Summer is a season when cold food and drinks taste even better. In particular, ice-cold beverages make you want to drink as many as you can.
Boat Race Kojima is hosting a special summer event called "Chill Out Gathering! Local Cider & Ramune Festival."
Although I usually don't have the opportunity to visit a boat racing venue, I was drawn to the event where I could enjoy local carbonated drinks, so I decided to check it out.
Here’s a look at the event, which was bustling with families.
About the "Chill Out Gathering! Local Cider & Ramune Festival"
The "Chill Out Gathering! Local Cider & Ramune Festival" is a summer-only event held at Boat Race Kojima.
From August 1 (Friday) to August 21 (Thursday), 2025, it is held daily.
A total of 52 types of local cider and ramune from all 47 prefectures and 5 countries overseas are gathered, making it an event where you can enjoy rare carbonated drinks that can only be obtained on-site.
Check out the lineup in the image below.
Local cider and ramune often use regional specialties, and their labels and production methods reflect the history and culture of the area, capturing unique flavors.
Fun to choose, delicious to drink, it was an event enjoyable for both children and adults.
The event on August 16 (Saturday)
On August 16 (Saturday), I took a free bus from JR Kurashiki Station to Boat Race Kojima.
First, I paid the entrance fee of 100 yen at the entrance and passed through a gate similar to a train station ticket gate to enter Boat Race Kojima.
As soon as I entered, I could hear the cheerful voices of children. A child-friendly event perfect for summer vacation was taking place, and it seemed that the parkour experience was quite popular.
It seems like a great memory for the children during their summer vacation.
Passing through the wind chimes to the venue
As I moved deeper into the facility, I arrived at the venue I was looking for.
A colorful wind chime gate created a refreshing sight and sound, instantly easing the heat.
Enjoying the wind chimes swaying in the sea breeze of the Seto Inland Sea, I proceeded to the venue. I found myself looking up as I walked.
Once inside, I received a shopping basket from the staff and started shopping.
The refrigerators were divided by area, such as "Hokkaido & Tohoku", "Kanto", and "Chugoku & Shikoku". I decided to start from the northern region, but each one had its own personality, making it hard to move on to the next.
What helped me decide was the product introduction panels displayed on the walls inside the venue. The details about the local cider and ramune's characteristics and features were written in detail, making it enjoyable just to read.
After several back-and-forth trips, I finally decided what to buy.
I took my time to think, but many children quickly decided, saying, "This one is good!" It seems fun to choose based on intuition.
In addition to local cider and ramune, there were also chilled sweets for sale. Cream buns, sweet potatoes, canelés, and many other varieties were available.
Ice cream from Seaside Farm Namba Ranch Ice Cream Shop in Shimotsui was also available for sale.
What was delightful at checkout was that ice packs and a cooler bag were provided for free. It was a thoughtful gesture for the summer.
Sipping chilled cider & ramune on the spot
Boat Race Kojima has a large number of tables and chairs set up. I quickly sat down to try the local cider.
My friend and I purchased four bottles. I actually wanted to buy more, but I felt like the carbonation would fill me up, so I managed to limit myself to four.
- Nose Ginger Ale (Osaka)
- Toyama Black Cider (Toyama)
- Yamato Ramune (Hiroshima)
- Ginger Ale for Ginger Lovers (Kochi)
The first one I drank was "Nose Ginger Ale" made by Nose Brewery in Osaka.
Originally developed for bars, it has a proper ginger spiciness and a moderate sweetness. It was a very drinkable dry ginger ale that would likely taste even better when mixed with alcohol.
Next, I tried "Yamato Ramune" made in Kure City, Hiroshima.
As the name suggests, it is a brand that was loved by the crew of battleships such as the Yamato. It has a simple and nostalgic sweetness, reminiscent of classic ramune flavor.
By the way, when drinking, if you tilt the bottle so that the marble fits into the indentation, the dent acts as a stopper, allowing you to drink the ramune smoothly, so give it a try.
The third one is "Ginger Ale for Ginger Lovers" made with plenty of ginger from Kochi Prefecture.
I compared it with the first Nose Ginger Ale, and this one has a rich ginger flavor and a deep sweetness. The mandarin juice adds a nice accent, making it quite satisfying to drink.
Finally, I saved the "Toyama Black Cider" inspired by the local ramen "Toyama Black."
It is said to recreate the addictive feeling of Toyama Black, with a strong taste of soy sauce and pepper, making it a shocking cider. Personally, I thought it tasted closer to beef jerky than ramen.
The first sip was surprising, but as I continued drinking, I found myself thinking "just one more sip...", making it an addictive cider.
I enjoyed watching the races while drinking cider, making for a great holiday experience.
Boat Race Kojima Had Many Highlights
On August 16, when I visited, there were many simultaneous events, so I will introduce some of them.
In the 3rd floor entrance hall of Boat Race Kojima, "Shimoden Kurashiki Kojima Salt Binding" had a booth. Kojima Salt Binding is a project aimed at reviving the historical salt culture of Kojima and promoting the region using salt.
At this booth, various foods using Kojima salt were sold, making it perfect for souvenirs from Kojima. The event prices were a bargain, so I also bought somen as a souvenir for myself.
On the first floor, there was also a PR booth for the "Japan Heritage Festival in Kurashiki".
The Japan Heritage Festival in Kurashiki will be held on October 25-26, 2025, and staff from Kurashiki City are conducting promotional activities.
When I stopped by the booth, I was able to get a fan featuring the character Suin-kyo, who is active as a Kurashiki Japan Heritage Ambassador.
It was a day where I could enjoy a new way of having fun at Boat Race Kojima, including watching the races, dining, and shopping.
Conclusion
Since there were many local ciders and ramune that I encountered for the first time, it was enjoyable not only to drink them but also to spend time choosing them. Opportunities to compare local flavors are rare, so I felt like I got a good deal enjoying tastes from all over the country at once.
If I lived near Boat Race Kojima, I would want to casually go buy some again.
Since it was summer vacation season, Boat Race Kojima was bustling with many families. Even if you are not familiar with boat racing, just watching the races is refreshing. On that day, the children were also watching the intense battles of the races.
The National Local Cider and Ramune Festival is ongoing until August 21 (Thursday), so if you're interested, please check it out.
Chill Out! Local Cider & Ramune Festival Data
| Name | Chill Out! Local Cider & Ramune Festival |
|---|---|
| Dates | From August 1 (Friday) to August 21 (Thursday), 2025 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Location | 6-3 Motohama-cho, Kojima, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Participation Fee (tax included) | There is an entrance fee of 100 yen for the Boat Race Kojima facility |
| Website | BOATRACE Kojima Official Website |
