Introducing takeaway shops and picnic spots around Okayama Korakuen Garden

Take-out lunches and side dishes

Spring is here and the weather is pleasantly warm. It's the perfect season to enjoy the outdoors with takeout lunches and side dishes. In fact, the area around Okayama Korakuen Garden, the pride of Okayama Prefecture, is dotted with recommended picnic spots, such as the Asahikawa riverbed and the Korakuen walking trails. In this article, we will introduce restaurants that offer takeout and recommended spots to enjoy a picnic with family and friends.

• Table of Contents
• 1. Cantonese cuisine
• 2. Freshly made delicacies
• 3. SALT-Ishikawa Restaurant
• 4. Frurela, an additive-free dessert
• Recommended picnic spots
• 1. Mizunote-suji Promenade
• 2. Asahikawa riverbed on the east side of Korakuen
• 3. Okayama Korakuen Garden
• 4. Okayama Prefectural Library
• 5. Walking path near the south gate of Korakuen
• summary

1. Cantonese cuisine

When talking about the famous pork buns in Okayama Prefecture, it must be "Yamachin's Pork Buns". It is so popular that online orders can take up to two years to order, and it has been loved by the people of the prefecture for over 60 years. The main store of Yamachin is located near the Okayama Prefectural Office and Okayama Prefectural Library. Lunch boxes and side dishes are also available for takeout.

Sanchin, which was originally a Chinese restaurant, offers over 20 types of bento boxes, including Chinese bento boxes with several side dishes and fried rice bento boxes, as well as over 10 types of side dishes. For parties and picnics with large groups, you can also order "Chinese hors d'oeuvre" party sets to suit your budget.

Middle: Fried noodles (730 yen / tax included) Top right: Gomoku fried rice (830 yen / tax included)

Sanchin's bento boxes are very filling. Sanchin's main store is open from 10:00, but some bento boxes, such as rice bowls and noodles, can be picked up from 11:00.

[Cantonese cuisine, Sanchin main store]

Address: 2-12-22 Marunouchi, Kita Ward, Okayama City

TEL: 086-222-2316

Business hours: 10:00-17:00

Unmanned sales: 17:00 to 10:00 the next morning

Closed: Mondays

Parking: None

Strollers: OK

Cantonese cuisine Sanchin official website

2. Freshly made delicacies

A specialty store for prepared foods that opened in November 2022. Founded in 1929, Okayama's long-established kamaboko shop, Haseui Shoten, offers prepared foods and bento boxes made with seasonal ingredients. Haseui's kamaboko and bento boxes are lined up, focusing on familiar Japanese dishes such as simmered hijiki and udon noodles. Gyorokkake, a deep-fried fish paste, is made in-house and is a popular item.

There are always 8 to 10 different kinds of bento boxes on display. They are all beautifully colored, so choosing which one to get is fun. Every bento box contains kamaboko, a unique feature of Hasei.

Middle: Nori bento (972 yen / tax included) Top right: Fish lokke (356 yen / tax included)

I chose the most popular "Nori bento". There are so many side dishes that you can't even see the rice! All the ingredients are Japanese, so it's recommended for tourists from overseas. The rice used is from Okayama Prefecture.

【Hasegawa's delicacies】

Address: 2-3-1 Uchiyamashita, Kita- Uchisange, Kita Ward Okayama City

TEL: 086-230-2212

Business hours: Monday to Friday: 11:00-19:00 / Saturday and public holidays: 11:00-17:00

Closed: Sunday

Parking: None

Strollers: OK

Hasei's Delicious Foods Official Website

3. SALT-Ishikawa Restaurant

Located right next to the Okayama Prefectural Library, SALT-Ishikawa Shokudo uses as many ingredients from Okayama Prefecture as possible and serves dishes that bring out the natural flavors of the ingredients. It's a popular restaurant that's always full when you visit for weekday lunch.

Photo: Lunch box/Kurumafu cutlet (1,250 yen/tax included)

The shop only has counter seats, so if you have small children, we recommend the take-out bento boxes.

You can enjoy the taste of SALT-Ishikawa Shokudo, such as a bento box containing a main dish, 3-4 seasonal side dishes, brown rice, and pickles, as well as a curry bento. If you make a reservation up to 4 days in advance, you can order hors d'oeuvres with a variety of seasonal side dishes. It is recommended for picnics as it can be shared by a large group.

Please make a reservation in advance for take-out menu items by phone. (Some photos have been provided.)

[SALT-Ishikawa Restaurant]

Address: 1F, 2-12-14 Marunouchi, Kita Ward, Okayama City

TEL: 086-238-9910

Business hours: 11:30-14:00/17:30-21:00

Closed: Sunday nights and Mondays

Strollers: Not allowed

SALT-Ishikawa Shokudo Official Website

4. Frurela, an additive-free dessert

Fururira offers desserts and bento boxes that are as handmade as possible, using additive-free ingredients so that even small children can eat them with peace of mind. They are particular about using no additives and only pesticide-free or reduced-pesticide fruits, rice, and vegetables.

Left: Okayama Prefecture grown pesticide-free strawberry mini parfait (800 yen / tax included) Right: Strawberry milk ice (750 yen / tax included)

Mini parfaits and other sweets are also available for takeout. The photo shows the "Strawberry Milk Ice" recommended by the staff. It is packed with nutrition as it is made from milk from healthy cows that are naturally pastured! The milk is frozen and shaved into rich milk ice, which is topped with 100% strawberry sauce. It's perfect for the coming season. Fururira uses pesticide-free rice and offers daily bento boxes with no additives, including seasonings, as well as nutritious germinated and fermented brown rice rice balls.

(Some services, such as lunch boxes, are suspended during the summer) (Some photos have been provided by us)

[Additive-free dessert Frurela]

Address: 2-12-16 Marunouchi, Kita Ward, Okayama City

TEL: 050-8882-9350

Business hours: 11:30-19:00

Closed: Mondays

Strollers: OK

Additive-free dessert Frurela official website

Recommended picnic spots

We will introduce some recommended picnic spots around Okayama Korakuen Garden. We visited the places we are introducing this time with our one-year-old baby in a stroller, so you can enjoy them as picnic spots or walking courses with your baby.

1. Mizunote-suji Promenade

About a 3-minute walk from Saidaiji-cho on the Okayama Electric Tramway Higashiyama Line is the venue for the Bizen Okayama Kyobashi Morning Market, which is held on the first Sunday of every month. Along the river, there is a promenade that is perfect for a picnic. With the Asahikawa River right in front of you, it's a great place to feel the spring breeze. There are also public toilets near the Kyobashi Morning Market venue, so you can rest assured.

If you head towards Aioibashi from Kyobashi, you will feel the fresh breeze and the open view along the river, which is a great place for a walk. There are benches dotted along the promenade, and it is also a place of relaxation for office workers on weekdays.

[Mizunotesuji Promenade]

Location: Along the Asahikawa River, around Kyobashi and Aioibashi

Toilet: Yes

Parking: There is a paid parking lot nearby

2. Asahikawa riverbed on the east side of Korakuen

The Asahikawa riverbed, which is also the location of the Okayama Sakura Carnival, which is crowded with many people during cherry blossom season, is a recommended spot for picnics. There is plenty of space even if you pitch a large tent. People who enjoy barbecues can also enjoy this area.

[Asahikawa riverbank on the east side of Korakuen]

Location: Asahikawa riverbed around Horaibashi and Aioibashi

Toilets: None

Parking: None

3. Okayama Korakuen Garden

Okayama Korakuen Garden, one of the three most famous gardens in Japan, is a representative feudal garden of the Edo period. Korakuen has a history of over 300 years, but you can actually bring your own lunch to enjoy it. Part of the beautifully maintained lawn area is open to the public, so you can see people spreading out sheets and enjoying picnics.

In the east plaza near Chaso-do, there are tables and benches, and it is a great spot to view Okayama Castle. You can also spread out a picnic blanket. Okayama Korakuen Garden, so you can enjoy a picnic while feeling the history. Highly recommended.

◎Event information: The Spring FANTASY GARDEN（GENSO-TEIEN） will be held from April 26th (Friday) to May 6th (Monday, holiday), 2024, so you can enjoy the illuminated Korakuen at night.

[Okayama Korakuen Garden ]

Address: 1-5 Korakuen, Kita- Kita Ward, Okayama City

TEL: 086-272-1148

Admission fee: 15-64 years old (excluding junior and senior high school students) 410 yen / 65 years old and over 140 yen Closed days: None

Opening hours: March 20th to September 30th 7:30 to 18:00 (entrance until 17:45) / October 1st to March 19th 8:00 to 17:00 (entrance until 16:45)

Toilet: Yes

Parking: Available

Okayama Korakuen Garden

4. Okayama Prefectural Library

At the lawn area of ​​Okayama Prefectural Library, you can spread out a sheet and enjoy your lunch. There are also tables set up, and it is a relaxing area surrounded by plants and trees. There is also a cafe inside the library where you can enjoy light meals such as pancakes and baked goods. There are also many books about the culture and tourism of Okayama Prefecture, so be sure to stop by.

[Okayama Prefectural Library]

Address: 2-6-30 Marunouchi , Kita Ward, Okayama City

TEL: 086-224-1286

Business hours: Tuesday to Friday 9:00-19:00, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays 10:00-18:00

Closed: Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a public holiday), New Year's holidays, and other temporary closures

*Please check the official website for details.

Toilet: Yes

Parking: Available

Okayama Prefectural Library Official Website

5. Walking path near the south gate of Korakuen

There is a walking path that goes around the perimeter of Korakuen. If you go downstream from the south gate of Korakuen, you will come to a spot where you can see Okayama Castle. If you sit on a bench, you can't see Okayama Castle because of the vegetation, but it's perfect for a short break. As you go along the walking path, you will come across a beautiful plaza with large trees and benches where you can rest under the cherry blossom trees, making it a great place for a walk or picnic.

[Walking path near the south gate of Korakuen]

Location: Near the South Gate of Korakuen

Toilets: None

Parking: Use the Korakuen parking lot

summary

The picnic spots introduced here are also recommended for a stroll. The promenade from Kyobashi to Aioibashi is about 500m long, and walking along the river is refreshing. From the lawn plaza of Okayama Prefectural Library to Okayama Castle , you can simply cross the crosswalk. Why not take in the view of Okayama City from the castle tower of Okayama Castle and stroll through the beautiful gardens of Korakuen?