The Kurashiki City-hosted disaster preparedness awareness event “Kurashiki Disaster Preparedness Fair” will be held again in 2025. This year, the venue has moved to the Boat Race Kojima parking lot, with a full lineup of hands-on programs that anyone can enjoy and take part in.
This year’s subtitle is “Hints to help yourself are here”.
It reflects the organizers’ strong desire not only to offer hints that will be useful in an emergency, but also to help people who are currently unsure what to do find those hints.
Here’s an introduction to the Kurashiki Disaster Preparedness Fair, where you can think about disaster preparedness while having fun and update your preparations.
The information provided was current when this article was published in November 2025. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is the “Kurashiki Disaster Preparedness Fair”?
The Kurashiki Disaster Preparedness Fair is an event hosted by Kurashiki City to promote and raise awareness of disaster preparedness.
It will be held at the Boat Race Kojima parking lot on Sunday, November 23, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The Boat Race Kojima parking lot will be divided into three areas: “Discover! Experience Area,” “Exciting! Experience Area,” and “Big Gathering! Working Vehicles Area.” The event will feature hands-on booths and activities such as:
- Stage events
- Rescue and emergency response drills
- Exhibits where you can learn about disaster preparedness in a fun way
- A gathering of working vehicles
- Prize drawing
- Food trucks
Free shuttle buses will also run this year. Since parking around the event venue is limited, we recommend using public transportation.
- From bus stop 5 in front of Kojima Station to Boat Race Kojima
- From the Kojima School Lunch Joint Kitchen (temporary parking lot) to Boat Race Kojima
※Both routes will run approximately every 20 minutes between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Exhibits
Around 60 sponsoring companies and organizations will present creative, fun exhibits that make learning enjoyable. All exhibits focus on hands-on experiences, and there will be a wide range of disaster preparedness workshops.
You can also collect stamps by visiting all three areas and enter a prize drawing.
Event Program
In addition to stage events such as performances by a music corps and puppet shows, the program includes a talk by meteorologist Nozomi Nakashima, rescue drills by fire and police tactical units, a water-spraying demonstration by the Mizushima Coast Guard Office patrol boat “Ryuou,” and a pork soup meal prepared by the Self-Defense Forces.
Installation support and gifts for the Kurashiki Emergency Alert App!
The Kurashiki City Disaster Prevention and Crisis Management Office booth will also provide installation support for the Kurashiki Emergency Alert App, which began operating on October 1, 2025.
Show the app installed on your phone to receive a gift. The first 1,000 people will receive Marukome Co., Ltd.’s “Marukome Value Pack Freeze-Dried Granulated Miso Soup, Ryotei no Aji Assortment, 10 Servings,” a great choice for rolling stock, too.
Rolling stock
A method of keeping a steady supply of food stored at home by buying a little more of the foods you normally eat, using the oldest items first while keeping an eye on expiration dates, and replenishing what you use.
Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Food Stockpiling Guide for Disasters (2)
A fun drill that participants can take part in using the Kurashiki Emergency Alert App is also planned at the venue.
Interview with the Kurashiki City Disaster Prevention and Crisis Management Office, Community Disaster Preparedness Promotion Division
We spoke with Kenta Mano and Kosuke Matsuoka of the Kurashiki City Disaster Prevention and Crisis Management Office, Community Disaster Preparedness Promotion Division, which plans and runs the Kurashiki Disaster Preparedness Fair.
This is the fourth time the event has been held. Why are you holding the Kurashiki Disaster Preparedness Fair again this year?
Mano (titles omitted)
The Disaster Preparedness Fair began because, among the city’s efforts to improve community disaster preparedness, we faced particular challenges in raising awareness among younger people.
In the past, community drills have often been attended mainly by members of voluntary disaster preparedness organizations and older local residents. As a result, we had not been able to do enough outreach to young children and families raising children.
So, rather than having the formal image of a drill, we chose an event format called a “fair,” with the aim of helping people think about disaster preparedness in an enjoyable way and broadening its reach. Through stage events and hands-on booths, we hope to create an event where even young children can learn while having fun.
What are the highlights this time, and how is it different from the previous event?
Mano
This time, it will be held in the Kojima area.
By changing the venue each year, we hope to promote disaster preparedness throughout Kurashiki City.
We hope people who have found it difficult to attend because the venue was far away in the past will come this time.
Since the venue is the Boat Race Kojima parking lot, will there be any special activities?
Mano
Taking advantage of Kojima’s location near the sea, we plan to station the patrol boat “Ryuou” where it can be seen from the venue and hold a water-spraying demonstration. It’s a rare opportunity to see this, so people of all ages, from children to adults, should enjoy it.
Another Kojima-specific feature is that, as in previous years, the prize drawing will include prizes sponsored by local Kojima businesses.
We think it will also be an opportunity for people to learn about Kojima products.
What would you like participants to take away from the event?
Matsuoka (titles omitted)
First, we hope people will feel free to come along to this fun event.
We also hope you’ll visit the booths with your family and friends and share discoveries such as “We need this” with them. We want people to realize that simply talking about these things together helps them prepare.
We believe that as this awareness gradually spreads, it will improve disaster preparedness throughout Kurashiki City.
We hope you’ll invite your family and friends and come along.
Do you have a message for our readers?
Mano
The subtitle of this year’s Kurashiki Disaster Preparedness Fair is “Hints to help yourself are here.” The word “yourself” is written as “self” in Japanese but intended to be read as “you.”
This subtitle expresses our desire to offer hints for two different time frames.
The first is a hint for “if something happens”—something that will make you think, “I’m glad I learned this here” or “I’m glad I tried this out,” should a disaster occur.
The second is a hint that can be a first step in the present for people who think, “A disaster might happen, but I don’t know what to do,” helping them figure out what to start with.
This event is packed with useful hints. We hope you’ll come along.
Matsuoka
We hope everyone will come, not only those interested in disaster preparedness, but also those who might think, “I haven’t really been interested, but it sounds fun, so maybe I’ll go.”
If you have some time on November 23, please feel free to stop by for an hour or two.
We look forward to seeing you.
From the Writer
The 2024 event was a great success, with many people taking part.
Disaster preparedness is constantly evolving, and learning about the latest emergency supplies and services, as well as local challenges, should be valuable even for those who have attended before.
On Sunday, November 23, be sure to visit the Boat Race Kojima parking lot.
Articles about the Kurashiki Disaster Preparedness Fair
FY2025 Kurashiki Disaster Prevention Fair Information
| Name | FY2025 Kurashiki Disaster Prevention Fair |
|---|---|
| Date | November 23, 2025 (Sunday) 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. |
| Location | Boat Race Kojima Parking Lot |
| Admission (tax included) | Free *Some food trucks will have items for sale |
| Website | Kurashiki Disaster Prevention Fair |
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