5 Delicious Sweets Specialty Shops to Visit in Okayama City's Omotemachi Shopping Arcade

Omotemachi Shopping Street, located in Kita Ward , Okayama City , is about 10 minutes by tram from JR Okayama Station (get off at "Joka" on the Okayama Electric Tramway Higashiyama Line). In addition, many buses stop at Tenmaya Bus Station, which is directly connected to the shopping street, making it easily accessible. Popular tourist spots such as Okayama Korakuen Garden and Okayama Castle are also within walking distance, so many people visit the area every day.

• Table of Contents
• 1. New Zealand-style cookie shop "BLAC SHEEP COOKIES"
• 2. Tsumugi Koppe: Soft and Moist Snack Koppepan Shop
• 3. MONSTER YELLOW: The popular Korean-style fresh donut shop
• 4. "and green tea" - A health-themed tea and sweets shop
• 5. Basque Cheesecake Specialty Shop "BASKFROMAGE Smiley"
• summary

1. New Zealand-style cookie shop "BLAC SHEEP COOKIES"

At BLAC SHEEP COOKIES, where you can enjoy New Zealand's national snack of pop cookies, one of the most popular items is the frappe topped with a large cookie. From the four flavors available - strawberry, matcha, vanilla caramel, and chocolate - I chose "THE Chocolate & S'more" (1,200 yen/tax included). It is topped with a marshmallow-filled cookie called a "s'more" and chocolate ice cream. The cup it comes in is coated with white chocolate and looks cute! Personally, I was impressed by how delicious the fresh cream was.

There are rows of cookies lined up in the display case, but the owner tells us, "Actually, this is a coffee shop." He studied coffee in New Zealand and is also active as a barista. When the owner is there, he will recommend coffee to suit your taste, so be sure to talk to him.

Although it is a take-out specialty store, waiting seats are also available inside the store. On the wall, there is a heartwarming message from the owner in English for women. In addition, he cherishes his desire to be a store that cheers up customers, and on the day of the interview, there were customers who came looking forward to talking with the owner.

[BLAC SHEEP COOKIES]

Address: 1-1-25 Omotemachi, Kita-ku , Okayama City, Kita Ward

TEL: 086-235-0088

Business hours: 11:30-17:00 (closes when sold out)

Closed: Tuesdays (and other irregular holidays)

Parking: None

BLAC SHEEP COOKIES | Instagram

2. Tsumugi Koppe: Soft and Moist Snack Koppepan Shop

"Tsumugi Koppe" offers about 20 types of bread, from side dishes to snacks. The fluffy bread goes perfectly with sweet whipped cream and fruit. Oyatsu Koppe's standard product is "Low Sugar Tokachi Anko Butter" (300 yen / tax included). The moderately sweet Tokachi Anko and the rich butter are the perfect match. It's a forbidden deliciousness.

The seasonal "White Peach Cream" (360 yen / tax included) and "Shine Muscat Coppe" (360 yen / tax included) are products unique to Okayama (while supplies last). Mont Blanc Coppe will also be on sale from autumn.

The distinctive feature of "Tsumugi Koppe" bread is that it uses "Monge flour" flour produced in Okayama Prefecture. The fluffy and moist dough is called "Angel Koppe". The lunch box set, which includes your choice of koppe bread, potato salad, deep-fried chicken, and cheese hash browns, is also popular.

The company that operates "Tsumugi Koppe" is a Type A business that provides employment support for people with disabilities, and is committed to providing work opportunities to people with disabilities. There are three stores in Okayama City, including the Okayama Symphony store in the Omotemachi shopping arcade. We recommend the Koppepan, which can be enjoyed by both children and adults.

[Tsumugi Koppe Okayama Symphony Store]

Address: Okayama Symphony Building 1F, 1-5-1 Omotemachi, Kita Ward , Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture

TEL: 086-259-0288

Business hours: 10:00-17:00

Closed: Mondays

Parking: None

Tsumugi Koppe | Instagram

3. MONSTER YELLOW: The popular Korean-style fresh donut shop

MONSTER YELLOW, which will open on August 10, 2024, is a take-out donut store. People lined up before the store opened in search of their cute-looking Korean-style fresh donuts. These chewy donuts come in eight flavors, including plain, custard, strawberry, matcha, chocolate, and chocolate banana, so it's hard to decide which one to choose. (Photo: Chocolate 420 yen/tax included)

Besides donuts, they also have a drink menu, including coffee, iced latte, cola, and ramune. Donuts are sold at 12:00 and 15:00, and are limited to 130 pieces each. They seem to be selling out all the time, so we recommend coming early.

They adopted the color yellow, which symbolizes energy, with the idea of "energizing Okayama from Nakanomachi." Furthermore, they named the shop "Monster Yellow" in the hope of delivering monster-level energy. The cute-looking and delicious donuts are sure to put you in a good mood! If you're interested in Korean culture and sweets, be sure to visit.

[MONSTER YELLOW]

Address: 1-10-6 Omotemachi, Kita-ku , Okayama City, Kita Ward

TEL: 080-7587-5375

Sales hours: 12:00~/15:00~ (ends when sold out)

Closed: Tuesdays

Parking: None

MONSTER YELLOW｜Instagram

4. "and green tea" - A health-themed tea and sweets shop

At "and green tea," which is available for both eat-in and take-out, you can enjoy about 17 types of drinks and about 4 types of sweets. "Ocha-ya no Uji Matcha Soft Serve" (from 400 yen) is fluffy and smooth to the touch. You can choose from two types of cones: gluten-free cones made from rice flour and brown rice flour from Okayama Prefecture, and cones made with bamboo charcoal.

The "Matcha Zenzai" (650 yen/tax included) topped with rich vanilla ice cream is made with additive-free SHIRURERI bean paste that is free of refined sugar. It is eaten with the thick tea that comes separately, so you can adjust the strength to your liking. *The "Matcha Zenzai" is only available for eat-in.

The impressive white-walled interior features tables for two and counter seats (7 seats in total). We visited at 11am when the restaurant opens, but it quickly filled up, proving how popular it is. In addition to the standard drink, matcha cream latte, we also recommend lunch dishes such as enzyme brown rice ochazuke and rice ball sets. "and green tea" offers a menu using ingredients that are as healthy as possible, and celebrated its first anniversary in August 2024. Starting this fall, some of the drinks and sweets menu will be renewed, so look forward to the new menu.

*The sweets introduced this time will be available from autumn onwards

*Photos provided by the store.

[and green tea]

Address: 1-9-43 Omotemachi, Kita-ku , Okayama City, Kita Ward

TEL: 080-7262-9470

Business hours: 11:00-18:00

Closed: Tuesdays

Parking: None

and green tea｜Instagram

5. Basque Cheesecake Specialty Shop "BASKFROMAGE Smiley"

The Basque cheesecake (550 yen/tax included) at takeout specialty shop BASKFROMAGE Smiley is gluten-free and does not use wheat flour. It is all handmade in the store. You can enjoy six different flavors, from the classic plain to pistachio, blueberry, caramel, Earl Grey, and orange. It is made with cheese made from 100% domestic raw milk, so it is rich and sweet, yet popular even for people who don't like cheesecake.

The owner originally served Basque cheesecake at his pizza shop, "PIZZA&PASTA Smiley," which proved extremely popular, so he opened a specialty store on June 22, 2024. The slightly mature flavor, with a hint of rum, goes well with coffee, tea, and juice. The smooth texture melts in your mouth, and you'll finish it in no time.

[BASKFROMAGE Smiley]

Address: 1F, 3-6-38 Omotemachi, Kita- Okayama City Kita Ward

TEL: 080-8158-8388

Business hours: 11:00-22:00

Closed: Thursday

Parking: None

BASKFROMAGE Smiley｜Instagram

summary

All the shops introduced in this article offer takeout, so they are perfect for stopping by on your way out during the upcoming tourist season. Also, Omotemachi Shopping Street has an arcade, so you can move around comfortably even on rainy days. Be sure to visit Omotemachi Shopping Street and check out the sweets shops that interest you.