March means the season of cherry blossoms.
It has become a time when we eagerly await the blooming of cherry blossoms and hanami (flower viewing).
The Shimotsui Castle Ruins in Shimotsui is a hidden cherry blossom spot where you can enjoy the view of the Seto Inland Sea along with the cherry blossoms. The 2nd Shimotsui Castle Ruins Cherry Blossom Festival will be held there on March 30 (Sunday).
When the first event was held in 2024, it attracted over 6,000 people, making it a popular event.
This spring event offers a stamp rally where you can win Shimotsui specialties, as well as food stalls where you can enjoy local flavors, allowing you to fully experience the charm of Shimotsui. We will introduce the 2nd Shimotsui Castle Ruins Cherry Blossom Festival along with the organizers' thoughts.
What is the "2nd Shimotsui Castle Ruins Cherry Blossom Festival"?
The 2nd Shimotsui Castle Ruins Cherry Blossom Festival (hereinafter referred to as "Cherry Blossom Festival") is an event scheduled for March 30, 2025 (Sunday). It is organized by the Shimotsui Thinking Association.
The venue is the Seto-Ohashi Bridge Memorial Park, where the Shimotsui Castle Ruins remain. It offers a beautiful view of the streets of Shimotsui and the Seto Inland Sea, along with approximately 300 cherry trees.
Since there is no parking at the venue on the day of the event, let's take a shuttle bus from Kojima Station. The fare is 100 yen one way.
In addition to enjoying the cherry blossoms, we will introduce the many points of interest at the Cherry Blossom Festival that you can enjoy with family and friends.
More than 20 diverse food stalls
Over 20 food stalls will gather, offering a wide range of food from hearty meals to snacks that go well with drinks, and even desserts.
There will also be stalls serving dishes made with seafood from the Seto Inland Sea, such as octopus rice, which are a must-see.
Next to the food stalls, the Shimotsui Charm Promotion Booth will also feature delicious offerings. As the name suggests, it will have shops where you can enjoy local flavors of Shimotsui and interact with the people living in Shimotsui.
For details on the stalls, please check the image below.
Win Shimotsui specialties! Stamp rally and lottery
On the day of the event, a stamp rally and a fun lottery will also be held.
The stamp rally involves collecting six stamps by walking around the Shimotsui Castle Ruins, which will earn you a lottery ticket for the chance to win Shimotsui specialties. The grand prize is said to be one octopus caught by a local octopus fisherman. You can choose between a live or boiled octopus, so even those who are not used to handling seafood can enjoy it with peace of mind.
In the fun lottery held twice a day, you can win local foods unique to Shimotsui, such as Washu nori (seaweed) and ice cream from Nanba Farm, as well as meal vouchers from local restaurants.
To participate in the fun lottery, simply buy food at the food stalls and receive a lottery ticket based on your purchase amount. Enjoy eating while viewing the cherry blossoms, and be sure to collect your lottery tickets to participate.
Workshops that children will love
At the venue, popular workshops for children will also be held.
What particularly caught my attention was a workshop where participants create octopus and wakame (seaweed) motifs using discarded materials from fishing boats. You can make your own cute characters inspired by the local specialties of octopus and wakame.
Additionally, workshops such as eraser stamp making and keychain painting will be held, which are enjoyable for even small children. Families are encouraged to come and participate.
First sale at the cherry blossom festival! Items from "THINK GOOD SHIMOTSUI"
The Shimotsui Thinking Association, which organizes the Cherry Blossom Festival, is a historic civic group dedicated to the development of Shimotsui.
"THINK GOOD SHIMOTSUI" is a brand planned and produced by the Shimotsui Thinking Association, with the concept of "Let's start by thinking about the good things in Shimotsui and the good things for Shimotsui, and together we will create and connect the future of Shimotsui."
Items planned and produced for sale at the cherry blossom festival will be unveiled for the first time, including T-shirts in three colors, tote bags, and coin cases made from tatami beret, a specialty of Kojima.
A portion of the sales proceeds will be used as funding for environmental conservation activities in Shimotsui, fisheries conservation activities, and community revitalization projects.
By simply purchasing, you can contribute to the Shimotsui region with these wonderful items. Their simple appearance makes them easy to use in daily life.
At the Cherry Blossom Festival, event-exclusive cherry-colored T-shirts will also be available for sale. There will be kids' sizes as well, so you can enjoy matching outfits with your child.
The 2nd Shimotsui Castle Ruins Cherry Blossom Festival is approaching.
We spoke with the representative of the Shimotsui Thinking Association, Fujiwara Yusuke, and Nakamichi Eri, who produced "THINK GOOD SHIMOTSUI," about the thoughts behind planning the event.
Interview with the Shimotsui Thinking Association
What thoughts went into planning the Shimotsui Castle Ruins Cherry Blossom Festival?
Fujiwara (no honorifics)
When I took over the Shimotsui Thinking Association, my first thought was to "hold an event that represents Shimotsui and create a movement that would energize the entire Shimotsui area."
Through the event, I hoped to create an event that would boost the morale of the people of Shimotsui, especially the organizing members. That’s how the Shimotsui Castle Ruins Cherry Blossom Festival was planned.
The venue, the ruins of Shimotsui Castle, is exactly as its name suggests, a place where a castle once stood. Looking back at the history of Shimotsui, the area, originally a fishing village, developed into a town with the establishment of Shimotsui Castle, creating a tax-free zone that fostered commerce and prosperity.
Shimotsui Castle is an essential presence when discussing the history of this town. Through the cherry blossom festival, I hope many people will come to know the charm of the ruins of Shimotsui Castle, and in the future, I want to make the ruins a landmark for local tourism.
It seems like a festival that embodies the community development of Shimotsui.
Fujiwara
One of the concepts of the cherry blossom festival is "Creating the cherry blossom festival in the community."
Of course, it is important to gather people at the ruins of Shimotsui Castle, but I wanted to create a system that encourages people to visit Shimotsui even after the cherry blossom festival is over. Therefore, we aim to create a festival that involves the entire Shimotsui area, offering local restaurant meal vouchers through stamp rallies and lotteries, and showcasing delicious local specialties.
The key to community revitalization is co-creation. This cherry blossom festival is being operated in collaboration with the private sector, businesses, and government.
Local residents raise their voices, and there are companies that invest in making it happen, with the government cooperating, all coming together to create one festival. Personally, I feel that the cherry blossom festival is being held in an ideal way.
What kind of organization is the "Shimotsui Thinking Association," the organizer?
Fujiwara
The "Shimotsui Thinking Association" is a citizen group with over 40 years of history in community development. We have been involved in the establishment of the Shimotsui Shipping Agent Museum, proposed regional promotion events such as the National Shimotsui Festival and the Uo Island Festival, and have engaged in community contribution activities for many years.
I believe it is because the previous generation built trust that we are able to engage in community activities like this now.
Nakamichi (no honorifics)
The Shimotsui Thinking Association consists of members who gather voluntarily alongside their main jobs.
Members range from elementary school students to those in their 80s, all actively involved in the community development of Shimotsui. We are working to improve Shimotsui by cooperating across generations and without hierarchy.
Fujiwara
I took over as representative from my predecessor in their 80s in 2023, and while continuing the community development we have been doing, I also want to focus on nurturing talent in Shimotsui. I will take on the role of involving more young people from the community and nurturing those who will thrive in Shimotsui.
What was the response like when the event was held last year (2024)?
Fujiwara
Since it was the first time holding the event, we set a goal of 2,500 attendees, but we had an overwhelming turnout of 6,000 people.
There were traffic jams that inconvenienced local residents, but right after the cherry blossom festival, we received warm words from the community saying, "Thank you for revitalizing Shimotsui." It made me happy to realize that we were able to create an event that was needed by the community, not just our own self-satisfaction.
Please tell us about the highlights or main attractions of this event.
Fujiwara
I would like you to pay attention to the workshop using ship waste.
Using unused sails and rain protection roofs from old boats, we will create straps featuring local specialties such as octopus and wakame seaweed. Since this is a town with a thriving fishing industry, I hope it will serve as an opportunity to learn about Shimotsui's industry.
Additionally, I recommend the goods from the "THINK GOOD SHIMOTSUI" brand that will be sold at the venue.
"THINK GOOD SHIMOTSUI" is a brand that will be unveiled for the first time at this cherry blossom festival, right?
Nakamichi
Yes, that's correct. This is the first attempt to establish a brand by the Shimotsui Thinking Association.
"THINK GOOD SHIMOTSUI" is a brand developed with the slogan "To think and communicate about the good things in Shimotsui and the good things for Shimotsui."
For those who live in Shimotsui, those who visit, and those who are involved, the image is to expand a cycle where many people find, share, and resonate with the good things about Shimotsui, which is why we named it "THINK GOOD SHIMOTSUI."
I would be happy if people, not just those from Shimotsui, wear these items and remember Shimotsui even just a little.
A portion of the sales from "THINK GOOD SHIMOTSUI" will be utilized to contribute to the development of Shimotsui. It is planned to be used for activities such as fisheries conservation, environmental conservation, and funding for community revitalization projects.
The logo mark is stylish. What does the logo mark signify?
Nakamichi
The "O" in GOOD is inspired by the infinity symbol, representing the concept of cyclical community development and infinite possibilities.
The symbolic wave mark is actually hand-drawn by the members of the Shimotsui Thinking Association.
We had the members write various wave marks with pens and brushes, and ultimately, the one that everyone agreed on as "This is the wave of Shimotsui!" was chosen. The calm waves of the Seto Inland Sea appear to reflect the unique tidal flow of Shimotsui, and through the wave mark, we expressed freedom and diversity.
I believe this logo mark was created collectively, as we wanted to ensure it was not just a self-indulgent design from the creators, but rather a shape that carries everyone's thoughts.
What kind of enjoyment do you recommend?
Fujiwara
With over 20 restaurants gathering, I would first like everyone to enjoy various dishes. Performances will be continuously showcased on the main stage, so I believe you will be entertained without getting bored.
Also, please take a walk around the entire ruins of Shimotsui Castle through the stamp rally. I would be happy if you could feel the history by thinking, "This is how the castle used to be!"
Nakamichi
There are many famous cherry blossom spots in Okayama, but I believe the ruins of Shimotsui Castle are truly beautiful, with a view from the top of the mountain and cherry blossoms, making it a hidden gem. The beautiful scenery and tranquil atmosphere that can be enjoyed after climbing the mountain are unique to the ruins of Shimotsui Castle.
Additionally, since this event allows you to enjoy local specialties and restaurants, I hope you will take the opportunity to learn about Shimotsui.
Finally, please give a message to the readers.
Fujiwara
The castle itself has only a history of about 30 to 40 years. When it was destroyed under the one castle per country system, the corners of the stone walls were broken to prevent the castle from being rebuilt. This site is called Hajou and is one of the few ruins in Japan.
Since it is a castle ruin with such historical significance, I believe it is a place where you can experience the extraordinary. Please visit the ruins of Shimotsui Castle, which was the catalyst for the prosperity of Shimotsui.
Nakamichi
What kind of image do you have of Shimotsui? Perhaps your impression may change if you come to the cherry blossom festival.
Whether it's local delicious specialties, scenery you haven't seen before, or the hidden charms of Shimotsui... I want to make this festival an opportunity for more people to realize that "Shimotsui is great!"
I would be happy if the cherry blossom festival becomes one of the opportunities to learn about Shimotsui. We look forward to seeing you!
Conclusion
The 2nd Shimotsui Castle Ruins Cherry Blossom Festival seems to be a great opportunity to enjoy the charm of Shimotsui.
Even after the cherry blossom festival, this event is packed with opportunities that will make you want to visit Shimotsui.
Since the venue is on a mountain, there are many steep stairs, but it might be just right for alleviating lack of exercise. I am looking forward to the view from the top of the mountain.
Whether you go for cherry blossom viewing, to enjoy the flavors of Shimotsui, or to feel the history of Shimotsui,
please find "The good things about Shimotsui" in various ways.
Data for the 2nd Shimotsui Castle Ruins Cherry Blossom Festival
| Name | 2nd Shimotsui Castle Ruins Cherry Blossom Festival |
|---|---|
| Date | March 30, 2025 (Sunday) From 10 AM to 4 PM |
| Location | Shimotsui, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Homepage | Official Instagram of the Shimotsui Thinking Association |
