Beer gardens may bring summer to mind, but they’re also perfect for the pleasant spring season, when it’s easy to get out and about.
In Kojima, the port-town-style beer garden event Kojima Port Yoruichi was held on Saturday, April 20, 2024.
Kojima Port Yoruichi is held at Kojima Sightseeing Port, facing the Seto Inland Sea, where you can enjoy craft beer and snacks while gazing out at the sea stretching before you.
Drawn by the thought of drinking beer in the spring sea breeze, I went along with a friend.
Here’s what the day was like.
The information provided was accurate when this article was published in May 2024. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is Kojima Port Yoruichi?
Kojima Port Yoruichi is an event held at Kojima Sightseeing Port on Saturday, April 20, 2024.
You can enjoy a wide variety of craft beers and food while taking in the Seto Inland Sea’s night scenery. This time, a night cruise also set sail, offering a close-up view of the illuminated Seto-Ohashi Bridge.
The vendors offered a tempting lineup, from popular local restaurants in Kojima to specialties from neighboring Kagawa Prefecture.
Along with snacks that pair well with drinks, there were also several shops that even people who don’t drink alcohol could enjoy, including sweets children would love and distinctive handmade accessories.
There were 26 vendors this time. Check the image below for details.
The event was also held in April and September 2023, and apparently drew a large crowd last time as well.
The day’s events
On the day of the event, the weather was unsettled, with rain coming and going, but it had stopped just as I arrived at Kojima Station.
The event venue, Kojima Sightseeing Port, is conveniently located just a five-minute walk from Kojima Station. I met my friend in front of the station, and we headed straight to the venue.
Exploring Kojima Sightseeing Port
As we made our way to the venue at Kojima Sightseeing Port, the lively chatter and delicious aromas gradually grew closer.
I was overwhelmed by the rows of vendors lining the waterfront. There were even more people than I’d imagined, and I quickly got swept up in the festive atmosphere.
First, I took a lap around the venue to see what kinds of shops there were.
The first thing I noticed was the brewery stalls. Four breweries were selling craft beer this time:
Each brewery had its own distinctive craft beers, and I couldn’t decide which one to try, so I decided to choose some snacks first.
The food stalls were filled with the appetizing aroma of grilled yakitori and sausages.
Some vendors served dishes that seemed far too good to be festival food, such as spice curry made entirely from vegetables and freshly made pasta.
Rice balls made with seafood unique to Shimotsui were also on sale, so even those looking for a hearty meal would likely be satisfied.
Along the row of stalls was a boarding area where boats came and went.
For this event, two cruises were scheduled to depart from this boarding area in the evening. Apparently, you could view the illuminated Seto-Ohashi Bridge from the water.
Even before reaching the boarding area, I could get a close-up look at the pier where the boats docked. I was looking forward to seeing what the scenery would look like after sunset.
There were also craft stalls in the waiting room right beside the boarding area.
You could take your time shopping while chatting with the vendors, browsing items such as brush-lettering art that creates poems inspired by people’s names and one-of-a-kind handmade accessories.
Cheers with craft beer
As my friend and I discussed what to eat, we headed back to the food stalls.
Drawn by the sound of sausages sizzling, we approached FLAGO, which serves meat-based snacks.
They also serve freshly fried food, so we ordered the island chili chicken.
The chicken, coated in an original island chili pepper spice blend, has a look that makes you want to reach for a beer just by seeing it. The crunchy spices also whet your appetite.
While the chicken was still warm, I went to pick up some other snacks.
Next, I decided to buy bone-in chicken, a Kagawa specialty, which had caught my eye ever since I arrived at the venue.
Oyawaka Kitchen is a food truck specializing in bone-in chicken, supervised by Fujichan, a renowned bone-in chicken restaurant in Marugame City, Kagawa Prefecture.
Many people were looking for local specialties from other prefectures, and a line had formed in front of the stall.
You could choose between hearty mature chicken and tender, juicy young chicken. I chose the young chicken, which looked especially succulent.
When I placed my order, the staff asked, “Would you like us to cut it up if you're sharing it?” I asked them to cut it up as well.
The bone-in chicken was cut into easy-to-eat bite-sized pieces. I appreciated the thoughtful touch.
With the snacks taken care of, I went to buy some craft beer.
Mabi Chikurin Beer, with its eye-catching green sign, is a brewery serving local beer from Mabi.
I wanted to try a local beer from Kurashiki City while I had the chance, so I told the staff what I liked and chose a beer.
I ordered a draft beer called “Sasa,” inspired by bamboo, a local specialty of Mabi, and “Yata,” a dark beer made with brown sugar. I had them poured into small cups so I could compare the two.
I took a sip before the foam disappeared. “Sasa” had a crisp finish and seemed like it would go well with any snack. “Yata” was an easy-to-drink dark beer, with a rich, mellow flavor and a toasty aroma.
I was eager to enjoy the beer with the snacks, so I hurried back to the meeting spot where my friends were waiting.
We had planned to toast on a bench outside, but unfortunately it started raining, so we moved to the waiting area.
We quickly spread out the snacks and beer with our friends. My friend had also brought rice balls and oden from “Shimotsui Musubi Sankakuya.” It was a little chilly in the rain, so I was glad to have something warm to eat.
We toasted, sampled each other's craft beers, and shared our thoughts. Tasting them side by side made it easy to appreciate the distinctive qualities of each craft beer, and the conversation soon turned lively: “Which beer do you like? Which one is easy to drink?”
The island chili pepper chicken looked extremely spicy, but it was milder than I expected and easy to eat. Its fragrant spices were a perfect match for beer.
The Kagawa specialty bone-in chicken was juicy, just as you'd expect when it's freshly grilled. It was quite a generous portion, but so tender that I could keep eating it bite after bite.
The oden and rice balls my friend brought had a rich dashi flavor that never got tiresome. I was hungry, so having something with rice helped fill me up.
The venue sold all kinds of drinks besides craft beer, and my friend picked up a craft lemon sour. It also sounds fun to pair different drinks with the snacks.
Taking in the Seto Inland Sea at night
When I went outside to get another beer, the rain had stopped, and the scene had taken on the feel of a night market.
There were many families with children and students stopping by after club activities, and the venue was bustling with local visitors.
Watching the children run around energetically reminded me of how I used to get excited at nighttime festivals when I was a child. Going out at night feels special and fun for kids, doesn't it?
With childhood memories on my mind, I headed to a brewery. Drawn in by the words “three-beer tasting,” I decided to buy beer from Kibi Dote Shita Beer Brewery.
Kibi Dote Shita Beer Brewery is a vendor from Okayama City. With the aspiration of becoming “a local beer shop like the tofu shop on the corner,” it makes local beer beloved by the community.
I bought a tasting set of three beers: “Onzaki,” a popular beer; “Lemon Sour Beer,” made with lemons from Ushimado; and “Red Grape,” with a vivid color reminiscent of wine.
The rain had let up, so I tried them on a bench with a view of the Seto Inland Sea at night. Benches with tables are a welcome sight at food and drink events like this one.
The Seto Inland Sea stretched out before me, pitch-black.
A cruise boat had just arrived at the pier. The pier lights reflected beautifully on the water.
Taking in the nighttime view of the Seto Inland Sea, I wasted no time in trying the craft beer.
The three-beer tasting flight from Kibidote Shita Beer featured three completely different flavors, so I enjoyed trying them all without getting bored: Misaki, with a good balance of aroma and flavor; Lemon Sour Beer, with a strong tartness; and Red Grape, with a pronounced sweetness. Even my friend, who usually doesn’t like beer, found Red Grape easy to drink.
Beer always tastes better with the sea breeze blowing, and for a moment I found myself thinking, “Festivals were fun when I was a kid, but I’m glad to be an adult now.”
Finally, I bought a souvenir accessory for myself at the goods booth. Satisfied with my shopping, I left the venue.
From the Writer
Kojima Port Night Market was an event where you could casually enjoy delicious craft beer and snacks.
The food and drinks were all carefully selected, and the quality was good enough to enjoy outdoors. Each dish was a generous portion, so I think sharing them with friends was just right.
The lively scene, filled with local people, also felt welcoming, and there was a nostalgic atmosphere about it.
An early taste of a spring beer garden. If it’s held again in September, I’d like to go with friends again.
Kojima Port Night Market Information
| Name | Kojima Port Night Market |
|---|---|
| Date | April 20, 2024 (Saturday) 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. |
| Location | 3-23 Kojima Ekimae, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Admission (tax included) | Only the night cruise requires a fee Adults: ¥2,000; children: ¥1,500 |
| Website | Mukuji Maru Shipping Instagram |
What would you like to know about Kurashiki?
Enter a search term to find articles on this site
