As the weather turns cold, don’t you find yourself craving something warm?
I especially love noodle dishes, and often find myself craving warm noodles like ramen and udon.
For anyone craving a warm noodle dish or simply a big fan of noodles, the perfect event is now underway: “Men-tabi.”
“Men-tabi” is a stamp rally event where you can sample noodle dishes from the seven cities and three towns of the Takahashi River Basin and visit participating restaurants.
This article explains how to take part and enjoy the event, and shares the thoughts of the Kurashiki City Tourism Division staff member who planned it.
The information presented was current when this article was published in January 2026. Please note that it may differ from current information.
Men-tabi event overview
“Men-tabi” is a digital stamp rally event in which you visit noodle restaurants in the seven cities and three towns of the Takahashi River Basin and collect stamps.
Anyone can easily take part by dining at a participating restaurant and scanning the QR code displayed inside.
Details of Men-tabi are as follows.
| Event period | Friday, December 5, 2025–Sunday, March 8, 2026 |
| Event area | Seven cities and three towns of the Takahashi River Basin (Kurashiki City, Niimi City, Takahashi City, Soja City, Hayashima Town, Yakage Town, Ibara City, Asakuchi City, Satosho Town, Kasaoka City) |
| Number of participating restaurants | 31 in total |
Check the map below or the Men-tabi special website for participating restaurants.
The Takahashi River Basin is actually a noodle destination
The reason noodles were chosen as the theme for this event lies in the food culture unique to the Takahashi River Basin.
Blessed with a mild climate and fertile soil, the Takahashi River Basin has long been a major wheat-growing region.
It also had access to high-quality salt produced in the Seto Inland Sea and clean water, and it is said that the noodle-making industry developed and a noodle culture took root.
As a result, each area developed its own distinctive noodle dishes, including “Bukkake udon,” said to have originated in Kurashiki City; Kasaoka ramen, made with chicken stock; Ibara City’s “wa-soba-yaki”; and Takahashi City’s “Indian tomato yakisoba.”
Men-tabi is an event where you can rediscover and savor the noodle culture unique to the Takahashi River Basin.
How to take part in the stamp rally
Dine at a participating restaurant and scan the Men-tabi QR code displayed inside with your smartphone to earn a stamp.
To take part in the stamp rally, you must register for the Kurashiki City Tourism Division’s official LINE account, “Kurashiki Fan Club.”
You can earn only one stamp in each city or town.
This reflects the Kurashiki City Tourism Division’s hope that participants will “visit the entire Takahashi River Basin, rather than stopping at just one city or town.”
Stamps accumulate as you visit different areas.
Even if you can’t earn a stamp, your visit is recorded, so you can look back on your visits later or enjoy trying to complete all the participating restaurants.
Prizes featuring local specialties from the Takahashi River Basin
Depending on how many stamps you collect, you could win local specialties associated with the Takahashi River Basin in a prize draw.
The deadline to enter for prizes is Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
Kurashiki shichimi is a special item presented in a Bizen-yaki pottery vessel, handmade by artisans one by one.
Other prizes packed with local charm include kibimen noodles made by a noodle manufacturer in Kasaoka City and bachi senbei, made using the ends of somen noodles.
One of the unique pleasures of Men-tabi is that noodles can lead you to discover not only food, but also the culture and local specialties unique to the Takahashi River Basin.
I took part in Men-tabi
I also visited Kirakuen, a participating restaurant in Kurashiki City.
I ordered soy sauce ramen, a dish with a nostalgic feel.
It was a cold day, and the warm broth was soothing and comforting.
Getting a stamp is very easy.
A triangular display with a QR code printed on it is placed on the table; all you have to do is scan it with your smartphone.
The stamp rally screen appeared in LINE, and I was able to collect a stamp without any trouble.
I also found it appealing that you can take part easily, without any special steps.
Interview with a Kurashiki City Tourism Division staff member
I spoke with Inomata Asako, who works for the Kurashiki City Tourism Division, the organizer of Men-tabi.
Why did you choose noodles as the theme?
Inomata (surname only)
We held “Antabi” (a stamp rally event featuring anko sweets) for three years through fiscal 2024, but we wanted to change the theme as a way of marking a turning point.
Rather than continuing with the same thing, we wanted to uncover the appeal of food shared across the entire Takahashi River Basin.
As we researched, we learned that a noodle-making culture had been deeply rooted in the Takahashi River Basin since long ago. We felt that noodles were the best way to convey the region’s distinctive richness.
Was there anything in particular you focused on when selecting participating restaurants?
Inomata
The Kurashiki City Tourism Division contacted the municipalities in the basin, solicited applications, and invited restaurants to participate, then selected from among them.
In selecting them, we paid particular attention to balancing the areas and types of noodles.
We took care to avoid an imbalance in the areas and types of noodle dishes, and deliberately selected restaurants offering a wide range of options, including udon, soba, ramen, pasta, and yakisoba.
How would you like participants to enjoy the event?
Inomata Asako
I hope it will be an opportunity for people to enjoy the distinctive and varied noodle dishes unique to the Takahashi River Basin.
I hope people will enjoy flavors they can only discover by visiting the places themselves, such as Chiyagyu Beef ramen in Niimi City, Japanese soba-yaki in Ibara City, and Indian tomato yakisoba in Takahashi City.
Also, “Mentabi” is a digital stamp rally, so you can not only collect stamps but also keep a record of the restaurants you visit.
I hope you’ll enjoy creating your own personal record of eating your way around.
What kinds of people would you like to take part?
Inomata Asako
First, local residents who live in the Takahashi River Basin area.
Even when it comes to noodle dishes in neighboring towns, there are surely well-known restaurants and food cultures that you may not know about, so I think you’ll make new discoveries.
Of course, I also hope people visiting from elsewhere in Okayama Prefecture or from outside the prefecture will feel welcome to join.
Noodles are loved by people of all ages, so I’d be delighted if families and friends, from children to older adults, could enjoy them together.
Do you have a final message?
Inomata Asako
As you learn about the food cultures each area of the Takahashi River Basin is proud of, set off on a journey to discover delicious bowls of noodles. This time, all seven cities and three towns in the Takahashi River Basin will be able to take part, and we’re very excited.
Once you find your favorite noodles, be sure to share them on social media with “#めんたび2025.”
From the Writer
The Takahashi River Basin has noodle dishes and food cultures unique to the region.
I also discovered noodle dishes for the first time through “Mentabi,” which inspired me to want to try them for myself.
The event runs for three months, giving you plenty of time to explore the Takahashi River Basin.
Whether you’re a local or visiting as a tourist, why not set off on a noodle journey and rediscover the region’s charms?
Mentabi Noodle Tour Stamp Rally Information
| Name | Mentabi Noodle Tour Stamp Rally |
|---|---|
| Dates | December 5, 2025 (Friday)–March 8, 2026 (Sunday) |
| Location | Takahashi River Basin |
| Participation fee (tax included) | None *However, you will need to pay for meals at each restaurant. |
| Website | Kurashiki Tourism WEB |
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