From the Edo period through the Meiji period, the port town of Shimotsui in Kurashiki City prospered as a port of call for Kitamaebune trading ships.
In February 2024, “Yoshimata Shoten,” a shop selling wakame seaweed and seafood that has been working hard to “revitalize Shimotsui, which is struggling with a declining population, together with young people,” reopened as “Shimotsui Yokocho.”
Here we introduce information about the Shimotsui Yokocho opening event, to be held on Sunday, March 24, 2024, and the thoughts of those involved in running Shimotsui Yokocho.
The information provided was current when this article was published in March 2024. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What Is Shimotsui Yokocho?
Shimotsui Yokocho is a space that opened in Shimotsui, Kurashiki City, where people from Shimotsui and other areas join forces to revitalize Shimotsui.
Since around 1952, Yoshimata Shoten had been in the business of handling seaweed such as wakame. However, seeing that tourists and local residents had no easy way to get fresh fish and other seafood, they decided to take action. After a month of renovations, the shop started anew as “Shimotsui Yokocho” on February 1.
- From February 1, the dried-goods section of Yoshimata Shoten, which sells wakame and seafood from Shimotsui, reopened.
- The fresh-fish section opened on March 8.
The two shops above are open regularly.
In addition, “Miyake-kun’s Taiyaki” and “Shimotsui Kura Coffee kula-n” set up shop several days a month.
On Sunday, March 24, 2024, to celebrate the opening of Shimotsui Yokocho, the port town’s delicious food and music are set to gather in one place at Shimotsui Yokocho.
For the delicious food planned for the day and the music to be performed, please see the flyer below.
The 7th Shimotsui Sakaba is now fully booked.
Thoughts Behind the Shimotsui Yokocho Opening Event
We interviewed Yoshimata Shoten owner Yoden Yoshie and Nakatomi Sakura of the Shimotsui Yokocho Management Committee about their thoughts on the Shimotsui Yokocho opening event.
Could you tell us what inspired you to open Shimotsui Yokocho?
Yoden (honorific omitted)
Originally, this was a shop called Yoshimata Shoten that sold wakame and seafood from Shimotsui, from March 2014 to January 2023. I’m from Shimotsui, and I was working with the single-minded goal of making Shimotsui a more attractive town by making use of young people’s sensibilities.
Along the way, I met many people and thought it would be fun if Yoshimata Shoten became something like Shimotsui’s open marketplace, so I decided to renovate it into a yokocho where all kinds of shops could gather.
Was there anything in particular you kept in mind when opening as “Shimotsui Yokocho”?
Yoden
There were two main things I kept in mind.
First, I wanted to create a place where people could enjoy locally produced and consumed food, even in small quantities. I had long wanted to make use of our location to let customers enjoy delicious things they can only taste here, so I’m relieved that we’ve finally opened the long-awaited fresh-fish section.
Second, I want Shimotsui Yokocho to be a place where people gather, and for those who come here to try all kinds of things.
What specifically do you have in mind by “try”?
Yoden
As I said earlier, Shimotsui Yokocho is an open marketplace. In other words, I want it to be a place where people who want to try starting a business can easily open a shop. That’s why I’d like all kinds of shops to set up stalls here every weekend, like at a market.
I entrusted the coordination of vendors to Nakatomi, a Community Revitalization Cooperator. I hope she can learn the basics of running a business here.
What kind of work do you do as a Community Revitalization Cooperator?
Nakatomi (honorific omitted)
My mission is to revitalize Washuzan and Shimotsui by making use of the appeal of the Kurashiki Shimotsui area. I serve coffee every month at the Washuzan Visitor Center and plan and run Shimotsui Sakaba. At this opening event, we’ll also hold the seventh Shimotsui Sakaba in the evening.
For the daytime opening event, I worked with Shimotsui folk singer Yukari Tsumoto, who has helped us plan and run Shimotsui Sakaba, to put together the music-stage program. Since it will be during the day, we’ve also prepared a stage for children to perform on.
What kind of event would you like this opening celebration to be?
Nakatomi
Lots of delicious shops will be gathering, so I hope you’ll enjoy the flavors of Shimotsui.
Also, as Yoden mentioned, we plan to make Shimotsui Yokocho a place where different shops set up every weekend and visitors can have a good time. Many shops are also expected to set up at this opening event, so I hope people who are interested in setting up at Shimotsui Yokocho will get a feel for what it’s like to be a vendor.
Yoden
I want it to be a place where lots of people gather, like Shimotsui used to be.
I want you to experience the flavors of Shimotsui, its warm hospitality, and its local character all together. We look forward to welcoming you.
From the Writer
When renovating the building, Shimotsui Yokocho also held a workshop on applying mud plaster to the storehouse walls, hoping to increase the number of people who had been involved in the project, even by just one.
I also took part in the workshop and applied mud plaster myself, so I’m really looking forward to seeing the completed storehouse at the opening event.
The evening Shimotsui Sakaba is already fully booked, but you can apparently drop by on the day for the daytime opening event.
Why not spend a weekend enjoying food and music in the port town of Shimotsui?
Shimotsui Yokocho Opening Event Information
| Name | Shimotsui Yokocho Opening Event |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, March 24, 2024, 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. |
| Location | 1-9-12 Shimotsui, Kurashiki City |
| Admission (tax included) | Free (food and drinks available for purchase at each shop) |
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