Kojima Ekimae Sanpaku Market (held March 27, 2022) 〜 A morning market in Kojima, Kurashiki City. A monthly treat on the last Sunday of the month, where you can discover Okayama Prefecture’s famous and specialty products.

The “Kojima Station Front Sanpaku Market” (Sanpaku Market) was planned as part of community development in Kojima to create a lively shopping district.

Held on the last Sunday of every month at Tenmaya Happy Town Kojima Store, Topia-Tenmaya Happy Town Kojima Store, Shopping Court PATIO, and 7th Avenue, the market brings together specialties and local products from across Okayama Prefecture for food and sales.

The market’s name comes from “Kojima Sanpaku,” a phrase passed down as a way of expressing the pride of Kojima’s people.

“Sanpaku” refers to “the white of cotton (the textile industry),” “the white of salt (the salt industry),” and “the white of ikanago (the fishing industry).” These represent the major industries that have supported Kojima’s history and economy.

This was the 155th event, with 35 vendors from within Okayama Prefecture.

I went with my family to get breakfast.

The information provided was accurate when this article was published in May 2022. Please note that it may differ from current information.

First, let’s get some breakfast

Stalls line the entrance to Shopping Court PATIO, next to Tenmaya Happy Town Kojima Store.

A few tables and chairs are also available, so if you can find a seat, you can enjoy breakfast at your leisure.

I was hungry, so I headed straight to a shop called “Yakitori Ichiban” right by the entrance to buy some grilled chicken skewers.

I bought chicken gizzards (200 yen per skewer). My family bought chicken thigh (200 yen per skewer).

They had a variety of cuts, including thigh, skin, tail, and heart.

A little farther in, I spotted a line.

I wondered what it was for, and it seemed they were selling beef tendon curry (500 yen per serving).

I love curry, so I immediately joined the line. I was excited as I waited, wondering what it would taste like.

But as I got closer to the front, a shocking fact became clear.

It turned out that the line I was in wasn’t for beef tendon curry, but for beef skewers (290 yen each)!

I had noticed at first that the line split into two, but apparently the line on the right was for beef skewers and the one on the left was for beef tendon curry.

I was curious about the beef tendon curry, but didn’t feel like joining another line, so I bought a beef skewer instead.

Even though I’d just bought grilled chicken skewers…

This shop, called “Beef Skewer Workshop,” specialized in beef skewers, but its curry was just as popular.

I’d like to try it next time if they’re there again.

After buying the beef skewer, I met up with my family, who had bought pho and Korean pancakes.

▼ It was my first time trying pho. It had noodles in a meat-based broth, a bit like ramen in Japan.

It was delicious, with an exotic aroma and smooth, slippery noodles.

The shop makes a point of using local ingredients and doesn’t use chemical seasonings.

No wonder it had such a mild flavor.

▼ Next, the Korean pancake was chewy, and the sauce was deliciously spicy.

▼ The beef skewer I bought instead of curry.

I chose the offal. It was springy and sweet.

I was disappointed about the curry, but this turned out to be a good choice too.

By this point, I was quite full.

Having eaten the breakfast that was the main purpose of our visit, we wandered around the area a little.

A fire engine and little firefighters

Next, we explored 7th Avenue.

The previous Kojima Station Front Sanpaku Market had been canceled due to COVID-19, and with spring bringing warmer weather, the area seemed especially crowded.

We spotted a fire engine near the entrance to 7th Avenue.

People from the “Kurashiki City Fire Department” were there, helping small children put on firefighter uniforms and take photos with the fire engine.

It was a big hit with the little ones.

A firefighter told a child, “This is a real firefighter uniform, so it doesn’t let heat escape and gets hot.”

Since it was a uniform for small children, I assumed it was a fake, but apparently it was real.

The protective clothing worn by firefighters is designed to protect them from flames and heat, and to keep a little water from soaking through.

On the other hand, it is also designed to keep sweat and heat from escaping while they are working.

Firefighters already have a tough job at fire scenes and other emergencies, so I have great respect for them as they work wearing protective clothing that traps heat.

Farther along 7th Avenue, there was a flea market.

They were selling all kinds of things, including clothes, shoes, kitchenware, toys, and books.

There may be things lying around our home that we don’t use but somehow can’t bring ourselves to throw away.

We use auctions and apps for things that seem likely to sell, but for items with high shipping costs or small odds and ends, I thought a flea market would be a good option, since buyers and sellers can meet face-to-face.

An energizing stage!? Hip-hop dance

A hip-hop event was taking place in the Central Court at Topia-Tenmaya Happy Town Kojima Store.

It seemed that students from a dance studio called “Wise Bird” were performing.

The name Wise Bird reflects the hope that its members will become “a wise group that integrates various genres and pursues dance as a comprehensive art form.”

Unfortunately, I arrived just as the performance had ended…

I hope I can see it next time.

Souvenirs to enjoy after getting home

At a morning market, souvenirs are just as much fun as breakfast.

Here are the souvenirs I bought this time.

ERI Kona’s chiffon cakes

ERI Kona had unusual chiffon cakes in flavors such as orange, strawberry, lemon, banana, cashew nut, and apricot.

There were so many varieties that it was hard to remember them all—apparently, there are as many as 45.

After some deliberation, I bought a yuzu chiffon cake.

I ate it at home, and it was fluffy with a yuzu flavor.

Katayama Shoten's tofu donuts

I bought tofu donuts at Katayama Shoten.

These are the perfect donuts for me, as I've recently started putting on weight around my stomach.

They're also low in calories, so I recommend them to anyone who usually watches their calorie intake.

I also bought and tried the fried mochi, and it was so delicious that it would be no exaggeration to call it number one in my all-time fried mochi rankings.

If you get the chance, be sure to try buying some.

From the Writer

There was also pressed sushi from Yogetsudo—To—NObu, made with low-sugar sushi rice containing konjac.

Other offerings included diced steak made with Chiyagyu Beef from Nakayama Meat Shop, fluffy cream buns from Ebisu Pan, making its first appearance, and various kinds of takoyaki from Harapeko-ya.

There were so many appealing shops and products that I thought it would be difficult to see everything in one visit.

Above all, you can feel the energy of the shopkeepers and the customers who come to Kojima Ekimae Sanpakuichi.

There are new shops making their first appearance each time, and even the same shops change their product lineups.

Events are also held at the same time, so both first-time visitors and repeat visitors can enjoy themselves.

Why not visit the lively Kojima Ekimae Sanpakuichi on the last Sunday of the month?