As of February 2024, several food-related events are being held in winter Kurashiki, including the Lunch Itadakimasu Stamp Rally and Kurashiki Afternoon Tea.
I also thought, "Since it's winter, I want to eat something seasonal," and while I was wondering which event to participate in, I discovered an event called Bicchu Antabi 2 where you can enjoy sweet red bean treats.
Not only can you enjoy sweet red bean treats, but there is also a cycling event that combines bicycles and sweet red beans, which makes me even more interested.
Bicchu Antabi, which will be held for the second time in 2024, has been covered in this article.
What is Bicchu Antabi 2
Bicchu Antabi 2 is a stamp rally that will be held from January 20 (Saturday) to March 24 (Sunday), 2024.
Last year (2023) it was also held and was said to be a very popular event.
As before, it is organized by the Kurashiki City Office Tourism Division, with the Japan Red Bean Association providing supervision and cooperation.
The Bichu area, where Kurashiki is located (western Okayama Prefecture), is famous as a production area for azuki beans, alongside Hokkaido and Tanba, and this event involves collecting stamps while enjoying sweet red bean treats made from Bichu azuki beans.
You can get stamps at the participating stores, and based on the number of points collected, you can enter a lottery for luxurious prizes.
This time, there are 30 participating stores.
You can enjoy a variety of sweet red bean treats, from traditional Japanese sweets like shiruko (sweet red bean soup), yokan (sweet bean jelly), and daifuku (rice cake filled with sweet red bean paste) to Western-style sweets like cakes, bread, and crepes. Some stores have developed new products specifically for Antabi, so be sure to check them out.
Check out the brochure for the participating stores.
Additionally, this time the theme is "This year, it's bicycles. Let's move only as much as we eat!", and if you go to buy on a bicycle, you will receive 2 points for the stamp, which is a beneficial rule.
It's good for your health to enjoy sweet red bean treats while exercising.
How to Participate
The stamp rally sheet is included in the brochure, which is available at the participating stores.
The participation method is as follows:
- Make a purchase at one of the participating stores listed in the brochure (any product is fine)
- Get a stamp on the stamp rally sheet attached to the brochure
- Visit various stores to collect stamps
- Once you have collected stamps, attach the stamp rally sheet to a postcard and mail it
If you go to buy on a bicycle, you will receive 2 points, while if you go by foot or car (any means other than a bicycle), you will receive 1 point.
If you arrive by bicycle, please inform the store staff that you came by bicycle.
Please refrain from falsely claiming that you arrived by bicycle!
The application deadline is March 25 (Monday), 2024, postmarked on the day is valid.
Luxurious Prizes in a Lottery
The prizes available in the lottery vary according to the number of points collected.
- 3 points: Japanese black tea that goes well with sweet red beans, lottery for 30 people
- 10 points: Cozy tea time set, lottery for 20 people
- 20 points: Bizen pottery and a lovely tea time set, lottery for 10 people
- 30 points: Sweet red bean and wine pairing set, lottery for 3 people
- Top point earners award: Garmin smartwatch, awarded to the top 3
- If you collect stamps from all 30 stores, you will receive a "Bicchu An Ambassador Certification" (new version for 2024) from the Japan Red Bean Association
Additionally, as a gift that can be received without applying, the first 200 people who make a purchase at each store will receive an original Anzen Omamori card (30 types in total).
The design is supervised by the Japan Red Bean Association, and the back features "Travel Tips" related to sweet red beans, with different content and colors at each store.
The colors are inspired by the nature and specialties of the Bichu area.
It's a lovely design that makes you want to collect them from multiple stores.
You can get the original Anzen Omamori card by purchasing products listed in the brochure.
・One per person at each store
・Available until supplies last
A Mabi-exclusive event "Antabi 1DAY Cycle Rally in Mabi" will be held
Bicchu Antabi 2 will also feature a cycling event.
The "Antabi 1DAY Cycle Rally in Mabi," which will be held on March 3 (Sunday), 2024, is a special event to enjoy bicycles and sweet red bean treats in Mabi.
Starting and finishing at Kurashiki Makibi Support School, participants can collect stamps at four checkpoints in the Mabi area, and a completion prize will be awarded.
The participation fee is 1,500 yen, which includes insurance. In addition to the completion prize, there will be other great benefits.
For details and application methods, please check the Kurashiki Tourism WEB.
The application deadline is February 18 (Sunday).
The application method has changed from form input to email. Please check the Kurashiki Tourism WEB site when applying.
When you hear about a cycling event, you might imagine it attracting people who love exercise, but this event is designed to be enjoyable for anyone at their own pace.
Interview with the Person in Charge of Bicchu Antabi 2
I spoke with a representative from the Kurashiki City Office Tourism Division, the organizer of "Bicchu Antabi 2."
Can you tell us about the feedback from the last event?
Representative
In the last Bicchu Antabi, there were about 340 applications, and among them, an astonishing 114 people completed all the stores.
Honestly, the number exceeded our expectations. We were surprised by the enthusiasm for sweet red beans from everyone who participated.
Many people wrote their impressions and messages in the empty spaces on the application forms, saying things like "It was fun to visit all new stores" and "I hope you do it again," which made us very happy.
Some stores do not have official websites, so we often received feedback like, "I learned about this store for the first time thanks to Antabi."
Additionally, there were people who stayed overnight and visited the Antabi, which is very pleasing for us as the tourism division.
What kind of people participated?
Representative
I think the age range was quite broad.
There were many families participating, so there were children, and even elderly people in their 70s and 80s participated.
The popularity of sweet red beans is impressive, as it attracts people of all ages and genders.
Why did you decide to combine bicycles and sweet red beans this time?
Representative
Last year (2022) was a stamp rally focused solely on sweet red bean treats, so I wanted to implement something combined with another content this time.
When considering the plan, I learned that sweet red beans have recently been gaining attention as a nutritious food for sports.
I was surprised to find out that bodybuilders eat them, and there are even pouch-type sweet red beans for sports.
Additionally, since "Mabi Fureai Park" and "Cycling Road" are currently being developed in Mabi, I thought it would be interesting to combine sweet red beans and cycling, so I chose bicycles as the theme.
Moving only as much as you eat is also good for your health.
Moreover, there were quite a few people who cycled around during the last Antabi, so I think it has become an event that better matches the needs.
There is also a little trick with the stamps; if you visit twice, once by bicycle and once by another means, the stamps you collect will combine into one design.
If you find a store you like, be sure to visit again.
Please tell me about the "Antabi 1DAY Cycle Rally in Mabi" held on March 3 (Sunday).
Person in charge
The "Antabi 1DAY Cycle Rally in Mabi" is a cycling event where you can enjoy sightseeing in Mabi while getting sweet red bean treats.
By visiting participating stores of Antabi and collecting stamps at four checkpoints in the Mabi area, you will receive a completion prize.
What will be given as a completion prize is a surprise, but as a participation prize, you can receive a special design original sacoche of Antabi 2, and there are many great benefits such as getting sweet red bean treats at the aid stations.
There are no strict rules or time limits, so I would be happy if families and friends could participate casually.
Please send a message to the readers.
This time, since the theme is cycling, I would be delighted if you could replenish your energy with red bean treats while cycling around Antabi.
As with the last time, I hope people of various ages will participate and enjoy themselves.
In conclusion
When you think of red bean, you might imagine traditional Japanese sweets, but I was surprised to find that the red bean sweets of Bichu Antabi 2 include many Western-style confections combined with bread and cake dough.
Each store offers unique red bean sweets, and I might get lost deciding where to go.
Since you can earn stamps conveniently by going to buy them by bicycle, I thought it would be fun to ride around while looking for the arrival of spring.
Whether you love red bean or want to get some exercise, why not head out to Bichu Antabi 2 to find your favorite red bean sweets?
Bichu Antabi 2 Data
| Name | Bichu Antabi 2 |
|---|---|
| Event Date | From January 20, 2024 (Saturday) to March 24, 2024 (Sunday). The application deadline is March 25 (Monday) *Postmarked on the day accepted |
| Homepage | Kurashiki Tourism WEB Bichu Antabi 2 & Cycling Event |
