Boat Race Kojima, facing the Seto Inland Sea.
The facility for watching races is five stories tall and has around 7,000 seats.
Seat count as of September 2022
With a large capacity, there is also a need for plenty of dining options.
The spacious building reportedly has five dining halls and three shops.
As someone who loves food, the writer visited Boat Race Kojima to report on its food.
The information shown was current when this article was published in April 2023. Please note that it may differ from current information.
Dining options at Boat Race Kojima
The building's functions vary by floor.
The viewing seats are on the first and third floors, a boat exhibition area is on the second floor, and paid reserved seating is on the fourth floor.
The fifth floor is reserved for paid members, so the general public cannot enter.
All three shops are on the third floor.
The floor is very spacious, so the shops do not feel crowded together.
They sell packaged snacks, local companies' Japanese sweets, coffee, and more.
There are five dining halls, each with a different menu.
The restaurant on the first floor has standing-room-only dining.
They are spread across floors other than the fifth.
| Floor | Dining hall |
|---|---|
| 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 that case, the dining hall directory is useful.
You can check it at the information desk on the first floor, on noticeboards around the facility, or on the official website.
It features recommended dishes with photos, so you're sure to find a place you'd like to visit.
Dining hall food
Here are a few dining halls that caught our eye.
Cosmos
Cosmos is a standing-room-only restaurant.
It reportedly takes pride in using local ingredients, including fresh noodles from Matsuya Seimen in Kojima and soy sauce from Shiotaya Brewery.
A light broth with thin, straight noodles.
It's old-fashioned Chinese-style noodles, just like you'd find in Okayama.
It's no surprise that some people visit the boat race venue specifically for Cosmos's Chinese-style noodles.
I also tried tempura udon.
Plain udon is also available, but I went for something a little more indulgent.
The tempura was a shrimp kakiage fritter.
The udon and ramen portions aren't too large, making them perfect for anyone who wants a quick meal.
Suzuran
The “Three Katsu Brothers” caught my eye, so I ordered one.
With its generous portions and name, it feels like it might help you win at boat racing.
▼ Three Katsu Brothers menu
- Katsu curry: ¥720 (tax included)
- Katsu ramen: ¥820 (tax included)
- Katsu curry ramen: ¥870 (tax included)
They all sounded tempting, but I chose the katsu curry ramen, which lets you enjoy curry, pork cutlet, and ramen all at once.
I thought the pork cutlet on the Three Katsu Brothers dishes might be small since it was a topping, but it was a generous size!
The sauce isn't very watery, so it clings to the noodles.
It's barely spicy, so even children should be able to eat it.
This dish is recommended for anyone who's absolutely starving.
Nadeshiko
I heard that Nadeshiko, which serves rice bowls such as gyudon and tamagodon, had added a new dish, so I went to try it.
The new addition was Okayama's famous demi-katsudon.
This local rice bowl is 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 mildly sweet, thick sauce made the rice especially satisfying.
It's nice to be able to enjoy dishes that are distinctly Okayama.
Shop Snacks
There are hidden food gems in the shops, too—not just in the dining halls.
The three shops have different names, but they sell the same things.
Daifuku
Daifuku is a shop snack that has been attracting attention.
It has been sold since Boat Race Kojima opened in 1952, and is made by Kitazawa Shotendo Fukiage Shop in Kojima.
It contains no additives and costs 110 yen per piece (tax included).
The incredibly soft mochi dough is slightly salty and has black beans kneaded into it.
The red bean paste is just the right amount of sweet.
The coffee introduced next is a great accompaniment to this daifuku.
Brazilian Coffee
The coffee machine grinds the beans just before brewing.
Apparently, it blends five types of beans from Ipanema, Brazil's largest coffee farm.
It has a lovely aroma and is a little on the bitter side, making it a good match for daifuku.
It's a popular coffee, with 30,000 cups sold annually across the three shops.
Food Stall Eats
Let's also take a look at the food served at stalls that appear during events.
Events are held mainly on weekends and public holidays
Octopus Croquette
Kojima is famous for octopus.
I didn't hesitate to buy a handmade octopus croquette.
Inside the crispy coating, there were several big chunks of octopus.
A luxurious croquette that lets you enjoy Shimotsui octopus with ease.
It was just right for a light snack, with a mild flavor that seems sure to appeal to everyone.
Sea Bream Dog
I bought a “sea bream dog,” which I'd never seen before.
It's a koppe-pan roll filled with chopped fried sea bream.
The sea bream itself is mild, but it went exceptionally well with the tartar sauce hidden beneath the boiled egg.
I sat in the outdoor viewing area and took bites of the octopus croquette and sea bream dog while watching the race.
Under the blue sky, six boats sped exhilaratingly past right in front of me.
This is a way to enjoy food that you can experience only at Boat Race Kojima.
The spacious facility offers a variety of food.
There are so many dining halls that we've only been able to introduce a small selection—but doesn't it make you want to visit?
To learn more about the appeal of boat-race food, we spoke with Yuko Yokota of the Boat Race Business Bureau, a Kurashiki City Office employee working at Boat Race Kojima, and Yumi Ishii of Dining Hall Suzuran.
Boat Race Kojima Information
| Name | Boat Race Kojima |
|---|---|
| Address | 6-3 Kojima Motohamacho, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-472-5051 |
| Parking | Available |
| Hours | ■Boat race venue 9:45 a.m.–5:00 p.m. *Hours vary depending on race times ■Dining halls Varies by establishment ■Shops From opening until 4:00 p.m. |
| Closed | Irregular holidays |
| Payment methods |
|
| 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 |
| Website | Boat Race Kojima |
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