Start Your Kurashiki Historical Quarter Adventure Here!
Kurashiki Historical Quarter—an iconic sightseeing spot in Okayama Prefecture known for its stunning white-plastered buildings.
A 12-minute walk from JR Kurashiki Station, you’ll find yourself on the street leading to the Historical Quarter. At the entrance, you’ll spot people savoring delicious skewered fried treats, signaling the start of their tour.
“This is where the Historical Quarter adventure begins.”
That’s the feeling evoked by Sanoya Main Store, located at the gateway to Kurashiki Historical Quarter. Famous for its oversized fish cake skewers, Sanoya welcomes you with a delightful start to your sightseeing journey.
Sanoya Main Store
Sanoya Main Store is a souvenir shop situated in Kurashiki Historical Quarter, Okayama Prefecture. The shop specializes in fish paste products and local Kurashiki souvenirs.
- Business hours
- 9:30 am - 6:00 pm
- Regular holiday
- Unknown
- Telephone number
- +081-86-422-0048
- Official site
- https://kankou - kurashiki.jp/2020/08/%e4%bd%90%e9%87%8e%e5%b1%8b/
- Parking
- Nearby coin - operated parking available
- How to visit
- 12 - minute walk from JR Kurashiki Station
- Address
- 1 - 1-1 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture 710 - 0046
Giant, Freshly-Fried Fish Cakes to Enjoy On the Go
A must-try at Sanoya is their skewered fish cakes, known as bōten (棒天) for ¥350.
Bōten are fish cakes made from minced fish, shaped into skewers, and deep-fried. In Japan, they’re commonly referred to as “satsuma-age,” though they’re sometimes called “tempura” depending on the region. Since these are “tempura on a stick,” they’re aptly named bōten.
Choose from a variety of flavors, including squid, spicy cod roe with cheese, baby sardines, edamame, shrimp & onion, octopus & ginger, and octopus & green onion.
I ordered the shrimp & onion flavor!
The fluffy texture combined with the sweetness of shrimp and onions fills your mouth with deliciousness.
Though large in size, the fluffiness makes it surprisingly easy to finish. Kurashiki Historical Quarter is full of attractions, and there are plenty of food stalls, making Sanoya an ideal starting point for your walking tour.
The Perfect Start to Your Kurashiki Historical Quarter Tour
Sanoya Main Store is located at a key intersection, effectively marking the entrance to the Kurashiki Historical Quarter (even the intersection is named “Historical Quarter Entrance”). Walking from JR Kurashiki Station, starting your tour from this intersection is the classic route.
Kick off your sightseeing journey with a bōten from Sanoya in hand. You’ll finish it before reaching the many restaurants ahead.
A Few Things to Note
On the other hand, a quick glance at Google reviews reveals numerous complaints about customer service.
However, during my visit, I didn’t experience any such issues. It’s unclear whether this reflects improvements or just good timing, but it might be wise to prepare for potential disappointments so your trip isn’t negatively impacted.
That said, the bōten was truly delicious!
Add Sanoya’s Bōten to Your Kurashiki Historical Quarter Adventure!
Kurashiki Historical Quarter, with its white-walled streets and historical buildings dating back to the Edo period, is a sight to behold.
Sanoya Main Store, located at its entrance, welcomes visitors with its freshly-fried bōten. With a variety of flavors like squid, spicy cod roe, and shrimp, it adds a delightful touch to your Kurashiki tour. Easy to eat and budget-friendly at ¥350, it enhances your sightseeing experience.
Before diving into the historic streets, why not grab a bōten from Sanoya Main Store? It’s the perfect way to kick off your Kurashiki Historical Quarter tour.
