Recently, when I participated in an event, I was recommended an official LINE account called Kurashiki Fan Club by a staff member from the Kurashiki City Tourism Division.
It seems that by registering, information about events in the city will be delivered, making it easy to check out seasonal events.
I registered right away, and it appears that the Kurashiki Fan Club is an official LINE account aimed at tourism, offering many benefits beyond just event information.
I gathered information about the benefits and recommended ways to use it, so I will introduce them.
What is the Kurashiki Fan Club?
The Kurashiki Fan Club is an official LINE account that provides information on tourism and special benefits in Kurashiki City. It is operated by the Kurashiki City Tourism Division, and there are no annual or membership fees.
The benefits and information you can get are as follows.
- You can receive coupons from fan club partner stores
- You can find out about seasonal events and popular store information
- You can check congestion information for tourist spots and parking
- You can find out destinations for tourist spots with a digital tourism map
- You can connect directly to the hometown tax donation site
With just the Kurashiki Fan Club, you can quickly check information such as tourist spots and congestion status during your stay.
Additionally, even after returning from your trip, you will receive information about seasonal events and can easily access the hometown tax donation site, so it seems useful in various scenarios before, during, and after your trip.
The registration method is simple.
Just add the Kurashiki Fan Club account as a friend and register information such as your age and area of residence to start using it immediately.
The "Kurashiki Fan Club" was just released at the end of January 2024.
I interviewed Hiroki Makino from the Kurashiki City Tourism Division about its background and content.
Interview with the Person in Charge
How did the Kurashiki Fan Club come to be?
Makino (no honorifics)
Originally, Kurashiki City had the issue of "short tourist stay times."
Areas like the Bikan Historical Area near JR Kurashiki Station have many tourists, but there are often cases where they just stop by briefly and leave. Since Kurashiki City has attractions and spots throughout the city, I thought it would be great to create a system that allows for a tour around the city.
About two years ago, in 2022, there was an announcement for a national subsidy called the Digital Rural City National Concept Grant, and I thought about using LINE for information dissemination. While developing a tourism app was also an option, LINE is the most used social media in Japan, so I thought it would be easy to register and use.
While there are many examples of municipalities using LINE for information dissemination to citizens, it was the first time for Kurashiki City to create an official account for tourists. Additionally, with the launch of the Kurashiki Fan Club, the official Kurashiki City tourism website "Kurashiki Tourism WEB" was also renewed.
The ideal situation is that in addition to the Bikan Historical Area, we want visitors to explore other areas. Therefore, we launched it as a tool to enjoy tourism in Kurashiki City more, such as getting coupons usable at stores in Kojima and Tamashima, and finding model courses in other areas.
Can you tell us your recommended ways to use it?
Makino
Among the benefits, I would most recommend the coupons.
For example, a tourist facility that usually charges an admission fee of 500 yen can be discounted by 100 yen with a coupon, or you can get a 10% discount at souvenir shops, allowing you to enjoy sightseeing and shopping in the city at a great price.
Also, the "Tourist Spots" benefit, which allows you to find popular model courses and restaurants and tourist facilities, is also recommended.
It links to the Kurashiki Tourism WEB, and you can see popular tourist spots in order of page access ranking, so you can easily find out which spots are currently popular.
Once you have picked a place you want to go in "Tourist Spots," you can also create an original travel plan with the Tourist Map feature. This is also linked with the Kurashiki Tourism WEB, and when you enter your destination, it will show the optimal route and estimated travel time.
You can also quickly check the congestion status of parking lots and tourist spots from the Kurashiki Fan Club, so I think you can enjoy sightseeing smoothly on the day.
I would be happy if you could use the Kurashiki Fan Club for both information gathering before your trip and for necessary information during your trip.
I live in Kurashiki City, can citizens of Kurashiki also use it?
Makino
Yes, of course you can use it.
I think the closest tourist spots for citizens are local ones, so I hope you will visit and enjoy going out at a good price.
We plan to increase the number of coupons in the future, so I hope you can use them at nearby stores.
We also deliver seasonal event information via push notifications, so if you are interested in local events, please register.
When you think, "Where should I go with my family next weekend?", I hope it becomes one of your outing options.
Please give a message to the readers.
Makino
I would like those who have even a little interest in Kurashiki or have visited to register.
I would be happy if you could use the benefits of the fan club to enjoy Kurashiki conveniently and at a good price, and become a fan of Kurashiki.
I hope you will visit Kurashiki many times, so please register.
Conclusion
In preparing for this interview, I tried various operations with the Kurashiki Fan Club, and I had many moments where I felt, "Yes, this is the kind of information I want when traveling!"
Using it from a tourist perspective, it was easy to find popular spots, making it easier to plan my trip, which was great.
I am a citizen of Kurashiki, but I thought it would be interesting to search for places to go from the Kurashiki Fan Club when I was unsure where to go.
I hope both tourists and locals can enjoy Kurashiki City conveniently and at a good price during the upcoming outing season.
Account: Kurashiki Fan Club
▼ It’s easy from the “Add Friend” button below
Account: Kurashiki Fan Club
▼ It’s easy from the “Add Friend” button below