mochi Shop | 361 Uramishinden, Konko Town, Asakuchi City |
| Bakery Mugibatake | 631-1 Uramishinden, Konko Town, Asakuchi City |
| Patisserie Atelier Berger | 335-23 Uramishinden, Konko Town, Asakuchi City |
| Yoshiyuki | 2125-1 Kosakahigashi, Kamogata, Asakuchi City |
| Sato Orchard | 1365 Kamogata, Kamogata, Asakuchi City |
| Nonohana | 1677-3 Kamogata, Kamogata, Asakuchi City |
| Patisserie Ciel | 1980-1 Kosakahigashi, Kamogata, Asakuchi City |
| hana terrace | 808-1 Kamogata, Kamogata, Asakuchi City |
| Bread House Pottsu Pippi | 1161-1 Kamogata, Kamogata, Asakuchi City |
| Marumoto Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. | 2485 Honjo, Kamogata, Asakuchi City |
| Meshi no Marufuku | 3-2 Hatogaoka, Kamogata, Asakuchi City |
| Menzokujin Direct Sales Store | 1981 Kosakahigashi, Kamogata, Asakuchi City |
| Mogami Teuchi Somen Co., Ltd. | 342 Honjo, Kamogata, Asakuchi City |
| Rossi | 1671-1 Kamogata, Kamogata, Asakuchi City |
| Hidamari Seaside Cafe | 3981-4 Yorishima, Asakuchi City |
| KAMIKOKOROSHUZO CO., LTD. | 7500-2 Yorishima, Asakuchi City |
| Japanese Restaurant Ginza | 7224-1 Yorishima, Asakuchi City |
| Makarazuya Store Hayasaki Branch | 7540-50 Yorishima, Asakuchi City |
| Isochidori Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. | 306 Shinjo, Satosho Town, Asakuchi District |
| Okayama Teuchi Somen Direct Sales and Online Store Haruchikuan | 1887-1 Shinjo, Satosho Town, Asakuchi District |
| Cafe Sun Lavian | 3920 Shinjo, Satosho Town, Asakuchi District |
| The Great Lakes | 1550 Shinjo, Satosho Town, Asakuchi District |
| Macaret | 2998 Shinjo, Satosho Town, Asakuchi District |
| Laughing Buddha Cafe | 2529-1 Satomi, Satosho Town, Asakuchi District |
Contest period and judging
The contest runs from Friday, September 13 to Saturday, November 30, 2024.
Post lots of delicious photos of “your personal favorites.” The organizers will select 10 entries based on how well the photos convey the area’s appeal and help more people learn about Asakuchi and Satosho.
Winners will be notified of the judging results via Instagram direct message.
Prizes
Winners will receive local specialties from Asakuchi and Satosho (worth approximately 2,000 yen).
The contents of the prize may differ from those shown in the photo, so look forward to seeing what arrives.
About the Asakuchi Chamber of Commerce, organizer of the contest
The Asakuchi Chamber of Commerce, organizer of the Asakuchi-Satosho Instagram Photo Contest 2024, is an organization that undertakes comprehensive activities to promote the development of the region by supporting small businesses and revitalizing the local economy in Asakuchi City and Satosho Town.
In other words, it is a support team for local businesses.
The Chamber has supported businesses by holding industrial festivals and local specialty fairs, among other events, but this is apparently its first Instagram photo contest.
Energizing local businesses through Instagram!
We spoke with Yamoto Yuta and Hirano Yoshika of the Asakuchi Chamber of Commerce, who planned the Instagram photo contest.
What was the starting point for planning the first Instagram photo contest by the Asakuchi Chamber of Commerce?
Yamoto (honorifics omitted)
We wanted to promote local specialties widely and, at the heart of it, let people know that good, delicious things are close to home.
Until now, our publicity efforts have focused on noodles.
When we thought about what else is famous besides noodles and what is loved in the area, we realized that there are many shops selling sweets and many businesses working hard to share information about them.
That was the starting point: we thought that focusing on sweets and other sweet treats might give people a chance to learn about the Asakuchi and Satosho area from a different angle.
Why did you choose “sweet things” as the theme?
Yamoto
We wanted to highlight as many of the good things in the Asakuchi area as possible.
The keyword “sweets” might be easier to find on Instagram, but using “sweet things” also brought in popular amazake, sake from breweries with a long history, and even the area’s specialty noodles, broadening the range of participating businesses.
We chose “sweet things” so that one keyword could cover as many of the region’s good products as possible.
Why did you decide to hold the photo contest on Instagram?
Hirano (honorific omitted)
We live in an age when businesses can promote their products directly to consumers—whether they make a particular product, take pride in a certain aspect of their work, or run a shop with a long history. So we want businesses to use social media to increase the chances that people will see their information.
Some businesses already use Instagram for promotion, but we hope the photo contest will help them feel more familiar with Instagram and use it as one of their information-sharing tools in their publicity efforts going forward.
How was it taking on this first-time project?
Hirano
The Asakuchi and Satosho area is compact, yet has many shops selling sweet treats, from historic confections to eye-catching sweets popular with young women.
As we gathered participating shops, we made all kinds of discoveries, such as “I didn’t know they had products like this.”
We hope everyone will discover their own favorites among the “sweet things” of Asakuchi and Satosho and share information about them.
From the Writer
More and more people are now gathering information from Instagram, and posts about food are especially countless, updated every day.
I hope that, riding this wave of the times, the Asakuchi-Satosho Instagram Photo Contest will be an opportunity for local people to rediscover their hometown, and for people from outside the area to learn about the charms of the Asakuchi and Satosho region.
I hope there will be lots of entries.
Asakuchi-Satosho Instagram Photo Contest 2024 Information
![[Held September 13 (Fri)–November 30 (Sat)] Asakuchi-Satosho Instagram Photo Contest 2024 — Share your favorite sweets and win local specialties!](https://media.kuratoco.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/23001348/190c1fd84360bc72f575c54d6f0ff217.jpg)
<How to enter the photo contest>
・Follow the official account (@asakuchisyoukoukai_event)
・Take a photo of “something sweet” at a participating store in Asakuchi City or Satosho Town
・Post it with the hashtag “#AsakuchiSatoshoSweetsPhotoContest2024”
| Name | Asakuchi-Satosho Instagram Photo Contest 2024 |
|---|---|
| Held | Contest period: September 13 (Fri)–November 30 (Sat), 2024 Participating stores: 27 stores in Asakuchi City and Satosho Town, Asakuchi District, Okayama Prefecture |
| Location | 2244-8 Kamogata, Kamogata-cho, Asakuchi City, Okayama Prefecture (Asakuchi Chamber of Commerce) |
| Website | Asakuchi Chamber of Commerce |
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