The 38th Setouchi Kurashiki Two Day March (Advance registration is open until January 31, 2025)～Come experience Kurashiki’s spring on foot

December is here, and it has suddenly turned cold. I tend to stay cooped up at home when it’s cold, so I’m worried I won’t get enough exercise before the New Year holidays arrive.

As winter gives way to spring, the “Setouchi Kurashiki Two Day March,” an event where participants enjoy walking around various parts of Kurashiki City, will be held on the second Saturday and Sunday of March.

Here’s an introduction to the walking courses and highlights of the 38th Setouchi Kurashiki Two Day March, registration for which opened on December 1, 2024.

What is the 38th Setouchi Kurashiki Two Day March?

The Setouchi Kurashiki Two Day March is a walking event on the largest scale in western Japan, held in Kurashiki City since 1987.

The event details for the 38th Setouchi Kurashiki Two Day March are as follows.

For information on how to register, see below.

• Online (http://i.spoen.net/92492)
  A fee of ¥220 applies to participation fees totaling up to ¥4,000; for totals of ¥4,001 or more, a fee of 5.3% of the total participation fees applies
• By phone
  TEL:0570-039-846 (Weekdays, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.)
• By postal transfer
  A payment slip (participation application form) is included with the flyer
• In person
  ・Kurashiki City Sports Promotion Division (Counter 11, 2nd floor, Kurashiki City Office Main Building), 8:30 a.m.–5:15 p.m.
  ・Life Park Kurashiki and major Community Centers in the city (Kurashiki, Mizushima, Kojima, Tamashima, Mabi, Sho, Chayamachi, and Funao), 9:00 a.m.–5:15 p.m.
  ※Life Park Kurashiki and major Community Centers in the city are closed on Mondays (if Monday is a public holiday, they are closed the following weekday)
  ※Payment by cash or PayPay is accepted

Event Courses

Registration and start times vary depending on the event course.

As one of the largest walking events in western Japan, it attracts many walkers from Outside Kurashiki City, particularly for the longer courses.

The 40 km Kibi no Makibi Course (39.1 km) is scheduled for March 8, and the 30 km Seto-Ohashi Bridge and Washuzan Hill Course (31.9 km) for March 9.

Partner Events for the 38th March

The following partner events will be held as part of the 38th March.

• 38th Setouchi Kurashiki Two Day March Instagram Photo Contest
• Tourism Walk
• Community Walk
• Special Walk
• Walking Matchmaking: Kurashiki Town Walk and Mystery-Solving Matchmaking

Advance registration is required for all events except the 38th Setouchi Kurashiki Two Day March Instagram Photo Contest, so if you’re interested, be sure to register early.

Interview with a Staff Member of the 38th Setouchi Kurashiki Two Day March

We spoke with Naito Yusuke, who works in the Kurashiki City Sports Promotion Division, which plans and runs the Setouchi Kurashiki Two Day March.

Could you tell us about the background behind the planning of the Setouchi Kurashiki Two Day March?

Naito (surname only hereafter)

The Setouchi Kurashiki Two Day March was first held in 1987 to mark the 20th anniversary of the merger of Kurashiki, Kojima, and Tamashima, with the opening of the Seto-Ohashi Bridge scheduled for the following year. It has continued ever since as western Japan’s largest walking event, attracting more than 10,000 participants.

Now in its 38th year, it is a walking festival that uses various locations around Kurashiki City as walking courses, encouraging people to enjoy nature while building their fitness and improving their health.

Participants come from all over Japan, so the event also promotes Kurashiki’s appeal and has a significant impact on sales at accommodation facilities and of local specialties and products.

There are so many courses. Do you have a course you’d recommend, Naito?

Naito

I recommend all the courses, but this time I especially recommend the 10 km course, which is available on both days.

The 10 km distance is easy for walking beginners and families to take part in. There’s also a shorter 5 km course, of course, but since 5 km is a distance people often walk in their daily lives, I think you’ll get more of a sense of having exercised with the 10 km course.

The 10 km course starts and finishes at Kurashiki City Office, so after your walk you can enjoy food from the stalls or get a massage from volunteers.

This time, the 10 km course on March 8 is the Sakazu Park Course, and on March 9 it is the Genpei Historic Sites Course.

Could you tell us about the highlights of the 38th March?

Naito

The walking course names are the same as in previous years, but we’ve made small adjustments to every course so that walkers can visit photo spots along the way, rather than simply walking. The Takahashi River Course now also includes Tori-machi Shopping Street, which retains a Showa-era retro atmosphere, and a bridge made of oil drums. There will also be an Instagram photo contest, so we hope you’ll take a walk while capturing your very best shot.

We’ve also added more courses that start and finish at Kurashiki City Office this time. As a result, we’re expanding the stage events at the City Office.

We hope local residents will help bring the event to life with performances by students from local schools and dance presentations by local children. By having local children take the stage, we hope more Kurashiki residents—including the children’s families—will feel a closer connection to the event.

Also, this time we’ll hold a drawing among those who register in advance, with 400 winners receiving gift certificates for goods from the sponsor, Halows. Participation tickets for the Setouchi Kurashiki Two Day March are also one of the rewards offered through hometown tax donations, so we hope you’ll register in advance.

We also accept advance registrations from companies and organizations. If five or more people register together, we plan to list the company or organization on the event website.

Finally, do you have a message for our readers?

Naito

Early March is a wonderful time of year for walking, so I hope you’ll enjoy the feeling of spring in Kurashiki.

We look forward to receiving your registrations.

From the Writer

I was one of the people who walked 10 km at the previous Setouchi Kurashiki Two Day March (the 37th event).

I took part alone that day, but I remember walking and getting to know other walkers, then cheerfully parting ways as we headed home, saying, “Let’s meet here again next year!” The 10 km distance felt just right for a sporting challenge, and the event let me feel not only the warmth of spring but also the warmth of people—from being cheered on by people along the route to warming up with the pork soup served along the way.

This time, there are plenty of related activities that make it easier for local residents to participate, so I hope everyone in Kurashiki City will help make this one of western Japan’s largest walking events a success.

The Setouchi Kurashiki Two Day March offers benefits for advance registration and is also eligible for hometown tax donations.
Why not consider taking part as you get ready for spring and look ahead to a healthy year?

38th Setouchi Kurashiki Two Day March Information

Name	38th Setouchi Kurashiki Two Day March
Date	Saturday, March 8 and Sunday, March 9, 2025; starts at 7:00 a.m. (meeting times vary by course) ※Advance registration is open until Friday, January 31, 2025 (same-day registration available)
Location	Meeting place: Kurashiki City Office Main Building
Participation Fee (tax included)	Adults/¥2,000 (¥2,200 for same-day registration) High school and junior high school students/¥500 Elementary school students and younger/Free
Website	Setouchi Kurashiki Two Day March

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