We spoke with Tomohiro Matsushita, the chairperson of Harenomino Kurashiki, and Yasumasa Saito, a committee member.
What prompted you to start Harenomino Kurashiki?
Matsushita
I learned about other bar events and thought they looked really interesting.
Since no one was doing it in Kurashiki, we looked into whether we could do it ourselves and reached out to acquaintances' shops to hold the event.
I think the main reason was that it seemed fun.
How was the first event?
Matsushita
It was fun.
There were many customers out in the town, and it felt like a festival for restaurants with long lines.
I felt a sense of accomplishment.
I believe that sense of accomplishment is what has allowed us to continue until now.
What has been the response from customers?
Matsushita
The number of people sending us enthusiastic messages saying, "I'm looking forward to this year too," has greatly increased.
It's wonderful.
Saito
These are voices that come from having held the event multiple times.
Can people who don't drink alcohol participate?
Matsushita
Of course.
We ask all shops to definitely offer non-alcoholic drinks.
Cafes are also popular, and during the day, there are many families as well.
At Harekura, the shops provide their offerings at "barely breaking even."
With food and non-alcoholic drinks, you should be able to be sufficiently satisfied.
It's nice to be able to visit shops that are usually hard to go to.
Saito
I think that once you actually go and talk to the staff, it lowers the barriers, making it easier to visit again next time.
Do you have any recommended ways to enjoy the event?
Saito
First, it's recommended to carefully look at the guide map in advance and narrow down the shops you're interested in.
Since the participation times vary by shop, please check the times.
If you want to minimize the walking distance, it seems best to start from the edge of the area.
Matsushita
When the line is so long that it feels like your heart might break, it's better to think of alternative shops you can switch to.
Saito
You might discover something unexpected by visiting a shop you didn't plan to go to.
How many shops do participants usually visit?
Saito
It seems that many people use more than one set per person.
For example, two people might use three sets, or one set might be bought by two people, and then they buy additional ones if they run out.
When I participated previously, I initially thought I would only visit about three shops.
But after hearing from other participants, "This shop was great," my list of places I wanted to go kept growing, and I ended up visiting about five to six shops.
Saito
It seems that participants enjoy interacting with each other, such as by talking to those who are looking at the map.
Please tell us why you decided to collaborate with the shop app "Porkun".
Matsushita
Many participants are repeat visitors.
So, I thought about whether we could create something that would allow them to enjoy even more than just one drink and one food.
It's great that just by eating and clicking on the app, you can win prizes.
Finally, please share a message.
Saito
Harenomino Kurashiki is an event that you can enjoy casually.
I hope you can enjoy it as a tool to "explore shops."
We also share information on social media, so please take a look.
Official SNS of Harenomino Kurashiki
Check the participating shops of Harenomino Kurashiki
In "Kurashiki Tocotoco," we are sequentially interviewing the participating shops of Harenomino Kurashiki.
Please check the articles for reference on participating in Harenomino Kurashiki.
Data for Harenomino Kurashiki 2019
| Name | Harenomino Kurashiki 2019 |
|---|---|
| Date | November 4, 2019 (Mon, National Holiday) From 7 AM to 3 AM the next day *Varies by shop |
| Location | Around JR Kurashiki Station |
| Participation Fee (including tax) | Advance ticket: 3,500 yen (700 yen x 5 tickets) Same-day ticket: 800 yen per individual ticket |
| Website | Harenomino Kurashiki | Kurashiki City Food and Drink Walking Bar Event |
