To the southeast of JR Kurashiki Station, in the Tsurugata district, there is a place called Bikan Historical Area.
Inside a building resembling a row house, various shops line up, all of which are very down-to-earth.
It has a charming atmosphere reminiscent of the post-war red lantern district.
One corner of such Bikan Historical Area is occupied by Udon Sakaba Fujishin.
You can enjoy udon, sake, and side dishes, and it is a beloved place for local regulars as well as tourists and business travelers.
The owner of Udon Sakaba Fujishin, Fujita Shinji, has a strong commitment and philosophy towards cooking and food, and you can feel the owner's passion in every dish.
Therefore, we introduced Udon Sakaba Fujishin and conducted an interview with the owner, Fujita Shinji.
"Udon Sakaba Fujishin" closed at the end of April 2025 and reopened after renovation as "Udon to Sake to Irodori Siki" on October 10, 2025.
Fujishin has counter and table seats on the first floor, and tatami seating on the second floor
Upon entering Fujishin, the kitchen is right in front, so you will be greeted energetically by the staff.
Inside, there are three counter seats in front of the kitchen, one table for two, and four tables for four.
▼Additionally, Fujishin has a second floor with four tables for four.
The tatami seating on the second floor can accommodate up to 20 people for banquets.
Fujishin is characterized by enjoying udon, izakaya dishes, and sake
Fujishin is not solely focused on udon; it is an udon sakaba.
In other words, it is a place where you can enjoy udon, sake, and izakaya dishes (side dishes).
It is also listed in the "Michelin Guide Kyoto, Osaka + Okayama 2021."
Udon is definitely not the main focus, with sake and izakaya dishes being mere side attractions.
Udon, sake, and izakaya dishes are all main attractions.
The business hours are from 6 PM to 12:30 AM (last order at 11:30 PM).
On Sundays, the hours are "from 6 PM to 11 PM."
- Enjoy food while drinking sake at Fujishin, and finish with udon
- Drink sake at another place and finish with udon from Fujishin
- Have a quick drink at Fujishin
The charm of Fujishin lies in the various ways to enjoy it.
Additionally, Fujishin puts effort into its tableware.
▼There are dishes made of Tobe-yaki, Hagi-yaki, and Bizen-yaki.
You can feel the shop's commitment in such details.
Fujishin welcomes international tourists. Free Wi-Fi available, cashless payment possible
The owner of Fujishin has overseas experience, so they can communicate with customers from abroad.
Furthermore, they have free Wi-Fi available and support payments via PayPay, Rakuten Pay, Merpay, au Pay, d payment, and credit cards, making the facilities well-equipped.
Fujishin's carefully selected menu
Fujishin's menu can be broadly divided into three categories.
- Udon
- Side dishes (izakaya dishes)
- Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks
Udon is cut and boiled after receiving an order, which is a point of pride
▼As of October 2023, Fujishin offers 14 types of udon.
▼All udon is cut and boiled after an order is placed.
▼Of course, the noodle dough is homemade.
▼Cutting and boiling after receiving an order is a commitment from the owner, Fujita, who wants customers to enjoy freshly made udon that allows them to feel the quality of the wheat.
▼Additionally, Fujishin's udon is made with carefully prepared dashi.
Through the dashi, you can feel the commitment and philosophy of owner Fujita.
Kake udon
The basic menu item, kake udon.
Because it is simple, the flavor of the dashi and the taste of the noodles come through directly.
▼The thick noodles are chewy and have a firm texture.
▼A broth with a very transparent quality.
The aroma of the dashi is very pleasant even before eating.
As I slurp the broth, the flavor of the dashi spreads in my mouth, and the rich aroma wafts through my nose.
And I reflect on the goodness of Japan's dashi culture.
Gyutan Curry Udon
Next is the Gyutan Curry Udon.
▼You can feel the aroma of Japanese-style dashi within the curry flavor.
The combination with beef is also excellent.
▼The noodles also have a strong presence.
▼The egg has a rich yolk flavor, and when mixed, it makes the curry udon creamy.
This egg is sourced from a specialty egg shop near the restaurant.
Oroshi Bukkake
Oroshi Bukkake is available in both cold and hot versions.
During the interview, I had the cold version.
▼I was surprised by the mountain of grated daikon. Moreover, it is "oni oroshi," which is coarsely grated daikon.
The unique texture of this oni oroshi, which is crunchy, is irresistible.
The combination with the chewy noodles is exquisite.
▼In fact, this oni oroshi is made using a bamboo grater from Mabi-cho, Kurashiki City.
▼The rich broth of the bukkake has a slightly sweet flavor, characteristic of Kurashiki's famous bukkake udon.
▼The broth mixes well with the noodles.
▼The condiment is wasabi instead of ginger, which is the Kurashiki style.
▼The tenkasu (tempura scraps) are served on a separate plate, and you add them to the udon yourself.
The tenkasu is freshly fried, so it is hot and crispy.
Meat Oroshi Bukkake
In addition to bukkake udon, there is also Meat Oroshi Bukkake.
This is also available in cold and hot versions, and I had the hot version during the interview.
▼The mountain of luxurious beef piled high is very impressive.
▼The well-stewed beef spreads its umami flavor gently in the mouth when eaten.
▼The sweet broth of the bukkake, the umami of the beef, and the noodles harmonize, creating a different flavor from the oroshi bukkake.
▼Also, the meat bukkake also uses wasabi as a condiment, and the freshly fried tenkasu is served on a separate plate.
Dishes Focused on Dashi
Fujishin is also characterized by offering side dishes (izakaya-style dishes).
The side dishes change depending on the day.
Fujishin is .
Therefore, every dish is recommended.
Fried Eggplant in Dashi
Among the many menu items, "Fried Eggplant in Dashi" is particularly a dish you want to order.
▼The eggplant has a very chewy texture.
It is said that the frying method is adjusted so that the eggplant has a chewy texture.
▼And, the dashi has a transparent appearance.
The carefully prepared dashi makes you want to take another bite.
Fujishin's fried eggplant in dashi is a dish you end up drinking all the dashi.
Salted Sawara Tataki
Sawara (Spanish mackerel) is a representative seafood often eaten in Okayama Prefecture.
▼The slices are thick, allowing you to enjoy a chewy texture when you eat.
▼The sawara is served with salt.
Cream Cheese Sweet Potato Tempura
A slightly unusual menu item is "Cream Cheese Sweet Potato Tempura".
It is tempura made by sandwiching cream cheese between slices of sweet potato.
▼The crispy batter and the fluffy texture of the sweet potato create a strange combination with the creamy cheese.
▼For the sweet potato tempura, you eat it with matcha salt or black syrup.
▼When you add black syrup, it feels like a dessert, which is a strange sensation.
Marinated Octopus Tempura
At Fujishin, there was "Marinated Octopus Tempura," which is made by seasoning local octopus before frying.
▼You can enjoy the bouncy texture and the crispy batter.
I thought it would be perfect as a snack with alcohol.
Fujishin offers a variety of alcoholic beverages not commonly seen in the Kurashiki area
Fujishin has a rich selection of alcoholic beverages.
There are various brands, mainly focusing on sake, shochu, liqueurs, and sours.
▼For example, "Satsuma Island Daughter" is a brand that is difficult to obtain outside of Nagashima in Kagoshima Prefecture.
It is said that the owner, Fujita, can obtain it because his mother's family is from Kyushu.
From the selection of dishes and alcoholic beverages at Fujishin, you can feel the strong commitment and passion for the restaurant's cuisine.
Despite being located in a somewhat hard-to-find place called Kurashiki Department Store, Fujishin attracts both regular customers and first-time visitors.
I interviewed the owner, Fujita Masashi.
Data on Udon Sakaba Fujishin
| Name | Udon Sakaba Fujishin |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-4-4 Tsuruga, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-434-2389 |
| Parking | None |
| Business Hours | Tuesday to Saturday: 6:00 PM to 12:30 AM (Last order at 11:30 PM) Sunday: 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM (Last order at 10:00 PM) |
| Regular Holidays | Monday 1st and 3rd Sundays are closed |
| Payment Methods |
|
| Reservation Availability | Yes |
| Seating | 1st floor: Counter: 3 seats, Tables: 18 seats 2nd floor: Tatami: up to 20 seats |
| Smoking | Completely non-smoking |
| Toilet | Western-style toilet |
| Website | Udon Sakaba Fujishin (Facebook page) |
