Kurashiki City’s Kojima area faces the calm Seto Inland Sea.
Kojima is home to a boat racecourse that makes use of the sea.
The vast boat racecourse lies at the foot of Washuzan Hill, but have you ever visited it?
The writer is from Kurashiki City and has passed Boat Race Kojima many times, but had never set foot inside the facility.
Having never gambled, the writer thought it was a place with no connection to them.
Then the opportunity came for the writer to step into Boat Race Kojima, a place they had never explored.
“There’s little information about the facility online, which makes it hard to visit. First, we want people to know about it,” they were told.
And the person who told the writer this was someone from City Hall!
That’s right, this is one of the City Hall’s workplaces.
Excited to visit a facility full of things I didn’t know, I went there to report on it.
Photography is allowed inside the facility as long as other visitors are not in the shot. Permission is required to photograph the water
The information presented here was accurate when the article was published in October 2022. Please note that it may differ from current information.
About the boat racecourse
There are 24 boat racecourses across Japan.
Boat racing is a publicly operated sport in which six boats compete to reach the finish line.
Although every race covers three laps from the start, for a total of 1,800 meters, the shape of each course differs.
This changes the angle of the turns, so the racers apparently need to adjust their approach for each course.
Since courses differ—some section off part of a sea or lake, while others have purpose-built pools—the water conditions also vary.
At sea, racers must also take the ebb and flow of the tide into account.
Boat Race Kojima uses the sea.
As it is part of the Seto Inland Sea, the water is relatively calm, but race strategies change between high and low tide.
Facilities at Boat Race Kojima
Boat Race Kojima, with its vast grounds and large buildings, is administered by Kurashiki City.
The parking lot accommodates 2,500 cars, and the grandstand building, where spectators watch the races, has around 7,000 seats.
The number of seats has been reduced as a measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19, so there are fewer seats available than the actual total.
You’re probably wondering what’s inside the building.
Let’s take a look.
Free buses
Boat Race Kojima operates free buses on race days.
There are seven routes, with the Fukuyama service covering the greatest distance.
This makes it possible to visit even without a car.
▼Seven routes
- Kojima Station service
- JR Kurashiki Station service (via Shionasu)
- JR Kurashiki Station service (via Amaki)
- Soja service
- Tenmaya service
- Fukuyama service
- Konko Station service (via Shin-Kurashiki Station)
Entrance gate
To get to the boat racecourse, you first pass through the entrance gate.
Like putting a ticket through a station ticket gate, you enter by inserting a 100-yen coin.
Don’t worry if you don’t have a 100-yen coin; there’s a change machine.
Information desk
There is an information desk right beside the entrance gate.
The shop selling merchandise is on the opposite side of the information counter.
It sells merchandise in the colors of the six boats, as well as Gaako goods.
Staff can explain how to buy betting tickets and provide information about the venue.
At the back is “BOAT RACE Splash Battle VR,” where you can experience boat racing.
Shops
There are three shops in total, located at the entrance, middle, and far end of the third floor.
The shelves are lined with long-selling snacks, with prices handwritten.
It made me feel as if I were in a traditional candy shop.
Dining halls
There are five dining halls.
Some places offer takeout, so you might enjoy eating at a grandstand seat with a good view.
Three of the restaurants offer standing-room dining, where you can grab a quick bite.
Prices are affordable, comparable to a student cafeteria, including set meals.
For example, the dining hall “Cattleya” sells chilled udon for 350 yen (tax included) and beef bowls for 550 yen (tax included).
Salvia closed on October 21, 2022, and Suisen closed on December 13, 2022.
General Seating
General seating is available on the first and third floors.
The first floor is outdoors, while the third floor is indoors.
Even in summer, the outdoor area is cooled by sea breezes and shaded, so it looks comfortable.
Located closest to the racecourse, it lets you watch the intense action up close.
Reserved Seating
The fourth floor is reserved seating only.
It costs 1,000 yen and includes a race prediction paper and a 500-yen cafeteria ticket.
A race prediction paper is a newspaper with predictions for boat races, containing data not listed in the race program.
There are also group seats, so you can spend your time in comfort.
You can relax and watch the races from above, enjoying a luxurious feeling.
Royal Room
The Royal Room is a luxurious viewing area for paid members.
It differs from general seating in that it has a dedicated parking lot, seats with monitors, and drink service.
There are sofa seats too, so it looks like a relaxing place.
Located on the fifth floor, it also offers an exceptional view.
▼ I managed to take a photo of a race boat running alongside a boat on the Seto Inland Sea.
Kojima Gaako Pia
Separate from the grandstand building is a facility called “Kojima Gaako Pia,” where you can buy betting tickets for boat races held across Japan, not just at Boat Race Kojima.
Admission is free, and the facility covers races at boat racecourses throughout Japan.
Things to Enjoy Besides Boat Races
This may come as a surprise to people who have never been to a boat racecourse, but there is no rule that says you have to gamble when you enter.
Whether or not to gamble is up to you.
In other words, there are things to enjoy at the facility besides boat races.
VR Experience
Inside the information center is “BOAT RACE Splash Battle VR,” where you can experience boat racing for free.
VR (Virtual Reality) means virtual reality. Wearing a headset lets you see three-dimensional, 360-degree images that look close to reality.
Since I was there, I gave it a try.
The setup is similar to an actual boat, and you sit on your knees and steer the handle just like a racer.
It’s a shame I can’t show you the footage, but it was an immersive experience that felt like being out on the water.
I couldn’t make a turn properly at all, and raced while shouting, “Whoa!”
It was so realistic that I felt a little seasick.
You can experience what it’s like to be a racer while also learning how difficult it is to steer.
Steering on the water must be even more difficult, so competing in a race must require constant effort and experience.
Kids’ Area
There are also indoor and outdoor spaces where children can play.
▼ The outdoor “Gaako Land.” There is a slide decorated with Gaako, the mascot character.
▼ At the bouldering wall set up for a limited time (July 20–September 4, 2022), children were happily climbing the wall.
Events for children are also held during summer and winter vacations and other school breaks, as well as during long holidays.
There are also very special sports classes where children can learn from former J.League players and Olympic athletes.
There have also apparently been events featuring working vehicles and dinosaurs.
Food
There are places serving Okayama specialties such as demi-katsu-don and bara-zushi, as well as places offering noodle dishes made with local ingredients.
Each of the five cafeterias has a different menu.
If you’re not sure where to go, check the food listings posted at the information desk or on the bulletin boards.
They include each restaurant’s features and recommended dishes, making it easy to choose a place to eat.
The Views
The beautiful views of the Seto Inland Sea from inside the venue are a must-see.
Watching the boats pass by, the calm sea, and the landscape dotted with small islands is soothing in itself.
For enjoying the scenery, the outdoor seating is recommended.
Why not sit back and relax while feeling the sea breeze?
▼The view from the reserved seats on the fourth floor was also spectacular.
A Search for Retro Charm
Some parts of the facility date back to 1979, giving it a distinctly Showa-era retro feel.
It’s a matter of personal taste, but retro fans are sure to get excited.
▼A memo stand decorated with a snail illustration.
▼Would you call this a retro color? I’d never seen a sign in this kind of color before.
As someone who loves retro things, everything I see feels fresh, and I can’t contain my excitement.
The betting booths, now unused due to automation, are retro too.
In the past, staff stood behind the windows and handled boat-race betting tickets.
A cute telephone booth at the entrance to the Royal Room on the fifth floor.
Looking inside, I found no public telephone.
Looking closely, I saw the words “For mobile phones only” on the glass.
The door opens, so you can make a call inside, but it seems like it would take a little courage to use it.
In fact, the grandstand building is due to be rebuilt and renovated, so now is the time to find these retro features.
The facility is set to be transformed in fiscal 2026.
Boat Race Kojima is a city facility.
When I visited, I found that its vast grounds had attractions beyond boat racing.
We spoke with Yuko Yokota and Wakiko Ono of the Kurashiki City Boat Race Business Bureau, who work at Boat Race Kojima—a unique workplace within the city government.
Boat Race Kojima Information
| Name | Boat Race Kojima |
|---|---|
| Address | 6-3 Kojima Motohamacho, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-472-5051 |
| Parking | Available |
| Opening hours | 9:45 a.m.–5:00 p.m. *Hours vary depending on race times |
| Closed | Irregular holidays Closed on days when no races are held |
| Admission (tax included) | 100 yen per person |
| Payment methods |
|
| Smoking | No smoking (smoking permitted only in designated areas) |
| Restrooms | Western-style toilets, Japanese-style toilets, accessible toilets |
| Childcare facilities | Nursing room, diaper-changing table, stroller rental |
| Accessibility | Ramps, accessible toilets, elevator, wheelchair rental Wheelchair spaces available in reserved seating area |
| Website | Boat Race Kojima |
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