Shodoshima is a lively and lively area with new shops and hot spots opening every year. In recent years, young people have moved to the island, and food and select shops that make use of the island's unique natural environment have opened, as well as sophisticated and attractive inns. I visited Shodoshima as it is now.
Utilizing the space of a former somen factory
Attractive cafes and select shops created by the new generation
Shodoshima is full of energy, with events such as the Setouchi Triennale. On the other hand, it is also true that the problems facing Japan, such as population decline, are close at hand. However, in recent years, an increasing number of young people have moved to Shodoshima and started businesses such as cafes and select shops, capitalizing on the island's heritage.
The kitchen "UCHINKU" is one of them. UCHINKU is a dialect word that means home. The bright cafe and kitchen, which is a renovated former somen factory, is flooded with light from wide windows and serves creative dishes made with island ingredients. There are three to four creative lunch options, such as a plate of thick somen noodles and Thai-style green curry. Both the hamburgers and sweets are delicious. The owner and chef, Makoto Nishimoto, is from Kyoto and fulfilled his dream of owning his own restaurant by the age of 3 here. "Shodoshima is an island that can only be reached by boat. That's why it has a special sense of excitement. This is a store with the hope that people can relax and enjoy the island."
The ``delicatessen'' lunch menu features an assortment of mackerel frites, homemade herb pork and vegetables, and homemade bread.
Mr. and Mrs. Nishimoto of UCHINKU. The homemade bread baked by his wife Rika, who is from Shodoshima, is also delicious.
Kitchen UCHINKU
Creative cuisine made with plenty of fresh ingredients from Shodoshima is popular.
11:30~15:30(LUNCH 14:00)、18:00~22:00
Closed on Tuesdays (irregular holidays)
235-6 Yasuda Ko, Shodoshima Town
Tel: 0879-62-8116
A unique aesthetic eye shines
A select shop with unique items
Usukehare is a select shop located in the dense mountains of the Nakata district. This place was also a former somen factory. We carry sophisticated items such as clothing, accessories, and miscellaneous goods selected with a unique sense of aesthetics, and we also hold planned exhibitions and sales based on themes. There is also a cafe inside the store, which is the perfect space to enjoy a quiet cup of tea. There is a fan on the ceiling to dry the noodles, and the shelves used to store the noodles are used for display. The remains of a somen factory create a rustic atmosphere, creating a gentle and creative space. The name of the restaurant comes from the name of the original noodle workshop, Usuke, combined with the words ``ke'' and ``hare,'' resulting in ``Usuke Hare.'' This store is suitable for both everyday life and special occasions. The boar fur pouches and bags are originals made by the owner and have a wild beauty to them.
Clothes, pottery, and miscellaneous goods selected by the Uesugi couple's aesthetic sense are available.
There is also a cafe, a space where you can relax and shop. Relax in the tranquility of Satoyama.
A pouch made of boar hair with a unique wild texture and luster.
Mr. and Mrs. Uesugi are the owners of Usukehare.
Usukehare
A select shop with a cafe attached. It is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but depending on the season it may be open seven days a week, so check the website.
https://www.usuqefare.com/
The colors, sounds, scents, and tastes of the sea,
Enjoy Shodoshima with your whole body,
The long-awaited inn “Umiotomari”
Shima Yadomari is located on a corner lined with soy sauce breweries and allows you to experience the charm of Shodoshima with all five senses. The eight-room inn, which is a beautifully renovated old folk house, has been praised for its sophisticated hospitality and hospitality. In April 2019, ``Umiotomari'' opened as a villa on the shore of the nearby Tanoura Peninsula. All six rooms, including two separate guest rooms, are elegantly appointed with a fusion of Japanese and Western styles, and welcome guests with thoughtful hospitality from every corner.
Located in a location overlooking Tanoura, you can feel the ocean close up.
The sea can be seen from the modern and calm guest rooms. Enjoy a luxurious time watching the ever-changing colors of the sky and sea.
Meals are served in a dining space with a terrace facing the sea, and in the evening we have an ``olive kaiseki'' meal. A total of 10 dishes, featuring seasonal ingredients from the Seto Inland Sea, sushi and charcoal-grilled dishes, flow in a flowing sequence, allowing you to enjoy the essence of Shodoshima with your eyes and tongue, the sound of the ocean, and the changing light.
An assortment of appetizers made with plenty of island ingredients such as carrots, olive sesame tofu, and olive local chicken.
"Nishigai" is harvested from the Seto Inland Sea. Somen noodles covered in shellfish soup are hidden underneath.
Charcoal-grilled Sanuki olive beef, Sanuki salmon, and island vegetables.
A modern restaurant with a spacious open kitchen and views of the ocean.
Mari Kaito
There is also a shop called ``Sanpusha'' with homemade food and miscellaneous goods, and a beauty salon ``Shimajuku Esthe'' where you can experience the blessings of olives with your entire body.
https://uminoshijima.com/
Art and nature's blessings
Nostalgia and newness
A trip to Shodoshima that satisfies the soul
I visited Shodoshima for the Setouchi Triennale. The trip to see the artworks was full of fresh surprises and fun. The terraced rice fields and the rural Kabuki stage seen in the distance told us about the tradition and richness of the island in a majestic and beautiful manner. The sensibilities of a youthful era are alive in the cafes and select shops. What remains most memorable is the time we spent crossing the ocean by boat. I went there with a sense of anticipation in my heart. Return home with a sense of fulfillment from your trip. Even if it takes only 30 minutes by high-speed boat or 1 hour by ferry, this sea shows you Japan itself like a folding screen painting. The Seto Inland Sea, which evokes a nostalgic and warm feeling in everyone, awaits travelers in a relaxing and quiet environment.
(Titles omitted)
Interview cooperation: Shodoshima Town Hall
→ Sea, sky, and land, to Shodoshima, the island of art (Part 1)へ
→ Sea, sky, and land, to Shodoshima, the island of art (Part 2)へ
Photography by Noriko Kawase
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