Mabi "Ibara Line DE Tokutoku Market" (held on February 12, 2023) - Experience Mabi at the bamboo shoot-themed morning market.

Recently, there have been various markets and morning markets held here and there.

In Mabi, Kurashiki City, a morning market called Ibara Line DE Tokutoku Market (hereafter: Tokutoku Market) is held every month.

The fun of a morning market is encountering products that are different from those found in supermarkets and convenience stores.

What kind of items can you find at the Tokutoku Market in Mabi?

What is Ibara Line DE Tokutoku Market?

The Tokutoku Market is held every month at Ibara Station, Yakage Station, and Kibinomakibi Station of the Ibara Railway.

The Tokutoku Market at Kibinomakibi Station that I visited is held on the second Sunday of every month from 8:00 AM to 10:30 AM, where shops selling vegetables, fruits, and prepared foods gather in the station square.

If you take the Ibara Railway to the Tokutoku Market and do your shopping, there is a nice perk where the return fare is free.

To receive this perk, please get a stamped ticket while riding the Ibara Railway on your way there, and also get a stamp at the shop when you make a purchase.

If you go by car, you can use the free parking lot at Kibinomakibi Station.

Additionally, at the Tokutoku Market, you can earn points based on your purchases, and by collecting points, you can participate in a lottery for luxurious prizes.

The Scene on the Day of the Market

At 8:30 AM, upon arriving at the parking lot, a nice smell wafts through the air.

While there aren't many shops, there are unique products from Mabi, a leading bamboo shoot producing area in the prefecture, such as bamboo shoot rice and bamboo shoot croquettes.

The bamboo shoot croquettes are freshly fried, and the rice is made to order.

Steam is rising from the steamer for the rice.

Alright, I intended to take a round of the venue, but as I leisurely walked, I heard an announcement that the bamboo shoot croquettes were already sold out.

The croquettes, a specialty of the morning market, are very popular and tend to sell out first every month.

It's unfortunate, but shopping has just begun. Let's go look for something delicious.

Freshly Grilled Anago

The source of the nice smell wafting through the venue was the grilled anago (conger eel).

The men are happily grilling anago with a can of beer in hand from the morning.

You get three pieces for 1,100 yen, which is a great deal.

As I walked past the shop, they called out, "Come try a sample!"

Grilled over charcoal, and freshly made, it smells delicious! I bought some for lunch.

Large Pancakes with Bamboo Shoots

At the Tokutoku Market, the large pancakes are also unique to Mabi, with bamboo shoots inside.

Chopped bamboo shoots are sprinkled in with the sweet red bean paste.

Curious about how bamboo shoots pair with the sweet red bean paste, I couldn't help but buy one.

I quickly took a bite by the roadside while it was still warm.

The fluffy skin, carefully baked, combined with the sweet red bean paste, and the slightly salty bamboo shoots create a nice accent.

Unique Tools from Mabi

Unfamiliar tools displayed at the hardware store (the item on the right in the photo).

Do you know what this is?

A hoe specifically for digging bamboo shoots.

It has a longer and thinner tip than a regular hoe to dig up young bamboo shoots buried deep underground.

As expected from Mabi, a bamboo shoot producing area.

I saw several people buying them in bulk at the venue.

It might be a popular tool in Mabi.

Conclusion

The Ibara Line DE Tokutoku Market is a compact morning market, but the shopkeepers were friendly, offering samples and chatting, making for a pleasant experience on my way home.

With bamboo shoot gourmet items and a hoe specifically for digging bamboo shoots, it seems like a mini sightseeing experience for those from outside Mabi.

The season for bamboo shoots is coming soon. During the peak season, you might be able to buy freshly dug bamboo shoots at the Tokutoku Market.

Please enjoy the bamboo shoot-filled morning market "Tokutoku Market" in Mabi at least once.

We deliver selected articles from Kurashiki Tocotoco via LINE