Ibara Railway opened on January 11, 1999 at 11:11:11 AM and will celebrate its 25th anniversary on January 11, 2024.
Since the Ibara Line opened when I was small, I have used it a lot since its inception.
I heard there would be an event to commemorate the 25th anniversary called "Ibara Line Thank You Day - Unlimited Rides & Exciting Stamp Rally," so I went to check it out.
What is Ibara Line Thank You Day - Unlimited Rides & Exciting Stamp Rally?
"Ibara Line Thank You Day - Unlimited Rides & Exciting Stamp Rally" is an event to commemorate the opening of the Ibara Line.
The Ibara Line Thank You Day in 2024, marking the 25th anniversary, featured some special events.
On January 28, 2024 (Sunday) only, unlimited ride tickets were available for adults at 500 yen and children at 300 yen.
At Kannabe Station, Ibara Station, Yakage Station, Kibinomakibi Station, and Soja Station, there were events filled with ideas. The event hours at each station were from 9 AM to 3 PM.
If you collect stamps from three or more of the five stations mentioned above, you can enter a lottery, and if you win, you will receive local specialty products.
The unlimited ride ticket, available only on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, is sold for 1,400 yen for adults and 700 yen for children.
How the Author Enjoyed the Event
First, I headed to Ibara Station.
I started my journey from Ibara Station because there was a new product launch to coincide with the 25th anniversary.
At Ibara Station, a special stage was set up for the "Ibara Line 25th Anniversary & Denchukun 10th Anniversary Event." Denchukun is a mascot modeled after the "Mirror Lion," a representative work of Hirakushi Denchuu, an honorary citizen of Ibara City.
The stage was lively with performances by the Souun Taiko drum group, children's Kagura, and local mascots from the Ikasa region.
▼ In the front row from the left are Laura-chan (Fukuyama City), Yakage Tourism Ambassador Yakappi (Yakage Town), Kabuni-kun (Kasaoka City), Sato-chan (Satosho Town), and although not visible, in the back row from the left are Momo-chan (Akaiwa City), Hacchan (Ibara Line), Denchukun (Ibara City), and Icchan (Ibara Line).
Next, I visited Yakage Station.
When I got off the train and stepped out in front of Yakage Station, I found that the "Ibara Line DE Tokutoku Market," which was also held at Ibara Station, was taking place.
A particularly eye-catching banner for the Yakage Town Italian Vegetable Project.
Here, they seemed to be offering a free serving of Nagomi Risotto Rice (for the first 100 people). Unfortunately, when I visited, the free distribution had already ended, and I couldn't eat any.
Yakage Town was a host town for the Italian team during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This led to the start of full-scale cultivation of Italian vegetables from the 2022 fiscal year.
The Ibara Line DE Tokutoku Market not only sells local vegetables but also serves as a platform for public relations activities.
This time, I did not participate in the stamp rally and enjoyed visiting the stations instead.
New Release: Ibara Railway Ekiben
At Ibara Line Thank You Day, the "Ibara Railway Ekiben" (1,100 yen including tax) was released.
The ingredients of the ekiben are sourced from the Bichu region.
For example, it includes the following:
- Yume Yasuragi-go Colorful Rice: Made with ancient rice from Yakage Town, recreating the colors of the Yume Yasuragi-go train.
- Misoyaki Bison: Made with pork from Bisei-cho, Ibara City, and burdock from Tsurajima, Kurashiki City, recreating the railway tracks.
It's a fun ekiben just to look at.
Ibara Line Craft Beer Volume 2: Sengoku Train Craft Beer
In November 2023, the "Ibara Akane Craft Beer" was launched. Starting from this Ibara Line Thank You Day, the second collaboration between Ibara Railway and Fukuyama Craft Beer, "Sengoku Train Craft Beer," was released.
This time, I bought it as a souvenir for my family.
Since I cannot drink alcohol, I am looking forward to hearing my family's impressions of the craft beer they drank.
The Ibara Railway × Fukuyama Craft Beer is also produced and sold by Bingo Fukuyama Brewing College & THE BEER.
The "Sengoku Train" is a train wrapped around Hojo Souun, who is associated with Ibara City. In addition to Hojo Souun, the family crests and faces of other Sengoku warlords from Okayama Prefecture, such as the Ukita and Sho clans, are wrapped on the inside and outside of the train. It is a recommended train for those who love the Sengoku period and history.
【Ibara Station】 Ikasa Marche
At Ibara Station, the "Gurutto Ikasa Marche" was held to promote the attractions of Kasaoka City, Ibara City, Satosho Town, Asakuchi City, and Yakage Town.
The author purchased a 1,000 yen bread set from SOL BAKERY at the Satosho Town booth.
Savory bread wrapped in pie crust with lotus root and okra, and madeleines with a rich sweetness.
All the breads had a good balance of flavors and were delicious.
According to the representative from Satosho Town, SOL BAKERY's bread, which often has long lines, is best to buy during events.
When shopping at the marche, you received a gacha lottery ticket. The prizes could be selected from local specialties.
The author, who won, chose a baked goods set from Takata no Tamago in Kasaoka City.
Conclusion
At the stage event at Ibara Station, the Ibara Line mascots Icchan and Hacchan, Kabu-kun from Kasaoka City, and Laura-chan from Fukuyama City came to visit.
Smiles broke out in front of the cute yuru-chara.
The Ibara Line Anniversary Event is held every January.
The next event is scheduled for January 2025.
Additionally, there are charter train projects such as "Bichu Sake Train with Ibara Railway" and "Bingo Wine Tourism Train with Ibara Railway".
Moreover, there is the regularly held "Ibara Line DE Tokutoku Market." If you shop at the Tokutoku Market, your return fare is free. This is a great deal, isn't it?
How about traveling while being healed by the tranquil scenery?
Ibara Line Appreciation Day - Unlimited Rides & Exciting Stamp Rally Data
| Name | Ibara Line Appreciation Day - Unlimited Rides & Exciting Stamp Rally |
|---|---|
| Date | The Ibara Line anniversary event was held on January 28, 2024 (Sunday). Unlimited ride tickets were sold for adults at 500 yen and children at 300 yen on that day only. Events at each station were from 9 AM to 3 PM. The Ibara Line DE Tokutoku Market was held simultaneously at Ibara Station and Yakage Station. |
| Location | Kannabe Station, Ibara Station, Yakage Station, Kibinomakibi Station, Soja Station, etc. |
| Website | Ibara Line Appreciation Day - Unlimited Rides & Exciting Stamp Rally |
