Sunday is the perfect day for a family outing.
Your usual park or shopping mall is nice, but sometimes you want to visit somewhere different.
If so, how about the Bitchu Tamashima Minato Morning Market, held in Tamashima, Kurashiki City, on the second Sunday of every month?
At this morning market, lively with food stalls and events for children, you can enjoy a festive atmosphere.
I’ve been twice so far, and the warmth and energy of the local people made me feel so at ease that I wanted to come back.
I visited the market held on Sunday, January 12, 2025, and would like to share what it was like.
The information provided was current when this article was published in February 2025. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What kind of event is the Bitchu Tamashima Minato Morning Market?
The Bitchu Tamashima Minato Morning Market is held from 9 a.m. to noon on the second Sunday of every month.
The venue, Tamashima in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, was once a bustling port town, and still has a shopping street with a nostalgic Showa-era feel.
With the slogan “Let’s go out for breakfast!”, the shopping streets fill with stalls, bringing together food from around Kurashiki City.
There are also events for children, such as crafts and chalk art, making this a morning market that both adults and children can enjoy.
A festive atmosphere with food and events: What the market is like
When I arrived at the venue at 9:30 a.m., it was already bustling.
There were many families with young children, and it seemed that lots of local people had come too.
Five shopping streets serve as the venue, but they are close to one another and you can walk between them.
There are several parking lots near the venue, and this time I parked at the Tamashima Library parking lot.
As soon as I entered the shopping street, I saw stalls everywhere, creating a festival-like atmosphere.
There were lots of food stalls selling oden, fried chicken, tamagoyaki, and more—it was hard to choose. The food looked good not only for breakfast but also to take home for lunch.
Enjoy freshly brewed coffee at Sakiwara Coffee
Of all the many stalls, the one that especially caught my eye was Sakiwara Coffee.
At Sakiwara Coffee, they grind beans roasted that day and brew the coffee right there. As a coffee lover, I couldn’t pass up a morning cup.
When I asked if I could take a photo while they were brewing, they said, “You’re making me nervous!” but carefully prepared the coffee for me.
Being able to have a little chat is part of what makes a morning market special.
The Sakiwara Blend I ordered had a mellow flavor. I was surprised by how easy it was to drink, even black.
An energetic lion dance performance
There’s more to enjoy at the morning market than just food.
That day, the Otojima Hata Youth Group performed a lion dance, and many people gathered to watch.
The lion danced to the sound of Japanese drums, and I was captivated by the perfectly synchronized performance of the two lions. It was a cold day, but you could feel the performers’ energy.
When the performance ended, the lion went around biting the heads of the children who had gathered. It’s said that when a lion bites your head, it eats away your bad luck.
I got to see a festive event that felt just right for the New Year.
A mochi-pounding experience for children
New Year’s means mochi pounding, and the market was holding a Fukufuku Mochi-Pounding event.
A mortar was set up right in the middle of the shopping street, and you could buy mochi pounded on the spot.
Each time one of the men swung the heavy-looking mallet, people called out, “Heave-ho!”
The children put the finishing touches on the mochi. They swung mallets taller than themselves and finished the job.
Once pounded, the mochi was shaped into balls and sold on the spot.
When I took some home and tried it, I was amazed by how soft it was.
From the Writer
I enjoyed the food and coffee, watched the lion dance and mochi pounding, and had a wonderful morning.
The vendors and events change every month, so there’s likely to be something new to enjoy every time you visit.
It was fun chatting with the shopkeepers, and the atmosphere was lively yet relaxed. There were many older people and families with children, and it seemed like local residents were enjoying themselves too.
Along with seasonal events, the morning market also offers activities for children, such as crafts and chalk art.
It is held from 9 a.m. to noon on the second Sunday of every month, so be sure to stop by.
Bitchu Tamashima Minato Morning Market details
| Name | Bitchu Tamashima Minato Morning Market |
|---|---|
| Date | Second Sunday of every month, 9 a.m.–noon |
| Location | Tamashima Chuo-cho, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Admission (tax included) | Free |
| Website | Bitchu Tamashima Minato Morning Market |
What would you like to know about Kurashiki?
Enter a search term to find articles on this site
