Boat Race Kojima facing the Seto Inland Sea.
The facility for watching the races is five stories tall, with approximately 7,000 seats available.
The number of seats is based on information as of September 2022.
With a large capacity, gourmet facilities are also necessary.
Inside the spacious building, there are five cafeterias and three shops.
As a food lover, I covered the gourmet offerings at Boat Race Kojima.
About the dining options at Boat Race Kojima
The building has different functions depending on the floor.
The first and third floors have spectator seats, the second floor has a boat exhibition area, and the fourth floor has paid reserved seating.
The fifth floor is a paid members-only area, so general guests cannot enter.
All three shops are located on the third floor.
Since each floor is very spacious, it doesn't feel crowded with the shops.
They sell commercial snacks, local company wagashi (Japanese sweets), coffee, and more.
There are five cafeterias, each with different menus.
The store on the first floor is a standing style.
They are scattered across floors other than the fifth.
| Floor | Cafeteria Name |
|---|---|
| 1st Floor | Ajisai, Cosmos |
| 2nd Floor | Salvia (closed on October 21, 2022) |
| 3rd Floor | Nadeshiko, Suisen (closed on December 13, 2022), Suzuran |
| 4th Floor | Cattleya |
With five options, don't you find it hard to decide where to go?
In such cases, a list of cafeterias is convenient.
You can check it at the information desk on the first floor, on bulletin boards within the facility, or on the official website.
There is a photo guide to recommended menu items, so you are sure to find a place you want to visit.
Cafeteria gourmet
Here are some notable shops from the cafeteria gourmet.
Cosmos
The standing-style shop "Cosmos."
They are particular about local ingredients, using fresh noodles from Matsukaseimen in Kojima and soy sauce from Seitan-ya Brewery.
A light broth with straight thin noodles.
It's a traditional Chinese soba that is characteristic of Okayama.
It’s understandable that people visit the boat race venue just for Cosmos's Chinese soba.
I also had tempura udon.
There is plain udon, but I opted for something a bit more luxurious.
The tempura was shrimp kakiage.
Both udon and ramen are not too large, making them perfect for those who want a quick meal.
Suzuran
I was intrigued by the "Katsu (Win) Three Brothers" and ordered it.
With its volume and name, it feels like it could help you win at the boat races.
▼ Katsu Three Brothers Menu
- Katsu curry 720 yen (tax included)
- Katsu ramen 820 yen (tax included)
- Katsu curry ramen 870 yen (tax included)
All of them look interesting, but I chose the Katsu curry ramen, which allows you to enjoy curry, pork cutlet, and ramen all at once.
The pork cutlet on the Katsu Three Brothers is treated as a topping, so I thought it would be small, but it was quite substantial!
Since there is little moisture, the sauce clings to the noodles.
Since it has almost no spiciness, it seems suitable for children as well.
This is a recommended menu for those who are very hungry.
Nadeshiko
I heard that a new menu has appeared at "Nadeshiko," which offers gyudon (beef bowl) and tamagodon (egg bowl), so I went to check it out.
The new addition is the Okayama specialty demi-katsu don.
This is a local bowl dish topped with demi-glace sauce instead of the usual pork cutlet sauce or egg.
It was served with miso soup.
The familiar green peas are on top of the demi-katsu.
The sweet and thick sauce made the rice go down easily.
It's nice to be able to eat a menu that is characteristic of Okayama.
Shop Gourmet
Not only in the cafeteria, but there are hidden gourmet options in the shops as well.
Although the three shops have different names, they sell the same items.
Daifuku
The daifuku is a highlight among the shop gourmet options.
It has been sold since the opening of Boat Race Kojima (in 1952), and is made by Kitazawa Shoten-do Fukiyage-ten in Kojima.
It is additive-free and costs 110 yen (tax included) each.
The fluffy and soft mochi dough has a slight saltiness and is mixed with black beans.
The sweet red bean paste is just the right amount of sweetness.
The coffee that I want to enjoy with this daifuku is the next item I will introduce.
Brazilian Coffee
A coffee machine that grinds the beans just before brewing is used.
It seems that a blend of five types of beans from Brazil's largest Ipanema farm is used.
It has a pleasant aroma, a slightly stronger bitterness, and pairs well with the daifuku.
Together, the three shops sell a total of 30,000 cups a year of this popular coffee.
Yatai Gourmet
Let's introduce the gourmet options available at the yatai (food stalls) that appear during events.
Events are mainly held on weekends and holidays.
Tako Croquette
Speaking of Kojima, it is famous for octopus.
I bought the handmade "tako croquette" without hesitation.
Inside the crispy coating, there are several large pieces of octopus.
This luxurious croquette allows you to easily enjoy Shimotsui octopus.
It was just right for satisfying a small hunger and had a gentle taste that would appeal to everyone.
Tai Dog
I bought a "tai dog" that I saw for the first time.
It is a sandwich made with fried sea bream chopped and placed in a koppe bread.
The sea bream itself is mild, but it pairs excellently with the tartar sauce hidden under the boiled egg.
I sat in the outdoor viewing area, enjoying the tako croquette and tai dog while watching the races.
Under the blue sky, six boats raced by in front of me.
This is a way to enjoy gourmet food that can only be experienced at Boat Race Kojima.
The spacious facility has various gourmet options.
There are many cafeterias, and I could only introduce a small part of them, but doesn't it make you want to visit?
To further explore the charm of boat gourmet, I spoke with Yuko Yokota from the Kurashiki City Office, who works at Boat Race Kojima, and Yumi Ishii from Cafeteria Suzuran.
Data on Boat Race Kojima
| Name | Boat Race Kojima |
|---|---|
| Address | 6-3 Motohama-cho, Kojima, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-472-5051 |
| Parking | Available |
| Business Hours | ■ Boat Race Venue 9:45 AM - 5:00 PM *Hours may vary depending on race times ■ Cafeteria Varies by store ■ Shops Open - 4:00 PM |
| Regular Holidays | Irregular holidays |
| Payment Methods |
|
| Restrooms | Western-style toilets, Japanese-style toilets, barrier-free toilets |
| Childcare | Nursing room, diaper changing sheet, stroller rental |
| Barrier-Free | Ramps, barrier-free toilets, elevators, wheelchair rental |
| Website | Boat Race Kojima |
