The Oda River levee breached during the July 2018 Heavy Rains. In Mabi, levee reinforcement and work to relocate the river confluence have been carried out under the “Mabi Emergency Flood Control Measures Project.”
The work was completed in March 2024, and the levee road along the Oda River has been beautifully improved. Mabi Fureai Park, newly built as a symbol of recovery, is also scheduled to open in July of the same year. Efforts to rebuild Mabi are steadily taking shape.
The “Oda River Fureai Walking Event,” held on Sunday, June 23, 2024, was an event where participants could walk along the newly transformed Oda River levee road and get a close-up look at Mabi Fureai Park before it opened.
I don’t often get the chance to visit Mabi, so I took this event as an opportunity to go to the Oda River. Here’s what happened that day.
The information provided was current when this article was published in July 2024. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is the “Oda River Fureai Walking Event”?
The “Oda River Fureai Walking Event” was held on Sunday, June 23, 2024.
The Mabi-Funao Soodori Dance Festival Executive Committee organized the event to showcase the “Oda River levee road,” where construction had just been completed, and the newly built “Mabi Fureai Park.”
Mabi Fureai Park is also scheduled to host the 15th Mabi-Funao Soodori Dance Festival, and this event was held to promote the Mabi-Funao Soodori Dance Festival.
There were two course options: 2.5 km and 6 km. Starting and finishing at Mabi Fureai Park, the route follows the levee road in a loop, taking in the lush natural scenery along the Oda River and local points of interest.
Rest stops and portable toilets were also set up along the route, so participants could enjoy a leisurely walk at their own pace.
Due to rain, the start and finish location was changed to Kurashiki Makibi Support School.
Unfortunately, it was raining on the day of the event, but many participants came not only from Mabi but also from outside the town, bringing the total number of participants to over 200. Many people came with friends, as well as families with children, and the venue was lively throughout.
This time, I joined the 6 km course with a friend.
I joined the event
It had been raining since early morning, so the starting point was changed from Mabi Fureai Park to Kurashiki Makibi Support School.
I thought fewer people might come because of the rain, but by the time registration opened at 8:30 a.m., many cars were already parked in the lot.
As I headed to registration, I was surprised by the number of participants, which exceeded my expectations.
The venue was so lively that it seemed to dispel the bad weather. Cheerful voices could be heard everywhere, from families participating with children to groups of older friends walking together.
At registration, we were given a tourist-spot guide pamphlet and salt tablets.
The pamphlet had a title with a question mark: “Visible from the walking course (?)”.
I wondered if they would be difficult to find. I decided to keep my eyes peeled as I walked.
The opening ceremony was held at 9 a.m. After a greeting from the chair of the Mabi-Funao Soodori Dance Festival Executive Committee, all the participants did radio calisthenics together.
At 9:10 a.m., the Oda River Fureai Walking Event finally got underway.
Enjoying the natural scenery along the Oda River as we head for Hachiko Bridge (the turnaround point)
We set off from Kurashiki Makibi Support School and walked in a line.
Rows of colorful raincoats quickly brightened up the levee road.
Staff carrying Oda River Fureai Walking banners led the way, so we could follow the route without getting lost. Once we reached the levee road, the line began to break up, and everyone started walking at their own pace.
A few minutes after setting off, Mabi Fureai Park, the original starting point, came into view on our right. The park is marked by a building with a charming appearance.
The grounds of Mabi Fureai Park seemed quite spacious. In the future, it will not only be used as a venue for local events such as the Mabi-Funao Soodori Dance Festival, but will also provide space for about 400 cars to evacuate during a disaster and serve as a heliport.
Looking closely at the building, I noticed that its walls are densely covered with bamboo, giving it a distinctly Mabi feel. I was amazed at how the straight bamboo had been shaped into graceful curves.
There was no one around since the park had not yet opened, but I’d also like to see Mabi Fureai Park bustling with people during the Mabi-Funao Soodori Dance Festival on Saturday, July 13.
After passing Mabi Fureai Park and walking for a while, the Oda River finally came into view nearby.
A staff member directed us to “go under the bridge,” and we followed the newly improved, beautiful levee road and passed beneath it.
Staff were stationed at all the key points along the route, and we walked on with peace of mind, knowing they were keeping an eye on us.
The sign for Miyata Bridge was designed around the local specialty, bamboo shoots. Locals seemed used to seeing it and walked right past, but I thought it was a cute sign that reflected the character of the area, so I couldn’t resist taking a photo.
As we walked, I tried to spot the tourist attractions shown in the pamphlet, but they were hard to find, perhaps because the bad weather had reduced visibility.
As I looked out at the distant scenery, a friend walking with me said, “I see that white flower growing there all the time, but I wonder what it’s called.” Looking down, I saw that there really was a flower of the kind often found by the roadside.
When we got curious and looked it up, we had a lively discussion about whether they were fleabane or annual fleabane. They’re weeds we’d normally pay no attention to, but taking an interest in the plants around us is one of the pleasures unique to a walking event.
Just as the rain began to get heavier, we finally arrived at Hachiko Bridge, the turnaround point.
At Hachiko Bridge, we spotted the “Hachiko Weir (Hakkoseki)” introduced in the pamphlet. It was the first sightseeing spot we’d come across at last.
The Hachiko Weir is called a “rubber weir.” It works by inflating a rubber tube to hold back the river water and supply irrigation water to the area’s rice paddies. It was enormous up close, and the sight of it holding back such a large volume of river water was impressive.
We crossed Hachiko Bridge, looking down at the fast-flowing river, and reached the halfway point of the walk.
Making our way back in the rain
After crossing Hachiko Bridge, we walked a little farther and arrived at a rest stop.
Tea, sports drinks, and salt supplements were provided at the rest stop, and a portable toilet had also been brought in on a mini truck. Participants were taking turns resting under the tent, and I was able to squeeze in too.
Just as I finished my tea and was about to set off again, a train departed from Bitchu-Kurese Station on the Ibara Railway, right beside the rest stop. It was a compact, single-car train, typical of a local line. I was lucky to catch it passing by at just the right moment.
On the way back, the rain grew heavier and water began seeping into my raincoat and shoes.
It might usually be unpleasant, but I rarely get to walk in the rain without an umbrella, so the unusual experience was exciting. I walked along feeling like a kid again.
I’d been worried that overly sunny weather might cause heatstroke, so the cool temperatures on this rainy day may have been just right for walking.
Looking at the wet ground, I spotted a snail taking a stroll along the levee road. It was another encounter unique to a rainy day.
As we walked along, frolicking in the rain, we soon found ourselves nearing the finish. Mabi Fureai Park, which we’d passed on the way out, came into view on our left, so we were almost there.
Reaching the finish after about two hours
At exactly 11 a.m., we returned to Kurashiki Makibi Support School, the finish point.
Staff wearing raincoats waited near the entrance in the rain, warmly welcoming us at the finish with “Well done!” We completed the 6-kilometer walk in about two hours.
Looking at the participants who had finished, almost everyone was wet down to their toes, but their faces were full of smiles from the sense of accomplishment.
Since I was able to walk at my own pace the whole time, I didn’t feel particularly exhausted, and I thought it was a healthy walking event that people of all ages and genders could enjoy.
Ice cream, yakitori, and drinks were provided at the reception desk.
After walking for two hours, I was hungry, so the salty yakitori was especially delicious. It had been grilled nearby and brought to the venue, so we could enjoy it hot and freshly cooked.
We also received sweets as a participation gift. My friend and I were given different kinds, so it seems there were several varieties.
The cookies my friend and I received were made by a welfare facility in Kurashiki City that provides Type B continuous employment support.
The souvenir made by local people warmed my heart.
From the Writer
The Odagawa River Friendship Walk was accompanied by rain from start to finish. Since there are few opportunities to walk along a levee in the rain, I think walking through a downpour turned out to be a valuable experience.
Personally, I also have fond memories of enjoying nature unique to rainy weather, such as rice paddies reflecting like mirrors and snails.
The levee road is wide, and at various points I could see how easy it would be to travel along in the event of a disaster. I was glad I took part in the walking event, as it gave me a chance to experience improvements in disaster preparedness—not just a road that had been neatly maintained.
The 2024 Mabi-Funao Soodori Dance Festival will be held at Mabi Fureai Park on Saturday, July 13. Why not take a stroll along the transformed Odagawa River while you’re in the area for the festival?
Odagawa Fureai Walking Event Information
| Name | Odagawa Fureai Walking |
|---|---|
| Date | June 23, 2024 (Sunday) Starts at 9:00 a.m. ※Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. ※Held rain or shine (canceled in severe weather) |
| Location | Mabi Fureai Park and Odagawa Embankment Road |
| Website | Kurashiki City website |
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