Summer is the season when cold foods and drinks taste even better. Especially ice-cold drinks make you want to keep drinking one glass after another.
At Boat Race Kojima, a special summer event, “Chilled Delights Galore! Local Cider & Ramune Festival,” is being held.
I don’t often get the chance to visit a boat race venue, but I was drawn to this 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.
The information provided was accurate when this article was published in August 2025. Please note that it may differ from current information.
About the “Chilled Delights Galore! Local Cider & Ramune Festival”
“Chilled Delights Galore! Local Cider & Ramune Festival” is a summer-only event held at Boat Race Kojima.
It is held every day from Friday, August 1 to Thursday, August 21, 2025.
A total of 52 varieties of local cider and ramune from Japan’s 47 prefectures and five overseas countries come together in one place, offering a chance to enjoy rare carbonated drinks that can only be obtained by visiting their local areas.
Check out the image below for the lineup.
Local ciders and ramune are full of flavors unique to their regions, with local specialties used in them and their labels and production methods reflecting local history and culture.
It was an enjoyable experience for everyone, from children to adults: fun to choose and delicious to drink.
The event on Saturday, August 16
On Saturday, August 16, when I went to the event, I took the free bus from JR Kurashiki Station to Boat Race Kojima.
First, I paid the 100-yen admission fee at the entrance, then passed through a gate like a station ticket gate to enter Boat Race Kojima.
As soon as I entered, I heard the cheerful voices of children. A children’s event perfect for summer vacation was being held, and the parkour experience seemed to be a hit.
It looks like it will make a great summer vacation memory for the children.
Entering the venue through wind chimes
As I made my way farther into the facility, I arrived at the venue I was looking for.
A gate made of colorful wind chimes greeted me, and their cool appearance and beautiful sounds instantly eased the heat.
I made my way to the venue, enjoying the wind chimes swaying in the sea breeze from the Seto Inland Sea. I couldn’t help walking while looking up.
Inside, I received a shopping basket from a staff member and started shopping.
The refrigerators were divided by region, such as “Hokkaido and Tohoku,” “Kanto,” and “Chugoku and Shikoku.” I decided to look through them in order from the north, but every drink had its own character, so I kept getting interested in them and found it hard to move on.
What helped me choose was the product information panels displayed on the walls inside the venue. They described in detail what made each local cider and ramune special, and they were fun just to read.
After going back and forth a few times, I finally decided what to buy.
I took my time deciding, but many of the children quickly chose, saying, “I want this one!” It might be fun to pick one on instinct, too.
In addition to local cider and ramune, chilled sweets were also on sale. There was a wide variety, including cream buns, sweet potatoes, and caneles.
Ice cream from Seaside Farm Nanba Farm Ice Cream Shop in Shimotsui was also on sale.
What I appreciated at checkout was that ice packs and insulated bags were provided free of charge. It was a thoughtful touch that was especially welcome in summer.
Gulping down chilled cider and ramune on the spot
Boat Race Kojima has plenty of chairs and tables. I sat down right away and decided to try a local cider.
My friend and I bought four bottles. We would have liked to buy more, but we thought the carbonation might make us feel full, so we managed to limit ourselves to four.
- Nose Ginger Ale (Osaka)
- Toyama Black Cider (Toyama)
- Yamato Ramune (Hiroshima)
- Ginger Ale for Ginger Lovers (Kochi)
The first one I tried was “Nose Ginger Ale,” made by Nose Brewery in Osaka.
It seems it was originally developed for bars, and you can really taste the ginger’s spiciness, while the sweetness is restrained. It was a dry ginger ale that went down easily and seemed like it would taste even better mixed with alcohol.
Next, I tried “Yamato Ramune,” made in Kure City, Hiroshima.
As its name suggests, it is said to be a brand loved by the crews of warships such as the battleship Yamato. It has the classic ramune flavor, with a simple, nostalgic sweetness.
By the way, try drinking it with the marble resting in the indented part of the bottle. The indentation acts as a stopper, making it easier to drink the ramune.
The third drink was “Ginger Ale for Ginger Lovers,” made with plenty of ginger from Kochi Prefecture.
I compared it with the first drink, Nose Ginger Ale, and this one has a rich ginger flavor and a deep sweetness. The mandarin orange juice adds a nice accent, and it was satisfying to drink.
I saved for last “Toyama Black Cider,” inspired by Toyama Black, a local ramen dish from Toyama.
It is said to recreate the addictive quality of Toyama Black, and it was a shocking cider with a strong taste of dark soy sauce and pepper. Personally, I thought it tasted more like beef jerky than ramen.
The first sip was a surprise, but as I kept drinking, I found myself thinking, “Just one more sip…” It’s an addictive cider.
I enjoyed the races while drinking cider and had a lovely day off.
Plenty to see at Boat Race Kojima
There were also many events taking place on August 16, the day I visited, so here are a few of them.
At the third-floor entrance hall of Boat Race Kojima, “Shimoden Kurashiki Kojima Shio Musubi” had a booth. Kurashiki Kojima Shio (salt) Musubi is a project aimed at reviving Kojima’s historic salt culture and promoting the region through salt.
The booth was selling a variety of foods made with salt from Kojima, with products perfect as souvenirs from Kojima on display. The event prices were a good deal, so I bought some somen noodles as a souvenir for myself.
On the first floor, there was also a PR booth for the “Japan Heritage Festival in Kurashiki.”
Kurashiki City staff were promoting the Japan Heritage Festival in Kurashiki, which will be held on October 25 and 26, 2025.
When I stopped by the booth, I got a fan featuring Suinkyo, a character representing the Kurashiki Japan Heritage Ambassador.
It was a day of discovering new ways to enjoy Boat Race Kojima, from watching the races to eating and shopping.
From the Writer
There were many local ciders and ramune drinks I was trying for the first time, so I enjoyed not only drinking them but also choosing them. It’s rare to get the chance to compare flavors from different regions, so I felt lucky to enjoy tastes from all over Japan at once.
If I lived near Boat Race Kojima, I’d want to drop by and buy some again.
Since it was summer vacation season, Boat Race Kojima was bustling with families. Even if you don’t know much about boat racing, just watching the races is exhilarating. Children were also watching the intense competition that day.
The National Local Cider and Ramune Festival is being held through Thursday, August 21, so if you’re interested, stop by.
Cool Refreshments Galore! Local Cider & Ramune Festival Information
| Name | Cool Refreshments Galore! Local Cider & Ramune Festival |
|---|---|
| Dates | August 1 (Friday) to August 21 (Thursday), 2025 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. |
| Location | 6-3 Motohama-cho, Kojima, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Admission fee (tax included) | There is a 100-yen admission fee to enter the Boat Race Kojima facility. |
| Website | BOATRACE Kojima Website |
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