When you visit a bookstore, you’ll often see the travel guidebook “co-Trip” in the travel section.
The event “co-Trip Okayama and Kurashiki Walking Stamp Rally,” a collaboration between co-Trip and Kurashiki City and Okayama City, will be held for a limited time.
This event is an initiative that anyone with a smartphone can participate in.
I also walked around the Bikan Historical Area and tried collecting digital stamps.
The information provided was current when this article was published in September 2023. Please note that it may differ from current information.
Overview of the co-Trip Okayama and Kurashiki Walking Stamp Rally
The co-Trip Okayama and Kurashiki Walking Stamp Rally is an initiative that lets you enjoy your trip to Kurashiki and Okayama even more by visiting the “stamp collection spots” listed in the co-Trip booklet and collecting digital stamps with your smartphone.
The event runs from July 15 to September 18, 2023.
A total of 44 spots in Kurashiki City and Okayama City are included, 18 of which are in Kurashiki City.
The following spots are included:
- Ohara Museum of Art
- Kurashiki Museum of Folkcraft
- Kurashiki Ivy Square
- Kurashiki Coffee-kan
- Hayashi Genjuro Shoten
- Heisuiken
- Kurashiki Canvas Bikan Historical Area Store
- Jochikudo
- Toworu Mingei
- Machiya Cafe Miyake Shoten
- cafe 2MUG (closed on July 31, 2023)
- Yurinan
- Kurashiki Momoko Main Store
- YAMAU coffee stand
- Trattoria Homemade Soba Takenoya
- Ryokan Kurashiki Restaurant
- Candle Taku Watanabe-tei
- Restaurant Hachikura
Some facilities require an admission fee, and some stores require a purchase to collect a stamp. If you are unsure, please check with the facility you plan to visit.
Depending on the number of stamps you collect, you can enter to win great prizes, such as a set of original masking tape or a pair of Kurashiki Afternoon Tea tickets.
I took part in the co-Trip Okayama and Kurashiki Walking Stamp Rally
I tried out the co-Trip Okayama and Kurashiki Walking Stamp Rally for myself.
This time, let’s visit three spots in the Bikan Historical Area.
Get a co-Trip booklet
First, let’s go get a co-Trip booklet listing the participating stores.
You can get a co-Trip booklet at places such as the Kurashikikan Tourist Information Center.
Don’t worry if they’ve already run out and you can’t get one.
All participating stores are listed on the official website, and you can join the stamp rally with a smartphone.
The first stamp spot
Our first stop is the Ohara Museum of Art.
The Ohara Museum of Art stamp spot is just inside the building, on the left.
Visit the official website and scan the QR code!
Once the scan is complete, a screen like this will appear, and you’ll get your stamp.
Photography is prohibited inside the museum, but you can take photos in front of this building.
Snap a photo to commemorate getting your stamp.
This is the quintessential Ohara Museum of Art spot, so take a photo to remember your visit to the Bikan Historical Area.
The second spot: Jochikudo
Let’s keep going and visit the next spot.
Next, we’re heading to Jochikudo, famous for its masking tape.
Passing the shelves of masking tape and postcards, I spotted a QR code when I reached the register.
Let’s scan it right away.
As you browse the shop, where products are packed tightly together, looking for your favorites, by the time you reach the spot, you may find yourself at the register with a whole lot of favorites.
Final stop: YAMAU coffee stand
Now for the final stop, YAMAU coffee stand.
It’s a coffee stand known for its distinctive logo, with a mountain perched atop the katakana character “ウ”.
As soon as you enter, you’ll find the spot near the register where you place your order!
Scan the QR code.
After visiting three digital spots, I was starting to feel a little tired, so I took a break here.
I ordered a Spanish latte.
The name wasn’t familiar, so I wondered what it was and checked the menu. It turned out to be a sweet cafe latte made with condensed milk.
When I tried it, the rich coffee flavor combined with the gentle sweetness of the condensed milk, and I finished it in no time.
Earn three stamps! (You can enter for Prize C)
I visited three spots, so I can enter for Prize C, which requires at least two stamps.
The spots offer a wide variety of places, from restaurants and cafes to shops selling souvenirs, so you can visit a balanced mix of them, make it a gourmet trip, or enjoy the rally in many different ways.
How did this co-Trip Okayama and Kurashiki walking stamp rally come about?
I interviewed Koji Makino of the Kurashiki City Tourism Division, which organizes the stamp rally, and Rena Sugioka.
co-Trip Okayama-Kurashiki Town Walk Stamp Rally Information
| Name | co-Trip Okayama-Kurashiki Town Walk Stamp Rally |
|---|---|
| Dates | July 15–September 18, 2023 |
| Location | Bikan Historical Area, Okayama City |
| Admission (tax included) | Free (some shops have conditions, such as purchasing a product) |
| Website | co-Trip Okayama-Kurashiki Town Walk Stamp Rally |
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