The gentle waves of the Seto Inland Sea are calming just to look at.
The water’s surface, shimmering as it reflects the sunlight, is one of the elements that make up the scenery of the Seto Inland Sea.
KARAKOTO Sketch Marché is a marché event where you can spend a relaxing afternoon while taking in the scenery of the Seto Inland Sea.
From the event venue in the Seto Inland Sea National Park area in Karakoto, Kojima, Kurashiki City, you can gaze out over the gently stretching Seto Inland Sea.
The third KARAKOTO Sketch Marché was held on Saturday, November 13, 2021.
I enjoyed KARAKOTO Sketch Marché alongside the scenery of the Seto Inland Sea, and would like to share its highlights.
I also spoke with the event organizer, Nishiyama Maki of Atelier Sora Design, who told me about the background to the event and what Karakoto is like.
I’ll also introduce Nishiyama’s thoughts on KARAKOTO Sketch Marché.
The information presented here is current as of the article’s publication in November 2021. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is KARAKOTO Sketch Marché?
Overview of KARAKOTO Sketch Marché
KARAKOTO Sketch Marché is a marché event held irregularly in Karakoto, Kojima, Kurashiki City.
It was previously held in June and October 2021, making this the third event.
It takes place on the former site of a national resort at the foot of Ojigadake Hill, where you can also enjoy the coastal and mountain scenery of the Seto Inland Sea.
The event ran from noon (12 p.m.) until 8 p.m., and featured its first-ever night marché.
One of the distinctive features of KARAKOTO Sketch Marché is that you can enjoy alcoholic drinks while gazing at the Seto Inland Sea at dusk and after sunset.
Highlights of KARAKOTO Sketch Marché
The greatest appeal of KARAKOTO Sketch Marché is the view from the event venue.
The event venue and surrounding area, designated as a national park, offer beautiful views of the Seto Inland Sea.
When I visited, I could see islands floating in the wide-open sea, as well as the mountain ridges rising on Shikoku in the distance.
The Seto-Ohashi Bridge can also be seen stretching horizontally from the Kojima Peninsula to Sakaide in Kagawa Prefecture on the opposite shore.
It’s a marché where you can take your time and relax while gazing at the water’s surface sparkling in the sunlight.
Vendors at KARAKOTO Sketch Marché
The vendors at KARAKOTO Sketch Marché include well-known businesses from Okayama City and Kurashiki City.
▼The participating vendors are as follows.
| Vendor | Products |
|---|---|
| Okonomiyaki Restaurant Bell | Okonomiyaki, oyster-topped okonomiyaki, and more |
| Mizukiya | Chewy potato snacks, churros, and more |
| Patisserie Le Vert | Western-style sweets |
| Naish Curry | Vegetable curry and more |
| Taiwan Meshi KURASHIKI | Taiwanese cuisine |
| Matsuya Seimen | Udon |
| Kagiyama Gallery Bar | Alcoholic drinks and art |
Featured Products
The food served at KARAKOTO Sketch Marché was just as appealing as the views from the event venue.
I tried some products that caught my eye and would like to tell you about them.
Taiwanese Burger
Taiwan Meshi KURASHIKI serves Taiwanese cuisine from a food truck.
The dishes were developed by Yuji-inn, a guesthouse in Kurashiki City’s Bikan Historical Area, together with staff members from Taiwan.
I ordered the Taiwanese burger.
Bite into the chewy bread and chicken coated in sweet sauce together, and a mellow flavor spreads through your mouth.
It was generously topped with cilantro, which was a delight for me as a cilantro lover.
Curry Udon
One thing to look out for among the food at KARAKOTO Sketch Marché is the collaborative products offered by participating vendors.
This curry udon is a collaboration between Matsuya Seimen, an udon noodle maker in Kaminomachi, Kojima, Kurashiki City, and Naish Curry, a curry shop in Nishinakashinden, Kurashiki City.
Matsuya Seimen and Naish Curry had often ended up next to each other at previous marché events.
They had talked about how it would be fun to combine their products and serve curry udon, but they hadn’t been able to work out the logistics, such as how to sell it.
So the organizer, Nishiyama, arranged a way to sell the curry udon.
At this KARAKOTO Sketch Marché, the collaborative curry udon was offered for the first time.
You can enjoy Matsuya Seimen’s firm noodles and Naish Curry’s mellow curry together.
Rice Flour Taiwanese Castella ~ Fluffy Chai ~
The second collaborative product I’d like to introduce is rice flour Taiwanese castella flavored with chai, made by Patisserie Le Vert, a Western-style confectionery shop in Hiroe, Kurashiki City, and Naish Curry.
Tea leaves blended with carefully selected spices by Naish Curry are used in Patisserie Le Vert’s signature rice flour Taiwanese castella.
Interview with Nishiyama Maki of Atelier Sora Design
We interviewed Nishiyama Maki of Atelier Sora Design, the event organizer.
How KARAKOTO Sketch Marché came to be held
What prompted you to start a marché event in Karakoto?
Nishiyama (surname only)
I was planning a marché event at another location, but we could no longer use the venue.
I had already invited vendors, so I really didn’t want to cancel. I was looking for another place where we could hold a marché event.
Someone I was planning the event with introduced me to the place that became this event’s venue.
I was moved by the beautiful scenery that represents the Seto Inland Sea, so I held a marché event in Karakoto.
I found my way to Karakoto as if drawn there, and discovered its wonderful scenery.
Why did you hold a night marché?
Nishiyama
Until now, KARAKOTO Sketch Marché had only been held during the day, and we took down the equipment from dusk until after sunset.
While hurriedly packing up tents and other things, I happened to look toward the sea and caught sight of a beautiful sunset.
As the sun disappeared beyond the horizon, the sky grew dim.
Then, after the sky had darkened, the illuminated Seto-Ohashi Bridge sparkled over the nighttime sea.
We planned a night marché because we wanted more people to notice the beauty of the scenery as it changes over time.
What the people of Karakoto think
How have local people responded?
Nishiyama
I was worried about holding an event as an outsider, but when we held KARAKOTO Sketch Marché here for the first time, we received a positive response from local people.
The site had been used as a national resort and offers wonderful views, so local people had apparently been looking for ways to make use of it.
The event site is designated as a national park, and it is difficult to install water and sewer infrastructure there.
However, it was an ideal location for vendors whose livelihood is mobile sales.
The event has been rewarding for both the vendors and the local people.
What do local people think of Karakoto?
Nishiyama
Since starting KARAKOTO Sketch Marché, I’ve had more opportunities to talk with local people.
From listening to local people, I get the sense that many feel attached to Karakoto, with its wonderful scenery.
They seemed happy that marché events are being held in Karakoto.
Also, including Karakoto in the event’s name seems to have made the local people happy.
Despite its beautiful scenery, Karakoto is a place whose name is less familiar than Kurashiki or Kojima.
They were pleased that it would give people a chance to learn about the area.
Visiting KARAKOTO Sketch Marché
Am I the only one who finds the sound of the word “Karakoto” pleasant?
Its charming rhythm of sounds fits perfectly with the tranquil scenery of the Seto Inland Sea seen from Karakoto.
As I watched the afternoon sky slowly change over time from pale blue to orange, I felt a gentle warmth, like the sound of Karakoto.
You can feel that Karakoto is a place to grow fond of simply by visiting and taking in the scenery.
Spending a peaceful moment admiring the beautiful scenery of the Seto Inland Sea gave me one more favorite view.
KARAKOTO Sketch Marché Information
| Name | KARAKOTO Sketch Marché |
|---|---|
| Dates | Held irregularly Event times also vary |
| Location | Karako-cho, Kojima, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Website | Atelier sora design (Instagram) |
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