The harsh cold of winter is a season when the sweetness and umami of ingredients become concentrated, making food delicious.
Seasonal ingredients are also highly nutritious, so I actively incorporate them into my meals.
This season tends to make us want to stay indoors, but if we are going out to eat, we want to enjoy winter-specific dishes.
As of January 2024, in Kurashiki, the “Lunch Itadakimasu Stamp Rally” is being held, where you can casually compare lunches made with local winter ingredients.
What is the “Lunch Itadakimasu Stamp Rally”?
The “Lunch Itadakimasu Stamp Rally” is an event organized by the Kurashiki Tourism Convention Bureau.
You can compare carefully prepared lunches using Okayama Prefecture ingredients at restaurants in Kurashiki City, and if you collect two or more stamps, you can win wonderful prizes.
This event, which ended once in 2017, was revived in 2020 and is now in its fourth edition.
It is popular not only among tourists but also among locals because it allows you to enjoy various lunches at reasonable prices.
This time, 44 restaurants are participating, and the event runs from January 20 (Saturday) to March 17 (Sunday), 2024.
Previously, it was held in autumn as the Autumn Lunch Itadakimasu Stamp Rally.
However, this time it is being held in winter, so there will be many hearty dishes like hot pot and stew that you want to eat in winter.
Lunch prices are 1,500 yen (excluding tax), 2,000 yen (excluding tax), and 2,500 yen (excluding tax).
You can check the participating restaurants on the official website or from the flyer below.
How to participate in the stamp rally
You do not need to purchase tickets or anything to participate in the Lunch Itadakimasu Stamp Rally.
You can get the application postcard, which also serves as the stamp rally's base, through the following methods.
- Download and print the pamphlet or application postcard available on the official website
- Obtain pamphlets available at tourist information centers in Kurashiki City
Once you have the application postcard, choose a restaurant to have lunch at.
Some restaurants may require reservations by the day before or have a limited number of meals, so be sure to check the restaurant information in the pamphlet.
On the day, after finishing your lunch at the restaurant, inform the staff and have them stamp your application postcard.
Note that stamps with the same date and restaurant on one postcard are invalid.
After collecting two or more stamps, fill out the necessary information on the application postcard.
Then, either affix a stamp and mail it or drop it in the application box at one of the following tourist information centers in Kurashiki City to complete your application.
- In front of JR Kurashiki Station
- Kurashikikan Tourist Information Office
- Kurashiki City Tourist Rest Area
- Kojima Station
- Shin-Kurashiki Station
The application deadline is March 25, 2024 (Monday), postmarked by this date.
About the prizes
The prizes vary depending on the number of stamps collected.
- 2 or more stamps: Participation prize “Original masking tape” for everyone (design cannot be chosen)
- 3 or more stamps: Enter a lottery for B prize “Meal vouchers usable at participating restaurants”
- 4 stamps: In addition to B prize, enter a lottery for A prize “Kurashiki specialty products”
B prize will be awarded to 60 people by lottery, and A prize will be awarded to 4 people by lottery.
Interview with the person in charge of the Lunch Itadakimasu Stamp Rally
We spoke with Shigeki Uebayashi and Yuka Namba from the Kurashiki Tourism Convention Bureau, who plan and operate the “Lunch Itadakimasu Stamp Rally.”
Can you tell us about the background of the “Lunch Itadakimasu Stamp Rally”?
Uebayashi (no honorifics)
The “Lunch Itadakimasu Stamp Rally” was temporarily suspended, but it was revived in 2020 with the thought of creating tourism demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. It had been held in autumn for the past few years, but this year it is being held in winter, similar to before the pandemic, when tourism calms down.
It allows you to enjoy luxurious lunches at reasonable prices, making it a popular event with repeat participants now.
In the last event, approximately 18,000 meals were enjoyed.
I believe that the many voices from participating restaurants asking to continue the event are a significant reason for its ongoing success.
This stamp rally is being held in winter; are there any unique points for winter?
Namba (no honorifics)
There are several restaurants offering winter-themed warm menus.
For example, at “Hashimaya” and Kurashiki Ivy Square Restaurant Tsuta, they offer stew, and at “Kaisen to Shari,” which is participating for the first time, you can enjoy soy milk hot pot.
Uebayashi
Many of the Okayama Prefecture ingredients used this time include yellow garlic chives, which are in season.
There are also restaurants serving seafood like octopus and mamakari and Peach Pork (branded pork).
Namba
There were also dishes using burdock and lotus root harvested in Tsurajima.
Can you share some recommended ways to enjoy the stamp rally?
Namba
This time, the lunches are priced at 1,500 yen, 2,000 yen, and 2,500 yen (excluding tax), so I think you can enjoy them according to your needs.
For example, since there are events like graduations in this season, I hope people will use it widely for anniversaries and girls' gatherings.
Uebayashi
Especially with the 2,500 yen lunch, you can enjoy a bit of luxury.
Enjoying it on a special day is a recommended way to experience it.
Namba
There are restaurants that offer private rooms, and you can also enjoy lunch in a charming ryokan, so I think there are various atmospheres to choose from.
There are also restaurants where tourist buses can park, so I hope many people from outside the city will come.
I would be happy if this stamp rally encourages people to visit not only the Kurashiki area but also the areas of Tamashima, Kojima, and Mizushima.
Please share a message for the readers.
Namba
The Lunch Itadakimasu Stamp Rally is an event where you can rediscover the charm of food unique to Kurashiki, offering more than the price suggests.
I hope everyone participating will walk around various restaurants, collect lots of stamps, and win wonderful prizes.
Uebayashi
Each restaurant serves unique dishes, so I hope people of all ages will visit several restaurants together with their friends and participate in the stamp rally.
Conclusion
The Lunch Itadakimasu Stamp Rally, which is popular not only among customers but also among participating restaurants, is an event where you can casually compare lunches from unique restaurants.
As someone who worked in Tokyo, I am amazed that each restaurant offers luxurious lunches at outstanding cost performance.
With clear pricing, it is easy to find restaurants that fit your budget, and it seems fun to choose a lunch based on the restaurant's atmosphere according to your mood that day.
It would also be interesting to explore restaurants you haven't been to before during this opportunity.
Data on the Lunch Itadakimasu Stamp Rally
| Name | Lunch Itadakimasu Stamp Rally |
|---|---|
| Event Dates | From January 20 (Saturday) to March 17 (Sunday), 2024 The deadline for prize applications for the stamp rally is March 25 (Monday), 2024, postmarked by this date |
| Location | Kurashiki, Kojima, Mizushima, Tamashima |
| Participation Fee (including tax) | 1,500 yen (excluding tax), 2,000 yen (excluding tax), 2,500 yen (excluding tax) |
| Website | 2024 Kurashiki Lunch Itadakimasu Stamp Rally |
