When we think of beer gardens, we often associate them with summer, but they are also perfect events for the easy-going spring season.
In Kojima, the beer garden unique to a port town called Kojima Port Night Market was held on Saturday, April 20, 2024.
The Kojima Port Night Market is held at Kojima Tourist Port facing the Seto Inland Sea, where you can enjoy craft beer and snacks while gazing at the sea spread out before you.
Drawn to the beer while feeling the spring sea breeze, I also participated with my friends.
Let me introduce the events of the day.
What is Kojima Port Night Market
The Kojima Port Night Market is an event that was held on April 20, 2024, at Kojima Tourist Port.
While enjoying a variety of craft beers and food, you can gaze at the night view of the Seto Inland Sea. This time, there was also a night cruise that allowed us to see the illuminated Seto-Ohashi Bridge up close.
The vendors included popular local restaurants from Kojima as well as specialties from neighboring Kagawa Prefecture, making for a tempting lineup of choices.
In addition to snacks that pair well with alcohol, there were also several shops that offered sweets likely to please children and unique handmade accessories, ensuring that even those who do not drink alcohol could enjoy themselves.
This time, 26 vendors participated. Please check the image below for more detailed information.
In the past, it was also held in April and September 2023, and it seems that the previous event was also bustling with many participants.
The Events of the Day
On the day of the event, the weather was unstable with rain falling and stopping intermittently, but by the time I arrived at Kojima Station, the rain had just stopped.
The event venue, Kojima Tourist Port, is attractive for its accessibility, being just a 5-minute walk from Kojima Station. I met up with my friends in front of the station and headed straight to the venue.
Strolling Around Kojima Tourist Port
As I headed towards the venue at Kojima Tourist Port, the sounds of people and the delicious aromas gradually drew closer.
I was overwhelmed by the numerous stalls lined up along the seaside. The number of people was more than I had imagined, and the festive atmosphere quickly heightened my excitement.
First, I decided to take a stroll around the venue to see what kind of shops were there.
The first thing that caught my eye was the stalls of breweries. This time, the following four breweries were selling craft beer.
Each brewery offered unique craft beers, and I was unsure which one to choose, so I decided to select some snacks first.
At the food vendor booth, the aroma of grilled chicken skewers and sausages wafted through the air, whetting my appetite.
There were also shops offering vegetable-only spice curry and freshly made pasta, which seemed to be of a quality not expected from a vendor.
There were also rice balls made with seafood unique to Shimotsui for those who wanted a hearty meal.
There was a boarding area for boats near the stalls.
At this boarding area, two cruises will operate at night in line with the event. You can view the illuminated Seto-Ohashi Bridge from the sea.
In front of the boarding area, I was able to see the pier where the boats arrive and depart up close. I am looking forward to seeing what kind of scenery unfolds after the sun sets.
In the waiting area right next to the boarding area, there were stalls selling miscellaneous goods.
You can take your time shopping while talking with the shopkeepers, with items like calligraphy art inspired by names and unique handmade accessories.
Cheers with Craft Beer
While discussing with my friends about "what to eat," we returned to the food vendor booth.
Drawn by the sound of sausages being grilled, I approached FLAGO, which offers meat-based snacks.
I ordered the island chili chicken, which is freshly fried.
The chicken coated with original Shima chili pepper spice has a visual that makes you want to drink beer just by looking at it. The crunchy texture of the spices also stimulates the appetite.
While the chicken is still warm, I will also gather other snacks.
Next, I decided to purchase the bone-in chicken, a specialty of Kagawa Prefecture, which I had been curious about since arriving at the venue.
Oyawaka Kitchen is a food truck specializing in bone-in chicken supervised by "Fuji-chan," a famous bone-in chicken restaurant in Marugame City, Kagawa Prefecture.
Many people were lined up in front of the shop, seeking local gourmet food from other prefectures.
The bone-in chicken can be chosen from hearty old chickens or tender and juicy young chickens, and I chose the young chicken that looked like it had a lot of juice.
When I ordered, the staff asked, "Shall we cut it up if you're sharing with everyone?" and I requested a cut as well.
The bone-in chicken was cut into bite-sized pieces, making it easy to eat. I appreciated the thoughtful attention to detail.
Now that I have gathered my snacks, I headed to buy some craft beer.
The striking green sign of Mabi Bamboo Grove Beer is a brewery that offers local beer from Mabi.
I wanted to try local beer from Kurashiki City on this occasion, so I communicated my preferences to the staff while selecting my beer.
What I ordered was a draft beer called "Sasa," inspired by bamboo, a specialty of Mabi, and a black beer with brown sugar called "Yata." I had them put it in small cups to compare the two.
Taking a sip before the foam disappeared, "Sasa" had a refreshing aftertaste that seemed to pair well with any snack. "Yata" had a roasted flavor with richness and smoothness, making it an easy-to-drink black beer.
Feeling like having a drink with my snacks, I hurried back to the meeting place where my friends were waiting.
We had planned to toast on the outdoor bench, but unfortunately, it started to rain, so we moved to the waiting area.
Immediately, I spread out the snacks and beer with my friends.
My friend also prepared rice balls and oden from Shimotsui Musubi Sankakuy. It was nice to have warm food to eat while feeling a slight chill from the rain.
We toasted and tasted each other's craft beers, sharing our impressions. Comparing them, we could clearly understand the characteristics of each craft beer, and the conversation flowed with questions like, "Which beer do you like? Which one is easy to drink?"
The Shima chili chicken, which looked extremely spicy, was milder than I had imagined and easy to eat, with aromatic spices that paired perfectly with the beer.
The bone-in chicken, a specialty of Kagawa, had a juicy flavor that was unique to being freshly grilled. It was quite filling, but it was tender and easy to eat.
The oden and rice balls prepared by my friend had a rich dashi flavor that made them enjoyable without getting tired of them. I was quite hungry, so having rice helped settle my stomach significantly.
In addition to craft beer, various other alcoholic beverages were being sold at the venue, and my friend had gotten a craft lemon sour. It seems fun to combine different types of alcohol with snacks.
Gazing at the Night Seto Inland Sea
When I went outside to buy a refill of beer, the rain had stopped, and a night market scene unfolded before me.
There were many families with children and students finishing their club activities, bustling with local customers.
Watching the children running around energetically reminded me of the times I had fun at night festivals when I was a child. For children, going out at night feels special and fun.
While reminiscing about my childhood, I headed to the beer brewery.
Attracted by the words "three types of tasting," I decided to buy beer at Kibi Doteshita Brewery.
Kibi Doteshita Brewery is a vendor from Okayama City. They produce local beer that is loved by the community with the desire to "be a local beer shop like a corner tofu shop."
I purchased a tasting of three types: the popular beer "Onzaki," a "lemon sour beer" made with lemons from Ushimado, and "Red Grape," which has a vividness like wine.
As the rain had stopped, I decided to drink at a bench with a table where I could gaze at the night Seto Inland Sea. Benches with tables are a great presence at food and drink events like this.
Before me spread the dark Seto Inland Sea.
A cruising boat had just arrived at the pier. The lights from the pier reflected beautifully on the water's surface.
While gazing at the Seto Inland Sea at night, I immediately enjoyed some craft beer.
The tasting of three types of Kibi Dote Shita beer included "Misaki," which has a good balance of aroma and flavor, the sour "Lemon Sour Beer," and the sweet "Red Grape," each offering completely different tastes that kept it enjoyable. It seems that "Red Grape" is easy to drink even for friends who are not fond of beer.
Drinking beer while feeling the sea breeze was indeed delicious, and I had a moment of reflection, thinking, "Childhood festivals were fun, but it's nice to be an adult."
Finally, I purchased some accessories as souvenirs at the goods booth, feeling satisfied with my shopping as I left the venue.
Conclusion
Kojima Port Night Market was an event where you could casually enjoy delicious craft beer and snacks.
All the food and drinks were carefully selected, and it was a pleasure to be able to eat them outdoors. The portions were substantial, making it just right to share with friends.
The scene bustling with locals felt very homey, and there was a nostalgic atmosphere lingering in the air.
An early spring beer garden. If it is held again in September, I would like to participate with friends once more.
Kojima Port Night Market Data
| Name | Kojima Port Night Market |
|---|---|
| Date | April 20, 2024 (Saturday) From 4 PM to 9 PM |
| Location | 3-23 in front of Kojima Station, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Participation Fee (including tax) | Only the night cruise is charged Adults 2,000 yen, Children 1,500 yen |
| Website | Mukujimaru Shipping Instagram |
