We'll be taking a look at the sweets shops in Omotemachi Shopping Arcade. We'll be introducing you to some of the most popular donut shops and cute, pop-style cookie shops, all of which offer delicious sweets.
2024.08.29Omotemachi Shopping Street, located in Kita Ward, Okayama City , is about a 10-minute tram ride from JR Okayama Station (get off at "Joka" on the Okayama Electric Mount Higashiyama). Tenmaya Bus Station, which is directly connected to the shopping street, is served by many buses, making it easily accessible. Popular tourist spots like Okayama Korakuen Garden and Okayama Castle are also within walking distance, making it a popular destination for many visitors every day.
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Table of contents
- 1. New Zealand-style cookie shop "BLAC SHEEP COOKIES"
- 2. Tsumugi Koppe: A fluffy and moist koppepan snack 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, pop cookies, one of their most popular items is a 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, "It's actually a coffee shop." He studied coffee in New Zealand and is also active as a barista. When the owner is there, he will recommend a 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. A warm message from the owner to women is written in English on the wall. The store also cherishes its desire to be a place that cheers up customers, and on the day of our interview, some customers were looking forward to talking to the owner.
[BLAC SHEEP COOKIES]
Address: 1-1-25 Okayama Prefecture, Kita Ward, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture
TEL: 086-235-0088
Business hours: 11:30-17:00 (closes when sold out)
Closed: Tuesdays (may be closed on other days)
Parking: None
BLAC SHEEP COOKIES | Instagram
2. Tsumugi Koppe: A fluffy and moist koppepan snack shop
Tsumugi Koppe offers around 20 different types of bread, from side dishes to snacks. The fluffy koppe bread goes perfectly with sweet whipped cream and fruit. Oyatsu Koppe's standard product is the Low Sugar Tokachi An Butter (300 yen/tax included). The moderately sweet Tokachi An and the rich butter are a 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.
Tsumugi Koppe's bread is characterized by the use of "Monge flour," a wheat flour produced in Okayama Prefecture. The fluffy and moist dough is known as "Angel's Koppe." The lunch box set, which includes your choice of koppe bread, potato salad, fried chicken, and cheese hash browns, is also popular.
The company that operates Tsumugi Koppe is a Type A business that provides continuous employment support for people with disabilities, providing work opportunities and focusing on support activities. 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-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture Kita Ward
TEL: 086-259-0288
Business hours: 10:00-17:00
Closed: Mondays
Parking: None
3. MONSTER YELLOW: The popular Korean-style fresh donut shop
MONSTER YELLOW, which opened on August 10, 2024, is a takeout donut specialty store. People lined up before the store even opened to buy 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 get. (Photo: Chocolate 420 yen/tax included)
In addition to donuts, they also have a drink menu including coffee, iced latte, cola, and ramune. Donuts are sold at 12:00 and 15:00, with a limited quantity of 130 donuts each. They seem to be selling out frequently, so we recommend coming early.
They chose the color yellow, a symbol of energy, with the idea of "energizing Okayama from Nakanomachi." They even named the shop "Monster Yellow" in the hopes 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 Okayama Prefecture, Kita Ward, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture
TEL: 080-7587-5375
Sales hours: 12:00~/15:00~ (ends when sold out)
Closed: Tuesdays
Parking: None
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 around 17 types of drinks and around 4 types of sweets. The "Ochayasan no Uji Matcha Soft Serve" (from 400 yen) is fluffy and melts in your mouth. 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, which is made without refined sugar. It is served with the accompanying thick tea, so you can adjust the strength to your liking. *Matcha Zenzai is only available for eat-in.
The restaurant has striking white walls and features two-person tables and counter seats (seven seats in total). We arrived at opening time at 11am, but it quickly filled up, proving how popular it is. In addition to the classic matcha cream latte, we also recommend lunch options such as enzyme brown rice ochazuke and rice ball sets. "and green tea" offers a menu that uses as many healthy ingredients as possible, and celebrated its first anniversary in August 2024. Starting in the fall, they will be revamping some of their drink and dessert menus, so look forward to the new menu items.
*The sweets introduced this time will be available from autumn onwards.
*Photos provided by the store
[and green tea]
Address: 1-9-43 Okayama Prefecture, Kita Ward, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture
TEL: 080-7262-9470
Business hours: 11:00-18:00
Closed: Tuesdays
Parking: None
5. Basque Cheesecake Specialty Shop "BASKFROMAGE Smiley"
The Basque cheesecake (550 yen/tax included) at takeout-only BASKFROMAGE Smiley is gluten-free and made without wheat flour. All are handmade in-house. You can enjoy six flavors, from the classic plain to pistachio, blueberry, caramel, Earl Grey, and orange. The cheese is made from 100% domestic raw milk, so it's rich and sweet, yet popular enough that even people who don't like cheesecake can enjoy it.
The owner originally served Basque cheesecake at his pizza shop, "PIZZA & PASTA Smiley," which proved so popular that he opened a specialty shop on June 22, 2024. The slightly mature flavor, with a hint of rum, goes well with coffee, tea, and juice. Its smooth texture melts in your mouth, and you'll find yourself munching it down in no time.
[BASKFROMAGE Smiley]
Address: 1F, 3-6-38 Okayama Prefecture, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Kita Ward
TEL: 080-8158-8388
Business hours: 11:00-22:00
Closed: Thursdays
Parking: None
summary
All of the shops introduced here offer takeout, making them perfect for stopping by on your way out during the upcoming tourist season. Omotemachi Shopping Street also 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.
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