In the heavy rain of July 2018, the embankment of the Odagawa River collapsed. In Mabi, embankment reinforcement and junction relocation work has been carried out as part of the Mabi Emergency Flood Control Project.
The construction is scheduled to be completed in March 2024, and the embankment road of the Odagawa River will be beautifully maintained, with the newly established "Mabi Fureai Park" set to open in July of the same year. The efforts for the reconstruction of Mabi are steadily taking shape.
The "Odagawa Fureai Walking" event held on June 23, 2024, is an event where participants can walk along the newly transformed embankment road of the Odagawa River and see the Mabi Fureai Park before its opening.
I, who usually have few opportunities to visit Mabi, decided to visit the Odagawa River because of the event. I will introduce the day's events.
What is the "Odagawa Fureai Walking"?
The "Odagawa Fureai Walking" is an event that was held on June 23, 2024 (Sunday).
To showcase the newly completed "Odagawa embankment road" and the newly established "Mabi Fureai Park," the Mabi Funao General Odori Executive Committee organized the event.
Mabi Fureai Park is also expected to be the venue for the 15th Mabi Funao General Odori, and this event was held as a promotion for the Mabi Funao General Odori.
There are two course options: 2.5 km and 6 km. Starting and ending at Mabi Fureai Park, participants will walk along the embankment road while exploring the lush nature of Odagawa and local attractions.
Rest spots and temporary toilets are provided along the course, allowing participants to enjoy walking at their own pace.
Due to rain on the day, the start and end point was changed to Kurashiki Makibi Support School.
Although it was unfortunately raining on the event day, many participants gathered not only from Mabi but also from outside the town, with the number of participants exceeding 200. There were many friends participating together and families with children, creating a lively atmosphere throughout the venue.
I participated in the 6 km course with a friend.
Participating in the event
It had been raining since the morning of the event, and the starting point was changed from Mabi Fureai Park to Kurashiki Makibi Support School.
I thought there would be fewer participants due to the rain, but by 8:30 AM when registration started, many cars were parked in the parking lot.
As I headed to the registration area, I was surprised by the unexpectedly large number of participants.
The venue was filled with energy that blew away the bad weather, with families participating with children and groups of elderly friends, creating cheerful voices everywhere.
At the registration, I received a pamphlet introducing tourist spots and a salt charge.
The pamphlet had a title marked with a question mark, saying "Visible from the walking course (?)."
It seems it might be difficult to find them. I think I will walk carefully and look for them.
At 9 AM, the opening ceremony was held, and after a greeting from the chairperson of the Mabi Funao General Odori Executive Committee, all participants did radio calisthenics together.
At 9:10 AM, the Odagawa Fureai Walking finally started.
Enjoying the nature of Odagawa while heading to Hachitakahashi (turnaround point)
Departing from Kurashiki Makibi Support School, we walk in a line.
The colorful raincoats lined up, making the embankment road suddenly vibrant.
With staff holding the Odagawa Fureai Walking banners leading the way, we proceed along the course without getting lost. As we reached the embankment road, the line began to break, and everyone started walking at their own pace.
A few minutes after departure, the originally planned starting point, Mabi Fureai Park, came into view on our right. The park is marked by its charmingly designed building.
The grounds of Mabi Fureai Park feel quite spacious. In the future, it will not only be used as a venue for local events like the Mabi Funao General Odori but will also secure space for about 400 vehicles to evacuate during disasters and will be used as a heliport.
Upon closer inspection of the building, I noticed that bamboo is densely used in the walls, giving a sense of Mabi's character. I was surprised to see how straight bamboo creates graceful curves.
Since it was before the opening, there were no people around, but I thought I would like to see Mabi Fureai Park bustling during the Mabi Funao General Odori on July 13 (Saturday).
After passing Mabi Fureai Park and walking for a while, I finally got a close view of the Odagawa River.
Staff guided us, saying, "Please go under the bridge," and we proceeded along the newly maintained, beautiful embankment road, passing under the bridge.
At key points along the course, staff were always present, allowing us to walk with peace of mind.
The sign for Miyata Bridge was designed with the local specialty, bamboo shoots, as a motif. While locals may pass by it without a second glance, I personally found it to be a cute sign that reflects the regional character, so I couldn't help but take a photo.
While walking, I tried to look for the tourist spots listed in the pamphlet, but perhaps due to the bad weather, I couldn't find them easily.
As I was scanning the distant scenery, a friend walking with me said, "Those white flowers blooming over there, I see them often, but I wonder what they're called?" Looking down, I indeed saw flowers that are commonly found by the roadside.
After looking into it out of curiosity, the conversation heated up with the possibility that it might be either Erigeron or Himejoon. Normally, I wouldn't pay any attention to such weeds, but being able to focus on familiar plants is one of the unique pleasures of a walking event.
As the rain began to intensify, we finally arrived at the turning point, Yatakabashi.
At Yatakabashi, I discovered the "Yatakazeki" (八高堰) mentioned in the pamphlet. This was finally the first sightseeing spot we encountered.
Yatakazeki is referred to as a Rubber Dam, and it plays a role in supplying agricultural water to local rice fields by inflating rubber tubes to block the river's water. Seeing it up close, it was very large, and the sight of it blocking a large amount of river water was impressive.
Crossing Yatakabashi while looking down at the fierce river flow, we were finally at the halfway point of the walk.
Advancing on the return route while being rained on
After crossing Yatakabashi and moving a little further, we arrived at a rest spot.
At the rest spot, tea, sports drinks, and salt charge were provided, along with a temporary toilet brought in by a light truck. Under the tent, participants were resting while sharing space, and I was also allowed to squeeze in.
Just as I finished my tea and was about to set off again, a train departed from Bichu-Kurashiki Station of the Ibara Railway, which is right next to the rest spot. It was a compact train with a single car, typical of local lines. I was lucky to see it running at just the right time.
On the way back, the rain intensified, and water began to seep into my raincoat and shoes.
While it might be uncomfortable under normal circumstances, walking in the rain without an umbrella is a rare experience, so I felt a sense of excitement from this unusual situation. It felt like I was returning to my childhood as I walked.
Since there was a concern about heatstroke if the weather was too nice, it might have been just right to walk in the cool temperatures of the rain.
Looking at the wet ground, I noticed a snail was also taking a stroll on the embankment road. This was another encounter unique to rainy days.
As I walked happily in the rain, I quickly approached the goal point. The Mabi Fureai Park, which we passed on the way out, came into view on my left, so we were almost there.
Arriving at the goal after about 2 hours
At exactly 11:00 AM, I returned to the Kurashiki Makibi Support School, the goal of the event.
In the rain, staff wearing raincoats were waiting near the entrance, warmly welcoming us with "Thank you for your hard work" as we reached the goal. We completed the 6 km walk in about 2 hours.
Looking at the participants who finished, most of them had wet feet, but their faces were filled with smiles from the sense of accomplishment after walking.
Since I was able to walk at my own pace throughout, I didn't particularly feel any intense fatigue, and I think it was a healthy walking event that people of all ages could enjoy.
At the reception, ice cream, grilled chicken, and drinks were provided.
After walking for 2 hours, I was hungry, and the salty grilled chicken was especially delicious. The grilled chicken was brought to the venue from a nearby location, so I was able to enjoy it hot and freshly made.
Additionally, I received snacks as a participation prize. My friend and I received different types of snacks, so it seems there are several variations available.
The cookies that my friend and I received were made by a welfare facility for continuous employment support type B located in Kurashiki City.
I felt warm-hearted receiving a souvenir made by local people.
Conclusion
The Okayama River Fureai Walking was blessed with rain throughout. Since opportunities to walk on a rain-soaked embankment are rare, I think walking in the pouring rain became a valuable experience instead.
Enjoying the nature unique to rain, such as rice fields reflecting like mirrors and snails, became a good memory for me personally.
The embankment road is wide, and I felt the ease of movement in case of disasters in various places. It was good to participate in the walking event as I could experience not just a beautifully maintained area, but also updates in disaster prevention.
The Mabi and Funao Grand Dance of 2024 will be held on July 13 (Saturday) at Mabi Fureai Park. If you happen to go to the festival, why not take a stroll along the newly reborn Okayama River?
Odagawa Fureai Walking Data
| Name | Odagawa Fureai Walking |
|---|---|
| Date | June 23, 2024 (Sunday) Start at 9:00 AM * Registration starts at 8:30 AM * Held rain or shine (canceled in case of severe weather) |
| Location | Mabi Fureai Park / Odagawa Embankment Road |
| Website | Kurashiki City Website |
