Have you decided your own limits for yourself?
A journey that makes you ask yourself that question takes place every year, starting from JR Kurashiki Station.
The Himawari-go, in which people with disabilities and several volunteer assistants form groups to visit tourist destinations, was successfully held again this year.
The information presented was current when this article was published in June 2024. Please note that it may differ from current information.
The 37th Himawari-go trip to Himeji
The Himawari-go is a chartered train exclusively for people with disabilities that departs from and returns to JR Kurashiki Station, operating once a year.
Although it has been canceled in some years for reasons such as the COVID-19 pandemic, it has continued almost every year since 1982, and 2024 marks its 37th run.
The destination changes each year. In fiscal 2023, the trip went to Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture, and this year (fiscal 2024) it went to Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture.
This is a very popular event, and reportedly 110 people with disabilities applied.
A total of 201 people—50 people with disabilities selected by lottery from among the applicants, 10 accompanying family members, and volunteers—set out from JR Kurashiki Station for Himeji.
Since some participants with disabilities may require medical care, medical staff also accompanied the group.
The day's itinerary
The day's itinerary was as follows.
For some participants, the goal is “to ride the train,” while for others it is to enjoy a leisurely bento lunch outdoors. People differ not only in what interests them but also in their stamina, so the sightseeing in Himeji was arranged to allow everyone to explore freely at their own pace.
I took part alongside the participants, taking photos from the departure ceremony through to the end, and will share what the day was like.
Departure ceremony
After checking in at the north exit of JR Kurashiki Station, I received a cute badge.
Apparently, these badges were also handmade by volunteers. There are four types, featuring sunflowers and trains. It would be fun to look for all of them as you walk around.
At the north exit plaza of JR Kurashiki Station, the Kurashiki Baton Fresh Twirlers performed to commemorative music by the Kurashiki City Fire Department Band, the first fire department band in Okayama Prefecture.
Flowers lovingly made at Kurashiki City Mabi no Michi, a Type B continuous employment support facility for people with disabilities in Mabi, decorated the stage, building anticipation for the journey ahead.
JR Kurashiki Station → Himeji Station: Himawari-go
When the ceremony ended, everyone headed to the platform.
Not only the volunteers but also all the staff at JR Kurashiki Station helped everyone board smoothly by setting up a ramp at the train entrance and guiding people to the elevator.
On the train, people with disabilities and volunteer assistants could be seen opening their travel itineraries and discussing where to go.
Since most of the participants with disabilities and volunteer assistants were meeting for the first time that day, there was still a slightly nervous atmosphere on the train ride there.
The group made its way to Himeji, with onboard activities such as guitar performances and ventriloquism taking place along the way.
Bento lunch
Upon arriving at Himeji Station, everyone headed at their own pace to Karo Yashiki Ato Park beneath Himeji Castle.
At Himeji Station, care taxis and 65 volunteers from the Himeji City Council of Social Welfare were also waiting.
Not all the volunteers had come from Kurashiki; having volunteers who knew Himeji inside out there to welcome us was very reassuring.
The weather was fine that day, and under the blue sky, neither the participants with disabilities nor the volunteers could stop eating their lunch boxes.
A Walk Around Himeji Castle
The itinerary stated, “We will guide you to Bizenmaru Square, even if you use a wheelchair.”
Although a ramp was indeed installed, a steep slope continued all the way to the main keep. Wondering how they would get up, I headed to Himeji Castle first.
After passing through the entrance, we were met by staff holding a universal map, who explained what to expect on the route to the main keep.
Universal map: A map showing recommended spots where you can take beautiful photos of Himeji Castle while seated in a wheelchair, as well as places to relax and take a break. Created by the Himeji Universal Tourism Center.
People who use wheelchairs often have to leave route decisions to those who can walk, but not knowing what to expect can be worrying both physically and mentally. I felt the warmth in the way they explained things directly to the participants with disabilities themselves, not just to their volunteer assistants.
On the way to Bizenmaru Square, volunteers were waiting at each spot, with wheelchairs passed along like relay batons, and they worked together to guide the wheelchairs all the way to the square.
The white castle, nicknamed “White Heron Castle,” stood out against the blue sky, and it was memorable to see everyone happily taking photos.
At the guest house below Himeji Castle, there was also a live broadcast of a guide climbing up to the main keep. It was a service that met the needs of participants who wanted to feel as if they had climbed up, even though they were not confident they could make it to Bizenmaru Square.
Next, we went to Himeji City Zoo. It is a cozy-sized spot with plenty of shade, so many participants took a break there to have a drink.
At Koko-en Garden, a participant with a visual impairment explored the grounds with a guide-helper volunteer. A staff member dressed in armor was also happy to let the participant touch it, which seemed to satisfy them. What a thoughtful service.
I would have liked to visit Himeji City Museum of Art as well, but it was nearly time to return to Himeji Station, so I’ll save it for my next trip to Himeji.
At Himeji Station, people took their time choosing souvenirs for themselves and their families. For people with disabilities who need assistance, a trip is a day out of the ordinary. I saw many participants splurging on souvenirs, too.
Himawari-go: Himeji Station → JR Kurashiki Station
On the train ride back, we spent a relaxing time holding a quiz contest and bingo game, and writing down memories of the trip in our itineraries.
The bingo prizes included exclusive train merchandise and souvenirs from Himeji, and both the participants with disabilities and the volunteers were very excited.
We arrived safely at JR Kurashiki Station as the sunset was beautiful.
All around the station, families waiting for their return were given souvenirs, while volunteers assisting participants and the families of participants with disabilities chatted happily together.
It was a relief to return safely to JR Kurashiki Station without any serious injuries or accidents.
Participants with disabilities, volunteers, and the families who came to meet them all ended the day with relaxed expressions that were hard to imagine from their tense faces when they set off.
On this trip to Himeji aboard Himawari-go No. 37, there were many moments when participants with disabilities and volunteers inspired one another.
A trip where participants with disabilities and volunteers discuss where they would like to go together
As I took photos on the train and asked each group, “What are you planning to see today?”, many participants with disabilities said, “I want to go to the zoo.”
When I asked, “Aren’t you going up Himeji Castle?”, most replied with a wry smile, “We can’t go that far!”
But when lunchtime came, I began to see volunteers trying to persuade participants with disabilities, saying things like, “It’s been a while since we’ve been to Himeji, too. Since we’ve come all this way, let’s go to Bizenmaru Square.”
More and more groups that had initially been hesitant changed their destination to Bizenmaru Square, saying, “I suppose we have no choice. But if you’ll take me there, maybe I’ll give it a try.”
I asked a volunteer from a group that had changed its destination from the zoo to Bizenmaru Square why they had discussed changing plans. They replied:
“If this were somewhere in Kurashiki City, I think I would have respected the participant’s wishes, thinking we could come anytime. But Himeji is a worthwhile travel destination even for us able-bodied people. So, I wanted to enjoy Himeji myself, and ended up asking them to go.”
They answered with a laugh.
Because participants with disabilities and volunteers were equals as “sightseers,” they could discuss what they each wanted to experience and try something new together. That is what it seemed to me.
A trip where participants with disabilities inspire one another
In fact, many participants began making their way up to Bizenmaru Square around the time the first people to reach the top were coming back down.
Apparently, many groups decided to head for Bizenmaru Square themselves after hearing news such as, “I heard [name] went to Bizenmaru Square,” from other participants who had been taking their time eating lunch or deciding where to go.
Participants had a range of disabilities, including physical, intellectual, visual, and hearing disabilities. They inspired one another, thinking, “If someone with the same disability can go, maybe I can, too,” and “If people with other types of disabilities are giving it a try, I want to challenge myself, too.”
A trip that passes Himawari-go on to the next generation
Himawari-go is a charter train with a long history, now running for the 37th time.
As a result, many repeat participants look forward to this trip every year. There seem to be many repeat participants among both people with disabilities and volunteers.
I met a family spanning three generations who were riding the train together. The grandmother was a participant with a disability, the mother was riding as a volunteer, and the daughter had volunteered since she was a child. Now an adult, she apparently plays an active role coordinating the volunteers.
She said, “Because this trip feels as familiar as a family vacation, I hope it continues. I’d be happy if the children who took part today came away knowing that Himawari-go is a fun trip.”
The trip to Himeji aboard Himawari-go No. 37 carried with it the feelings of people who have grown alongside Himawari-go over many years. I’m sure this time, too, each participant came away with their own precious memories.
From the Writer
As someone with a disability who also worked as a teacher at a special-needs school, I understand all too well how people with disabilities and their families can end up deciding for themselves what their limits are when they travel alone.
But on this trip, volunteers and participants with disabilities who had just met reached out to one another, making it possible for them to take on new challenges, thinking, “Maybe we can do this.”
It truly felt like a day when we encountered “the scenery that could only be seen because participants with disabilities and volunteers traveled together.”
This trip gave me a real sense of why Himawari-go has continued to build its history, traveling far away by charter train each year and welcoming new participants and volunteers.
I hope this program will continue to be there next year and the year after for the people who need this trip.
Himawari-go No. 37 Himeji Trip Information
| Name | Himawari-go No. 37 Himeji Trip |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, May 26, 2024, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. |
| Location | Kurashiki–Himeji |
| Participation fee (tax included) | Adults: ¥3,000; elementary, junior high, high school, and university students: ¥2,000 (Includes JR fare, facility admission, boxed lunch, and insurance) |
| Website | Himawari-go Kurashiki |
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