Enjoy Okayama right up until the moment you board your Shinkansen or bus at "Hokancho Shopping Street"

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Located a 5-minute walk from JR Okayama Station, the Hokancho Shopping Street is a warm and friendly shopping street with over 100 years of history. Lined with unique cafes and restaurants, it's a great place to enjoy your stay in Okayama until the very end.

Written by

Okayama Prefecture Tourism Federation

Okayama Prefecture is located in the Chuo of Western Japan, and is known as the "Land of Sunshine" due to its warm climate and little rain throughout the year. It is conveniently located halfway between famous tourist spots such as Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima, and is also the gateway to Shikoku via the Great Seto Bridge. Okayama is also known as the "Fruit Kingdom," and the fruits that grow in the warm climate of the Seto Inland Sea and sunshine are of the highest quality in terms of sweetness, aroma, and flavor. You can enjoy seasonal fruits such as white peaches, Muscat grapes, and Pione grapes! Okayama is also home to world-famous tourist spots such as Okayama Castle, Okayama Korakuen Garden, one of Japan's three most famous gardens, and Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, which are renowned for their history, culture, and art!

The origins of the Hokancho Shopping Street are said to date back to when samurai who served the Ikeda Domain started businesses using their retirement money when the domains were abolished and prefectures were established. Inside the arcade and in the Hokancho 1-chome area between Nishiguchisuji (National Athletic Meet Road), a variety of stores such as cafes, bars, local Chinese restaurants, and clothing stores line the shopping street, making it lively.

This time, we'll take a stroll through the shopping district and introduce some interesting cafes and restaurants.

1. The first store of the popular roastery, "ONSAYA COFFEE Hokancho Main Store"

The first store opened in Hokancho in 2008. Unusually for Okayama, they offer five types of light roast coffee, two types of dark roast, decaf and juice. They roast the coffee beans for all stores in their own roaster, and you can sample them. Many people came to buy beans as soon as the store opened, and it was impressive how the staff handled them so courteously.

The shop's name, "ONSAYA," is written in kanji as "Otochaya," and you can enjoy carefully selected coffee in a retro atmosphere while listening to music playing from speakers from the Taisho era.

Although they are currently not serving meals, you can still enjoy waffles, cakes, baked goods, etc. There is also a "drink refill service" that gives you a 200 yen discount on your second drink and onwards, making it a comfortable place where you can easily stay for a while.

[ONSAYA COFFEE Hokancho Main Branch]

Address: 2-9-1 Hokancho, Kita Ward , Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture

TEL: 086-252-1103

Business hours: 11:00-18:00

Closed: Open all year round

Strollers: OK

★Those who bring their Okayama Marathon bib number on November 9, 2024 will receive a 100 yen discount on coffee and iced coffee.

ONSAYA COFFEE｜Official Instagram

2. BAR PASTICCERIA Tomiya: Italian dessert and side dish store

A shop where you can enjoy Italian cakes, baked goods, and side dishes. There are more than 10 kinds of handmade sweets in the shop, which are made to take advantage of the sweetness of the ingredients and go well with alcohol. The "Pumpkin and Orange Custard Cream Pie" (480 yen) in the Chuo is also popular with small children.

There are about eight kinds of Italian side dishes on offer at any time, and Neapolitan lasagna and panino are also popular. Set menus with salad and soup can be ordered at any time, and dessert can be added for an additional 300 yen. Dolce and other dishes are available for takeout, and reservations are not required.

The restaurant has one table for four and some counter seating, and the staff are friendly, making it a very homey atmosphere.

[BAR PASTICCERIA Tomiya]

Address: 2-9-10 Hokancho, Kita Ward , Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture

TEL: 086-289-6346

Business hours: 11:30-18:00 (last order 17:30)

Closed: Wednesdays and Thursdays

Strollers: Folded strollers are OK.

★If you bring your Okayama Marathon bib number on November 9, 2024, you will receive a 100 yen discount on meals or purchases over 1,000 yen.

BAR PASTICCERIA Tomiya | Official Instagram

3. Tamago Hasami-ya: Exquisite rolled egg sandwiches made by a Japanese chef

This rolled omelet egg sandwich is made by a Japanese chef who has trained in hotels and sushi restaurants. It actually uses five eggs, making it very filling. They crack the eggs after an order is placed and serve them hot and fresh. This popular restaurant opened in January 2024 and has even been featured on local television.

The egg sandwich is topped with tartar sauce, mayonnaise, and ketchup, and is accented with the spiciness of chili oil. If you let them know in advance about allergies or food preferences, they will accommodate you, and they will also cut the amount of sauce in half for children.

We also recommend toppings on the plain (600 yen). You can add up to two toppings for 100 yen each. Popular combinations are mentaiko + cheese and salmon + cheese, and the potato salad topping is about 70g, so it's very filling. Phone reservations are also accepted, so you can pick it up smoothly when taking it out (a container fee of 50 yen is required).

[Egg Scissors Shop]

Address: 2-1-16 Hokancho, Kita Ward , Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture

TEL: 090-1010-8338

Business hours: 11:00-19:00 *Ends when stock runs out

Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays

Strollers: OK

★If you bring your Okayama Marathon bib number on November 9, 2024, you will receive a 100 yen discount on all products.

Tamago Scissors Shop｜Official Instagram

4. DESIGN & COFFEE: A coffee shop attached to a design office

This coffee shop, which also has an architectural firm, serves specially selected coffee beans roasted in a wok by the owner, who is also a first-class architect. The coffee, which is roasted medium-dark using a unique method, has a fragrant and refreshing taste.

The walls of the shop are decorated with colorful paintings by artists from Okayama. The 15-seat shop serves coffee and juice, as well as homemade pizza and desserts.

We recommend buying a drink on your way to and from the Okayama Prefectural General Ground, where many sporting events are held. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes on foot from JR Okayama Station to the ground. I got a lemon soda (500 yen/tax included) to go.

It's a 15-20 minute walk from JR Okayama Station to the Okayama Prefectural General Ground. It's also a great place to stop by and buy a takeaway drink after a sporting event. I got a lemon soda (500 yen) to go.

[DESIGN & COFFEE]

Location: 1-4-14 Kita Ward, Kita-ku

TEL: 086-363-1420

Business hours: 11:30-17:00 (last orders 16:30)

Closed: Open everyday

★If you bring your Okayama Marathon bib number on November 9, 2024, all takeaway drinks will be half price

DESIGN＆COFFEE Official Website

summary

Hokanmachi Shopping Street is close to JR Okayama Station, and is a great place to experience Okayama during your sightseeing or business trip. From locally loved shops to newly opened shops, there are many unique shops, and the homey atmosphere is appealing. If you visit Okayama, be sure to stop by Hokanmachi Shopping Street.

Written by

Okayama Prefecture Tourism Federation

Okayama

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