JR Okayama Station / A complete guide to the Shinkansen ticket gates [3rd floor platform floor]

• Table of Contents
• Seven-Eleven kiosk (banner platform)
• Encounter with the Hikari Railstar
• Station bento, souvenir and drink shop
• Shinkansen ice cream vending machine
• Bukkake Udon "Furuichi"
• Wrapping vending machine
• Seventeen Ice Vending Machine (Kudari Home)
• View of Momotaro Boulevard
• Waiting area
• Seven-Eleven kiosk (downhill platform)

Seven-Eleven kiosk (banner platform)

First, let's start with the uphill platform for Tokyo and Osaka (platforms 23 and 24). In front of the uphill escalators and stairs is an indoor 7-Eleven. There are conveniently placed products you may want to purchase before Seto Inland Sea, such as the Chu-Hi series made with fruits from the Setouchi region. As you head towards Tokyo, you will find a shelter from the wind and rain, elevators, and a smoking area.

[Platform for trains bound for Osaka and Tokyo]

◎ Seven-Eleven, up escalator: Near car 10 (16-car train) and car 6 (8-car train)

◎ Elevator: Near car 11 (16-car train) and car 7 (8-car train)

◎ Waiting area: Near car 12 (16-car train) and car 8 (8-car train)

[Seven-Eleven Kiosk Nobori Home Store]

Business hours: 7:00-20:30

TEL:086-211-8556

Encounter with the Hikari Railstar

Luckily, JR West's own Shinkansen, the Hikari Railstar, was parked at platform 21. There are rumors that it may soon be retired, and the number of trains running has been reduced, but I was able to catch the first morning service in Okayama. This lucky encounter gave me a feeling that today would be a good day.

Station bento, souvenir and drink shop

Let's head towards Hiroshima from the down escalator located in the Chuo of the platform. There is a shop that specializes in ekiben and souvenirs. There are samples of souvenirs that represent Okayama, such as Otemanju, Takasebune Yokan, and Murasuzume, lined up, and you can order by number to make a smooth purchase.

[Tokyo/Osaka bound platform] ◎Down escalator → Near car 8 (16-car train) and car 4 (8-car train)

◎Souvenir and drink shop → Near car 7 (16-car train) and car 3 (8-car train)

[Souvenir Street Okayama Shinkansen Upbound Shop]

Business hours: 7:00-21:00

TEL:086-221-8552

Shinkansen ice cream vending machine

If you continue towards Hiroshima from the bento and souvenir shops, you will find a vending machine selling Shinkansen ice cream, which once garnered attention as "Amazingly Hard Ice Cream." These vending machines have been installed at Nozomi stations to coincide with the discontinuation of wagon sales in 2023. As the ice cream is not cooled with dry ice like the one sold on the train, it is not as hard as the original, but it is still just the right firmness to enjoy.

In addition to the classic vanilla, you can choose from a variety of flavors, including strawberry and matcha. Be especially careful not to forget to take a spoon. There are plenty of spoons available at the outlet. [Platform for Tokyo and Osaka]

◎ Shinkansen ice cream vending machine → Near car 6 (16-car train) and car 2 (8-car train)

Bukkake Udon "Furuichi"

I also found a store of "Furuichi", a bukkake udon restaurant, also known as "Marubu", which is popular as Kurashiki udon. After paying at the ticket machine outside, I went inside the restaurant. The udon was served as soon as I handed over the ticket. It was served with shredded seaweed, quail eggs, and a sweet and spicy sauce with wasabi dissolved in it. It was exceptionally delicious.

Of course you can eat and drink inside the restaurant, but you can also bring the bukkake udon menu onto the Shinkansen. Because it comes in a deep container with a sturdy lid, you can eat it safely and deliciously even in your Shinkansen seat.

[Platform for Tokyo and Osaka]

◎ Bukkake Furuichi (JR Okayama Station Shinkansen Upbound Platform Store) → Near Car 5 (16-car train) and Car 1 (8-car train)

Business hours: 9:00-19:00

TEL:086-212-0050

Bukkake Udon

Wrapping vending machine

At the end of the platform (towards Hiroshima), there is a three-unit wrapping vending machine. It sells Okayama nori-ten (seaweed tempura) for when you're feeling a bit hungry, and drinks made with local fruits. You can also take home frozen local delicacies such as horumon udon and matsuri-zushi.

I Kibi Dango a box of six Kibidango (sweet bean dumplings) from a snack vending machine. It is a product of Yamawaki Sangetsudo, a Kibi Dango Kibidango (sweet bean dumpling) store founded in 1881 that also produces a health-conscious Japanese cafe called "Mame to Mochi." The packaging design of the Kibi Dango is both sophisticated and cute.

[Platform for Tokyo and Osaka]

◎Wrapping vending machines → Near car 4 (16-car train) and car 1 (8-car train)

Seventeen Ice Vending Machine (Kudari Home)

Next, we will introduce the outbound platform for platforms 21 and 22 (for Hiroshima and Hakata). Right in front of the upbound escalator is a vending machine for the beloved Seventeen Ice Cream. It is an attractive sight that you cannot pass up once you see it, and families were queuing up to get in. Behind it are an elevator, stairs, and a smoking area. [Platform for Hiroshima and Hakata]

◎ Seventeen Ice vending machine → Near car 11 (16-car train) and car 7 (8-car train)

View of Momotaro Boulevard

From platform 21, you can get a panoramic view of the tramway and Momotaro Boulevard in front of JR Okayama Station (East Exit). A tramway project is currently underway in front of the station, scheduled for completion in 2026. Please note that the famous Momotaro statue has been relocated to near McDonald's on the first floor of Sunste.

Waiting area

There is also a comfortable glass-enclosed waiting room on the outbound platform, allowing passengers to wait for their train in comfort, avoiding the heat of summer and the cold of winter.

[Hiroshima/Hakata bound platform] ◎ Waiting room → Near car 9 (16-car train) and car 5 (8-car train)

Seven-Eleven kiosk (downhill platform)

There is also a 7-Eleven kiosk on the outbound platform. Souvenirs and snacks are lined up on three sides, and they also sell "Kajitani's Cigar Fries," a biscuit snack that originated in Kurashiki. Behind the 7-Eleven, there is also a vending machine for Shinkansen ice cream and cup drinks. [Platform for Hiroshima and Hakata]

◎ Seven-Eleven kiosk → Near car 7 (16-car train) and car 3 (8-car train)

[Seven-Eleven Kiosk Kudari Home Store]

Business hours: 7:30-20:30

TEL:086-227-7768