2022-10-01

A trip that will lift your spirits, bring smiles to your faces, and make you smile. Okayama Autumn Travel Campaign is now on!!

In addition to the autumnal events such as experiencing autumn leaves and seasonal fruits, and Okayama Castle, which will reopen after the "Reiwa era renovation," there will also be an extension of the popular events at Okayama DC, such as art and ways to enjoy the mornings and evenings.

When traveling, please be aware of the "new travel etiquette" (※) and enjoy a safe and enjoyable trip to Okayama.

*For details, please visit the Japan Tourism Agency website

. [Campaign period]
・Saturday, October 1, 2022 to Saturday, December 31, 2022

[Implementing body]
・Okayama Destination Campaign Promotion Council
　(Okayama Prefecture, tourism-related organizations, businesses, etc. 44 organizations)

[Catchphrase]
・"A journey to Okayama with a clear heart"

[Campaign logo]
・Uses the same logo as Okayama DC
・The "peach" and "leaf" parts, which are also symbols of Okayama, are likened to the auspicious "mizuhiki" cord, expressing connections and bonds with people, and circulation (∞ infinity).

[Main tourist attractions recommended by the campaign]
・Plans utilizing Okayama Korakuen and Okayama Castle
　At Okayama Korakuen, one of the three most famous gardens in Japan, we will hold the "Autumn Fantasy Garden", where you can enjoy the garden lit up with lights.

　In addition, Okayama Castle, which will reopen in November, will hold an opening event, as well as "Karajo Togenkyo", which will light up the Okayama Castle tower and Karajo Park area with light, creating excitement in the Korakuen and Okayama Castle area.

・Plans utilizing art We
　will hold the "Mimasaka Santo Art Temperature 2022", a traveling art event where up-and-coming artists from inside and outside the prefecture will create and exhibit works at hot spring inns in Mimasaka Santo, and will also promote the Okayama Art Exchange, which will be held in Okayama City, and the Setouchi Triennale, which will be held on the islands and ports of the Setouchi Inland Sea. In addition, in the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, the "Ohara Museum of Art Premium Morning Tour," which was well received at Okayama DC, will continue to be held, and a special exhibition will be held at the Ohara family's former villa, "Yurinso."

・Projects using autumn leaves
In addition to holding light-up events at famous autumn foliage spots such as Okutsu Valley, Kakuzan Park, and the former Shizutani School, the "Takashimizu Trail Autumn Leaves Premium Hike" will be held on the Takashimizu Trail in Kagamino Town, where local guides will guide you through the mountain ranges vividly colored with autumn leaves.

・Projects using seasonal ingredients
A special project will be held where you can learn directly from producers about how grapes are grown and how to eat them deliciously, as well as enjoy actual harvesting and cooking with grapes, and become an "expert" while having fun. In addition, there will be an experience project for the brand oyster "Kita Ukiki Kaki," where you can learn how to cultivate oysters, which are in season, and how to eat them deliciously, and sample oysters on a fishing boat.

・Other
The former Fukiya Elementary School, which reopened in April this year as a new facility based on the concept of "learning" and "play," will be lit up at night for a limited time. In addition, for guests staying in Kurashiki City and Fukuyama City, a "'Starry Sky Special Seat' Bus Tour" will be held, which will take you directly to the Bisei Astronomical Observatory in Ibara City, which has been certified as a "Starry Sky Protection Area (Community Division)," said to be the starry sky version of a World Heritage Site. In addition, a stargazing event "Hiruzen Star Watching" will be held at Hiruzen Highlands.

・Train-related projects
(1) Holding of "Oka-tetsu Fes 2022"
JR Okayama Branch Office is carrying out various projects, such as operating special trains for revival groups and holding railway experience events in each area, in order to make Okayama and Bingo a "railway mecca" from July, in line with the Okayama DC. In order to continue to liven up the railway's memorial years, including the "150th anniversary of the opening of the railway" and the "50th anniversary of the opening of the Sanyo Shinkansen in Okayama," we are planning to operate special trains and add popular projects during the Autumn Travel CP period. Details will be announced on the "Oka-tetsu Fes 2022"

website from mid-September. (2) A journey to "creating beauty" in northern Okayama Prefecture. Sightseeing train "SAKU-bi SAKU-raku SAKU
-bi SAKU-raku" allows you to enjoy a train trip between Okayama and Tsuyama while fully experiencing the local charm with meals only available on board, souvenirs from the Tsuyama Line, and guidance from the train attendants. From October, it will be operated in conjunction with the "Rapid Kotobuki" on "Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays," and tickets and reserved seats will also be on sale at major stations nationwide and e5489. Meals, etc. will be sold separately on Setouchi Tourism Navi (setowa) up to 7 days before the operation date , so please purchase them together.

In addition, the "Tsuyama-Mimasaka Taxi Plan" (5 courses in total) will continue to be available from Tsuyama Station, a sightseeing taxi that will take you to Mimasaka Sanyu while stopping at attractive tourist spots in the northern area of ​​Okayama Prefecture. For details, please see "Travel times for tourist trains"

. (3) "La Malle de Bois", an artistic tourist train that travels through the Setouchi area
. This special tourist train travels through the Setouchi area, with the windows of the train designed to look like a bag and a variety of travel-related pictures and words designed on the white body. It will operate to four different destinations each month, based at Okayama Station. For details, please see "Travel times for tourist trains"

. ① Saturdays and Sundays in October "La Malle Setouchi" Okayama-Uno section (Stops: Okayama, Uno)
It will operate in conjunction with the autumn session of the "Setouchi Triennale 2022". During the Autumn Travel CP period, the Uno area is set as a target facility for the "Hands-Free Travel Service (fee required)" where you can leave your luggage at the "Nekonote Station" at Okayama Station and have your luggage delivered to your designated accommodation on the same day. Enjoy the Uno area, which is convenient as a gateway to Naoshima and where you can enjoy many Setouchi Triennale art works within walking distance.

*For more information on hands-free travel, please see the introduction page on the "Okayama Tourism WEB" .

②Saturdays and Sundays in November, "La Mar Shimanami" Okayama-Mihara (Stops: Okayama, Kurashiki, Fukuyama, Onomichi, Mihara)
Normally it runs between Okayama and Onomichi, but in November, it will extend its service between Onomichi and Mihara to coincide with the Autumn Travel CP. Using the high-speed tourist cruiser "SEA SPICA" and the tourist train "etSETOra" will expand the ways to enjoy touring the Setouchi region.

③Saturdays and Sundays in December, "La Mar Bizen Osafune" Okayama-Hinase (Stops: Okayama, Higashi-Okayama, Osafune, Ibe, Hinase)
As a special plan for the Autumn Travel CP, we have prepared a special mandarin orange picking boat that allows you to enjoy mandarin orange picking at "Kojima" in combination with "La Mar Bizen Osafune". You can enjoy a cruise on a special boat from Hinase Station Port and the taste of Hinase's seasonal fruits, which have ripened deliciously in the sunshine of the Setouchi region. Other attractive tourist spots along the line include Hinase oysters, which are in season, Bizen Osafune Sword Village, which is popular among young women, and Bizen ware pottery experience.

④ Holidays (10/10, 11/3, 23) La Mar Kotohira Okayama-Kotohira (Station stops: Okayama, Kojima, Tadotsu, Zentsuji, Kotohira) La Mar
Kotohira allows you to enjoy the dynamic scenery from the Setouchi Great Bridge from the train window. With Okayama as your base, it is recommended for those who wish to take a little longer to Kagawa, such as for the Setouchi Triennale 2022.
7 Promotion and Hospitality

(1) Guidebooks and Digital Signage
Guidebooks containing special projects, events, and tourist information to be held in various parts of Okayama Prefecture during the period will be distributed from around mid-September at major JR West stations in and outside the prefecture, and travel agencies in major urban areas nationwide, including the Tokyo metropolitan area.
In addition, digital signage linked to the cover of the guidebook will be displayed at major JR West stations.

(2) Website
Events and special projects during the campaign period will be introduced on "Okayama Tourism WEB" and other sites. A special website will also be set up on "JR Odekake Net".

◎ Okayama Tourism WEB Okayama Tourism Search
◎ JR Odekake Net

(3) Information Magazine
Promotion will be carried out through various media, including JR West's travel information paper "Nishi Navi" and the magazine "Hito Toki" carried on board the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen trains.

(4) Hospitality
In addition to continuing the activities of "Hare Shelge," which encourages customers visiting Okayama Prefecture to practice hospitality, we will also implement an initiative to have them post recommended spots, experiences, gourmet food, and other ways to spend time, especially with the theme of "autumn," on Instagram with the common hashtag "#OkayamaAkiTrip." In addition, we will hold training sessions for volunteer guides and taxi drivers to work on improving hospitality.

・Travel product benefits
Major travel agencies will release convenient travel products that include JR tickets and accommodation, and will offer travel product-exclusive benefits in conjunction with the Autumn Travel CP. Convenient round-trip tickets that can be used in conjunction with the package are also available: the Okayama-Kurashiki 2-Day Pass, the Setouchi Travel Pass, and the Setouchi Okayama-Kagawa Pass. (Some travel agencies do not offer these passes.)
For details, please contact the travel agencies listed below and other major travel agencies.
*Some travel agencies do not offer travel products depending on the departure area.

(1) Original masking tape
Only for customers who travel using the Autumn Travel CP products (individual free plan/tour conductor plan) sold by major travel agencies, we will give away one original masking tape per person with an illustration of Okayama fruits and the logo of the tourist train "La Malle de Bois."

◎Exchange locations: Okayama City Momotaro Tourist Center, Kurashiki City Tourist Rest Area, Tsuyama Tourist Center, Hare no Kuni Okayamakan
◎Exchange period: October 1st (Saturday) to December 28th (Wednesday)

(2) Station Rental Car Special Plan
Exclusive to customers who use the Autumn Travel CP product (individual free plan) sold by major travel agencies, station rental cars are available for 3,000 yen (tax included, liability insurance included, limited number of cars) per calendar day for S class. In addition, if you stay one night or more in the Mimasaka area of ​​Okayama Prefecture, you can use S class for 2,000 yen (tax included, liability insurance included, limited number of cars) per calendar day.

◎ Participating stores: Okayama, Kurashiki, Shin-Kurashiki, Tsuyama, Niimi, Kojima station rental car offices
◎ Participating period: October 1st (Saturday) to December 27th (Tuesday)
* When renting, you will receive a "disinfecting wet tissue" and "original masking tape" at the participating offices (first come, first served, while supplies last)

<Reference: Sanyo Shinkansen Okayama Opening 50th Anniversary Campaign>
In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Sanyo Shinkansen "Shin-Osaka to Okayama" in March 2022, the "Sanyo Shinkansen Okayama Opening 50th Anniversary Campaign" is being held until the end of December. In addition to the release of commemorative goods and commemorative products in collaboration with local companies, a panel exhibition looking back on the past 50 years is being held at Okayama Station. Please enjoy it when you visit Okayama.
* Information about the "Sanyo Shinkansen Okayama Opening 50th Anniversary Campaign" is being disseminated through a special website on "JR Odekake Net" .