Since the July 2018 torrential rains, various construction projects have been carried out in Mabi to support its recovery.
Among them, a large-scale project named the “Mabi Emergency Flood Control Project” was completed in March 2024, and a well-maintained levee road was built along the Oda River. The new levee road is closely connected to the lives of people in Mabi, and I hear that many residents enjoy walking there.
I live in the Kurashiki area, so I hadn’t had many chances to visit the Oda River. But when I heard about an event called the Oda River Fureai Walking Event, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to go.
I interviewed the event organizer to find out what the Oda River Fureai Walking Event is all about.
The information provided was current when this article was published in June 2024. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is the Oda River Fureai Walking Event?
The Oda River Fureai Walking Event is a walking event to be held in Mabi on Sunday, June 23, 2024.
Starting at Mabi Fureai Park, which will be completed at the end of June 2024 and officially opened on July 3, participants will walk together along the newly improved levee road beside the Oda River. Mabi Fureai Park will be the venue for this year's (2024) Mabi-Funao Soodori Dance Festival, held annually, so this walking event was planned to promote the Mabi-Funao Soodori Dance Festival.
The starting point, Mabi Fureai Park, is a park developed as a symbol of recovery from the July 2018 torrential rains.
The park has a spacious, open lawn surrounded by nature and play equipment that children are sure to enjoy. It is expected to become a place where local residents can relax in their everyday lives, as well as a venue for community events such as festivals.
In the event of a disaster, space will be available for around 400 cars to evacuate, and the park will also be used as a heliport. It is a park that can be used both in normal times and during disasters.
The Oda River levee road, which forms the route, has been improved since the July 2018 torrential rains. Work was carried out to reinforce the levee and relocate the confluence of the Takahashi and Oda rivers, among other projects, and the Mabi Emergency Flood Control Project was completed in March 2024.
The road has been widened from 5 to 7 meters, making it easier to evacuate during disasters and for emergency vehicles to pass. This levee protects the safety of daily life in Mabi—in every sense, it supports the community.
This event offers a chance to walk around and see for yourself Mabi Fureai Park and the Oda River levee road—places that are likely to become an integral part of the community—and to experience firsthand the recovery of Mabi.
There are two route options, 6 km and 2.5 km, so you can choose according to your fitness level. Participants will receive a map featuring interesting facts about the route, so it looks like you can enjoy the walk while discovering the sights unique to Mabi, rather than simply walking.
Cold drinks will also be provided at rest stops along the route, so you can walk comfortably while staying hydrated. Taking a break while enjoying the peaceful river and lush green scenery may be one of the special pleasures of this event. After completing the walk, you can also enjoy yakitori grilled by local residents and ice cream.
Participants are expected to receive baked treats as a commemorative gift.
Registration is open until Friday, June 14. See below for how to apply.
I asked Sunami Makoto of the Industry Division at the Kurashiki City Mabi Branch Office, who planned the event, for more details.
Interview with the organizer
What inspired you to create this event?
Sunami (honorific omitted)
The Oda River Fureai Walking Event was planned to promote the Mabi-Funao Soodori Dance Festival, held every year, and Mabi Fureai Park, which will soon open.
The Mabi-Funao Soodori Dance Festival has traditionally been held near the Mabi Branch Office, but this year (2024) it will be held at Mabi Fureai Park to celebrate the park's completion. We hope people will come and see the park, which will be the venue, and that this event will encourage more people to attend the Mabi-Funao Soodori Dance Festival.
The Oda River levee road, which is part of the route, has also been reinforced since the July 2018 torrential rains to help people live safely.
Of course, we want people to enjoy walking at their leisure amid the Oda River's natural beauty and lovely scenery. We also hope they will see the reinforced levee for themselves and feel that Mabi's recovery is steadily progressing.
There are many kinds of events you could have organized. Why did you choose a walking event?
Sunami
Actually, events involving walks along the Oda River levee road had been planned several times before.
Some of Mabi's community development councils had already been organizing walking events, so I thought walking events might be familiar and popular with people living in Mabi.
At the ceremony marking the substantial completion of the Oda River levee reinforcement work in March 2022, members of a community development council planned an event to walk along the levee road, but it was canceled due to rain.
Later, the Oda River Fureai Festival was planned as a replacement for the Mabi-Funao Soodori Dance Festival, which could not be held during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also planned to include a walking route then, but this time it was canceled due to a typhoon…
This time, we planned the Oda River Fureai Walking Event to unveil Mabi Fureai Park, the venue for the Mabi-Funao Soodori Dance Festival. Third time's the charm.
I imagine there are local people who have never walked along the improved Oda River levee road, so I hope they will take this opportunity to come and see it.
Are there any special highlights of this event?
Sunami
We plan to create a map highlighting points of interest along the route, so participants can enjoy the walk.
It will include information that even local residents may not know, such as little-known facts about the mountains visible in the distance.
Since this event also promotes the Mabi-Funao Soodori Dance Festival, we're thinking of playing the festival music at the end so everyone can dance. I think many children in Mabi know the festival dance, so I hope everyone will join in.
The event is scheduled to finish in the morning. Are there any recommended places to visit afterward?
Sunami
For classic Mabi attractions, I recommend Makibi Park, Yata Otsuka Burial Mound, and Yokomizo Seishi's Wartime Residence.
Since you're here, I also hope you'll explore areas along the Oda River beyond Mabi, such as Funao and Yakage Town. Funao has a winery, too.
Who would you like to see take part?
Sunami
First and foremost, people who live in Mabi.
In particular, I hope people who live far from the Oda River will join this event. By seeing the improved levee road and Mabi Fureai Park for themselves, I hope they will feel that this is a safe place to live.
I would also like people who helped as disaster volunteers during the July 2018 torrential rains to see what Mabi is like today. I hope they will think, “Look how far recovery has come!” and join us for the walk.
Of course, people from outside Mabi are very welcome, too. If you want to support Mabi's continued recovery, taking part will help support that recovery, so we look forward to seeing you.
Finally, do you have a message for our readers?
Sunami
This event was planned to promote the Mabi-Funao Soodori Dance Festival, but we also hope to introduce people to Mabi's unique attractions, let them experience the natural beauty of the Oda River, and share all that makes Mabi special.
Since the disaster, various improvements and construction projects have been carried out in Mabi to make it a safe place to live. We hope you will come and see how the town is thriving. If you want to support Mabi, please join us.
We also hope this will be an opportunity for people living in Mabi to rediscover what makes their hometown special.
From the Writer
For this article, I walked along the embankment road beside the Oda River ahead of time.
The scenery along the route was beautiful in every direction, from the greenery of the grassland swaying in the wind to the varying shades of the mountains in the distance. Personally, I think it would also be fun to walk the route while taking photos. The map distributed on the day is said to include points of interest along the course, so be sure to check it out.
Walking the area in person brings to mind the people who worked hard toward recovery, and it is deeply moving.
Join the Oda River Fureai Walking event and see how recovery is steadily progressing in Mabi.
Oda River Fureai Walking Information
| Name | Oda River 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 Sports Field (start/finish point) |
| Participation fee (tax included) | Free |
| Website | Kurashiki City website |
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Apply by phone, fax, or email, providing your name, age (as of the event date), address, phone number, and chosen route.
※See the Kurashiki City website for details
※Weekdays, 8:30 a.m.–5:15 p.m.