[Held on Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8] Usagiya Bread Marche ~Anko, Now and Then~: 16 popular bakeries and Japanese confectionery shops from across Okayama Prefecture gather

[Held on Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8] Usagiya Bread Marche ~Anko, Now and Then~: 16 popular bakeries and Japanese confectionery shops from across Okayama Prefecture gather

“Usagiya Bread Marche: Sometimes Anko,” bringing together popular bakeries and Japanese confectionery shops from across Okayama Prefecture at the large stationery specialty store Usagiya, will be held on Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8, 2026.

Here’s a look at the event, which was such a huge success when held in 2025 that everything sold out in about 30 minutes.

The information provided was current when this article was published in March 2026. Please note that it may differ from current information.

What is “Usagiya Bread Marche: Sometimes Anko”?

Bread Marche flyer (Image courtesy of KURABUN Co., Ltd.)
Bread Marche flyer (Image courtesy of KURABUN Co., Ltd.)

“Usagiya Bread Marche: Sometimes Anko” is an event held on Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8, 2026.

The venue is Usagiya Kurashiki Store, a large specialty stationery store. Sixteen popular bakeries and Japanese confectionery shops from across Okayama Prefecture will set up shop on a rotating daily basis.

Now in its third year in 2026, the event will feature various collaborative products themed around anko (sweet red bean paste), as its subtitle “Sometimes Anko” suggests.

  • Art Brut special collaboration menu
    A special collaboration menu with “Patisserie&Boulangerie Art Brut” will be available at Georges Lapin, the in-store cafe at Usagiya Kurashiki Store.
  • Nishikido collaboration
    In collaboration with Nishikido, famous for its momiji manju, stationery and miscellaneous goods will be on sale.

For details, including information about participating shops, see the images below.

List of participating shops (Image courtesy of KURABUN Co., Ltd.)
List of participating shops (Image courtesy of KURABUN Co., Ltd.)

Interview with Kozai Nozomi of KURABUN Co., Ltd.

Usagiya Bread Marche now features Japanese confectionery as well as bread.
We spoke with Kozai Nozomi of KURABUN Co., Ltd., who planned the event, about the thinking behind it.

Could you tell us the thinking behind this year’s “Usagiya Bread Marche: Sometimes Anko”?

Kozai (surname only)

As the “Sometimes Anko” subtitle on the flyer suggests, this year, unlike previous years, we’ll also be selling anko products.

The inspiration for choosing “anko” as the theme came in November 2025, when we sold ohagi from Amato no Mise Yamato at a stationery event called “Bungu♡Can” held at AEON MALL Okayama.

Nearly 100 customers lined up before opening, and the 500 pieces we had prepared sold out in less than an hour, to an overwhelming response. Seeing this, I realized that anko is something familiar and much sought after by our customers, so this time we decided to add anko to the bread offerings.

We also asked “Art Brut” to make bread using anko from “Amato no Mise Yamato.”

We hope that connections between local businesses like this will also grow through Usagiya, so this year we’ve planned the event around a theme that’s a little different from previous years.

Amato no Mise Yamato — A long-established shop devoted to ohagi, handmade with perfectly sweet chunky red bean paste and fragrant kinako

What are the highlights of this year’s event, or the things you’d especially like people to look out for?

Kozai

There are three main highlights.

The first item is a collaboration product with Nishikido, makers of Hiroshima’s famous confectionery.
Nishikido has a store (Fukuyama Minami Zao branch) near Usagiya Fukuyama Minami, and it is always bustling. I had hoped that we might collaborate someday. When the opportunity arose, they gladly agreed, making this truly a dream come true.

We announced the collaboration goods on social media and received a great response. This time, we’ll be offering them as a Kurashiki Store exclusive preview sale.

Nishikido collaboration goods (Image courtesy of KURABUN Co., Ltd.)
Nishikido collaboration goods (Image courtesy of KURABUN Co., Ltd.)
Nishikido Fukuyama Minami-Zao Store — The story behind developing Fukuyama-exclusive products that brilliantly combine roses and sweets - Bingo Tocotoco

Second are limited-edition menu items featuring strawberries.
Every year, from late February, the adjoining cafe Georges Lapin holds a strawberry fair.

This year, we’ve asked “Art Brut” to create exclusive menu items for Georges Lapin that bring out the best in strawberries from “Kamome Farm.”

Georges Lapin exclusive menu (Image courtesy of KURABUN Co., Ltd.)
Georges Lapin exclusive menu (Image courtesy of KURABUN Co., Ltd.)
Georges Lapin exclusive menu (Image courtesy of KURABUN Co., Ltd.)
Georges Lapin exclusive menu (Image courtesy of KURABUN Co., Ltd.)

Third is live sales and an enhanced sales setup.
This year, “Okayama Kobo Liaison” will be joining us and serving curry bread fried on the spot. We’re sure bread lovers will be satisfied.

Last year, around 200 people lined up before opening, and the bread sold out in just 30 minutes, causing inconvenience to our customers.

Taking that experience to heart, this time we’ll sell in two rounds, starting at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. We’re making thorough preparations so that customers who arrive in the afternoon will also be able to buy some.

Finally, do you have a message for readers planning to attend?

Kozai

The lineup of participating bakeries has changed this year, and we’ve added the new pleasure of anko. There are lots of “Usagiya-exclusive breads” that you can only try at this event, so we hope many customers will come by especially for them.

And since we’re a stationery store, we’d also be delighted if lots of people picked up and enjoyed our special collaboration stationery with Nishikido, one of the event’s highlights.

We look forward to welcoming you.

From the Writer

Bread Marche 2024: Sold-out scene
Bread Marche 2024: Sold-out scene

Okayama Prefecture is said to have high bread consumption, with Soja City known as a city of bread. Still, I was surprised to hear that more than 200 people lined up before opening and everything sold out in about 30 minutes.

They say they’ll prepare enough this year and continue sales in the afternoon, but there’s no doubt it’s best to go early to buy.

“Maybe we should limit the number of items each person can buy, but that would be disappointing for people who’ve made the effort to come.”

From Kozai’s expression as she spoke, I could sense the challenges that come with running such a popular event.

If you enjoy bread or Japanese confectionery, visit Usagiya Kurashiki Store on March 7 or 8.
We hope this event will let as many people as possible enjoy bread and Japanese confectionery.

Articles about Usagiya

Usagiya Bread Marche—Sometimes Anko—2026 Event Information

Bread Marche flyer (Image courtesy of KURABUN Co., Ltd.)
NameUsagiya Bread Marche—Sometimes Anko—2026
Event datesMarch 7 (Sat) and 8 (Sun), 2026
10:00 a.m. until sold out
LocationUsagiya Kurashiki Store
Admission (tax included)Free admission
*Food and drink costs are charged separately.
WebsiteUsagiya Official Website

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Citizen writer who wrote this article
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Toi Kengo

Born in 1979, lives in Kurashiki City
Father of two

While working as a systems engineer, he also takes on various projects, including running a blog and organizing events.

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