In the Kojima area, a new festival called Kojima Port ENNICHI has been held since last year (2023).
This festival is a notable event that attracted over 10,000 visitors in its inaugural year.
In 2024, the second Kojima ENNICHI will be held, so I went to the site.
What is Kojima Port ENNICHI
Kojima Port ENNICHI will be held for two days on August 10 (Saturday) and 11 (Sunday) at Kojima Tourist Port.
This festival, organized by the Kojima Port ENNICHI Executive Committee and the Seto-Ohashi Bridge Tourist Boat Association, is a new festival that started last year (2023).
For five hours from 4 PM to 9 PM on both days, not only will there be a gathering of food trucks and stalls, but also cruising boats will depart and fireworks will be launched, making it a feast for the eyes.
Scene at the venue on August 11 (Sunday)
When I arrived at the venue around 4:30 PM on August 11, despite the strong sunlight, the venue was bustling with many visitors.
The food stalls offered a lineup that seemed enjoyable for all ages, from kid-friendly candy scooping to exotic game meat. Additionally, since it was an outdoor event, I also spotted visitors with pets.
The highlight of the festival, the "Night Cruising," sold out of tickets before they even went on sale, so I couldn't board, but I was able to fully enjoy the festival on land, so I will share some photos.
Festival-exclusive food stalls
When it comes to festivals, it's all about the food stalls.
First, since I was hungry, I had chicken broth pho at villaga chaya.
In Kurashiki, it's hard to find a place to casually eat pho, so I had been following the booth information of villaga chaya on social media, and finally got to try the long-awaited pho. It had a mild flavor that was easy for those not used to the unique spices and cilantro of Southeast Asian cuisine.
Wanting a cold drink to go with my meal, I had homemade lemonade squash at Okonomiya. While it's common for drinks at festivals to cost over 500 yen, Okonomiya's homemade lemonade squash was 350 yen. It was reasonably priced, yet luxurious with chunks of lemon flesh included, giving it a rich flavor.
Sipping this refreshing drink while feeling the sea breeze provided a moment of coolness.
Pho alone wasn't enough to fill me up, so I walked around looking for meat.
Attracted by the word "game," I ordered a deer steak from the aging and game restaurant Donguri and a herb sausage from Cafe & Bar FLAGO, which focuses on local production for local consumption in the Bikan Historical Area.
The unique sweetness of the deer meat and the juicy, thick sausage packed with herb flavor were just as they appeared.
As I was pondering what dessert to have, I unexpectedly ran into a friend at the venue who recommended, "The shaved ice shop I just visited was great; they communicated with us through written notes since we have hearing impairments!" So, I headed to Mireido.
As my friend said, they repeatedly pointed to the menu to confirm my order in a way that I could understand, making it easy to place my order. The appearance of the shaved ice I received was adorable, and the ice was fluffy.
The "Milk Coffee" flavor I ordered had coffee jelly inside, allowing me to enjoy a change in flavor even after the ice melted, making it a new sensation of shaved ice.
Actually, I have always avoided shaved ice at festivals because they tend to be hard and I get bored with the flavor halfway through. However, the shaved ice from Mireido was fluffy and didn't give me a brain freeze, allowing me to enjoy various flavors and textures until the end, making me want to eat it again.
Later, I recommended Mireido to other friends I met, saying, "Mireido is kind to people with hearing impairments, and their shaved ice is fluffy, so I recommend it!" as I walked around.
Stage presentations that the local people are looking forward to
The stage program continued from the start of the festival until the end of the fireworks display.
Children attending a local dance school practiced their dances for this day, and they showcased their performances with makeup and extensions.
A local elderly person happily said, "I am going to participate in the karaoke competition that starts after this."
Although it is a new festival that just started last year, the stage conveyed that participants of various age groups are enjoying this festival.
Fireworks that shine even more because it's a port town
One of the reasons for participating in this festival was the rumor that "Kojima Port ENNICHI will have fireworks."
However, according to official information, the fireworks launch details are not disclosed. In 2023, fireworks were launched at the end of the second day, but this year, they were launched on the first day as well. Since I met up with friends and their families, and the preschool children were also looking forward to the fireworks, I personally really wanted the fireworks to go off.
Around 8 PM, fireworks were launched at Brazilian Park Washuzan Highland, but they could only be seen from a distance from Kojima Port. Just when I thought it might be over around 8:30 PM, fireworks were launched from a boat that had gone out to sea.
This year, fireworks that could be seen from the port were launched on both days of Kojima ENNICHI. The fireworks that rose into the sky, as well as those reflecting on the sea surface, were beautiful, and I couldn't help but applaud while enjoying the fireworks.
Conclusion
When thinking of a port town festival, one tends to imagine ritualistic events dedicated to the sea gods.
However, Kojima Port ENNICHI, which just started in 2023, is a large-scale yet homey festival where people enjoy modern food stalls and kitchen cars while also enjoying fireworks unique to a port town, and where the local people cheerfully come together on stage.
I look forward to the future of the new festival Kojima Port ENNICHI, which has just begun in Kojima.
Data for Kojima Port ENNICHI 2024
| Name | Kojima Port ENNICHI 2024 |
|---|---|
| Date | August 10 (Saturday) and 11 (Sunday), 2024 4 PM - 9 PM |
| Location | 3-23 in front of Kojima Station, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Participation Fee (including tax) | Free admission |
| Website | Official Instagram of Mukujimaru |
