Are you familiar with the currently trending "salt ramen" in the Kojima area of Kurashiki City , Okayama Prefecture ? Kojima has long been a town that prospered from salt production. In recent years, the "Salt Connection Project" has been underway to revitalize the region using salt. "Kojima Shio Ramen" was born from this project.
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Okayama Prefecture is located in the Center of Western Japan and is known as the "Land of Sunshine" due to its warm climate and little rain throughout the year. It's conveniently located halfway between famous tourist destinations like Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima! It's also the gateway to Shikoku via the Seto. Okayama is also known as the "Fruit Okayama," and the fruits that are sun-drenched in the warm climate of the Setouchi are of the highest quality in terms of sweetness, aroma, and flavor. You can enjoy seasonal fruits such as white peaches, Muscat grapes, and Pione grapes! Okayama is also home to world-class tourist spots, including Okayama Castle, Okayama Korakuen Garden, one of Japan's three most famous gardens, and Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, which boasts history, culture, and art!
Why is Kojima known as the "Salt Town"? The History of Salt Production
Kojima is an area located in the southern part of Kurashiki City , Okayama Prefecture Prefecture. In the past, it was an island floating in the Seto Inland Sea. As a result, salt production has flourished there since ancient times, and it is known as the "town of salt fields." A salt field is a large area of land used to produce salt using seawater. It is said that there is a description of Kojima's salt in the Nihon Koki, a historical record compiled by the imperial court at the beginning of the Heian period.
A key figure in the history of Kojima salt is Buzaemon Nozaki (1789-1864). In 1827, he obtained permission from the Okayama Domain (a regional territory during the Edo period) to start his salt production business. He is known as the "Salt King of Japan" for creating a vast salt field in his lifetime. In Kojima, there are the "The Nozaki Family Historic Residence" and the "Nozaki Family Salt Field History Museum," where visitors can learn about the life and customs of that time.
What is the Kurashiki Kojima Musubi (Salt Knot) Project?
The "Kurashiki Kojima Enmusubi Project" began with a focus on this salt. The name "salt connection" embodies the meaning of people, businesses, and the community forging new connections through salt. The writer spoke to Tatsuya Komatsubara of the Kojima Chamber of Commerce and Industry (an organization that supports local businesses) about this project.
Originally, Kojima had few souvenirs that people could easily buy and give away. At that time, Shimotsui Electric Railway (a local railway and bus company) made a suggestion, and the idea was born: "Kojima is known for its salt. Why not make salt a tourist attraction?" The first product created was " Salt King Nozaki Family Salt(Shimotsui Electric Railway Private Brand)," developed by The Nozaki Family Historic Residence(Naikai Salt Industry Co., Ltd.) and Shimotsui Electric Railway. In the first year, they proceeded with creating souvenirs and products using this salt, consulting with businesses in Kurashiki, Kojima, and inside and outside Okayama Prefecture . In the second year, " Kojima Shio Ramen " was born from the desire to "let people actually come to Kojima and experience the salt." In the third year, they held an event with salt as the theme, and related events are also planned for the fourth year, 2026.
What is Kojima Shio Ramen?
"Kojima Shio Ramen" was born in 2024 as a new local specialty of Kojima. Participating restaurants in Kojima each create their own unique bowl of ramen. There is only one common rule: use "Salt King Nozaki Family Salt). Everything else is up to the restaurant, so the taste and appearance differ from restaurant to restaurant, making it fun to compare them.
As of September 2026, there are nine restaurants where you can eat Kojima Shio Ramen: "Shiomen Mizuki", "Nidaime Menya Yujiro", "Konoike Service Area (Upbound and Downbound)", "Soup Bar 8 by setoiro", "Miyoshi Restaurant Kojima", "Kin'u RAMEN STELLAR EXPERIENCE", "Okonomiya", and "Setouchi no Aji Seika". There are also promotional signs at Kojima Station, and all the ramen looks delicious. The writer actually visited a few of the restaurants that caught their attention.
Approximately 5 minutes on foot from Kojima Station: Salt ramen at Kin-u RAMEN STELLAR EXPERIENCE
"Kin'u RAMEN STELLAR EXPERIENCE" is located about a 5-minute walk from JR Kojima Station. Because it's so close to the station, it's a great place to try Kojima Shio Ramen for the first time. It opened at the end of October 2025 in Kojima 7th Street (a shopping street near Kojima Station). For a description of the ramen, I'll quote from the Shio Musubi Project official website, as their description is very clear.
*The following is an excerpt from the Shio Musubi Project's official website (some wording has been adjusted for readability).
"Our restaurant prides itself on its homemade noodles and clean, elegant soup. We offer two types of soup: soy sauce and salt. Our salt ramen, in particular, is a refined bowl that shines with a golden hue. It's packed with the umami of the sea, using bonito flakes, horse mackerel flakes, and kelp. We use Kojima salt for the base salt sauce, and add sake, white wine, and white soy sauce to create a deep flavor. The aromatic oil, based on olive oil, has a gentle yet robust taste. The fragrant, thin, homemade noodles are perfectly coated in the soup. We are particular about our ingredients, such as the moist and tender roast pork-style char siu, which has its flavor locked in by vacuum low-temperature cooking, and the soft bamboo shoots. This is a refined Kojima Shio Ramen."
(End of quote)
When you actually eat it, the green onions and mitsuba (a Japanese aromatic vegetable with a refreshing scent) as condiments cleanse your palate. The char siu and menma are also large and satisfying. Since it's a salt-based ramen, the overall taste is light, and the fact that you can fully enjoy the flavors of the ingredients is also appealing.
[Kin-u RAMEN STELLAR EXPERIENCE ]
Location: 2-10-26 Kojima Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture
Opening hours: 11:00 - 14:30 (Last order 14:00)
Closed on Wednesdays and Sundays
Parking: None (Free parking available nearby)
Golden Crow RAMEN STELLAR EXPERIENCE | Official Instagram
Worth the drive: Kojima Shio Ramen at Nidaime Menya Yujiro
Next up is a restaurant recommended by an acquaintance who lives in Kojima. It's a bit of a distance from Kojima Station, so I recommend going by car. But it was definitely worth the trip.
*The following is an excerpt from the Shio Musubi Project's official website (some wording has been adjusted for readability).
"This restaurant is famous for its pork bone-based miso ramen. They offer a wide variety of miso types, including green miso, black miso, yellow miso, red miso, medium miso, and white miso. Among them, the Kojima Shio Ramen(1,020 yen) is a sophisticated dish favored by connoisseurs. Oku the rich umami of the pork bone broth, a refreshing taste and saltiness spread. Yuzu peel and Washu nori (seaweed from Kojima Prefecture) from Shimotsui (a fishing port town in Okayama) play supporting roles that enhance the flavor. The chicken chashu also goes perfectly with the soup, and the tender chashu and boiled egg are a welcome bonus. With such a wide variety of menu items, it would be fun to choose a different bowl each day and find your favorite. Of course, I recommend the Kojima Shio Ramen."
(End of quote)
The basic "regular serving" comes with all the toppings, including the boiled egg, so the portion size is more than enough. The only garnish is mitsuba (Japanese parsley), and they intentionally use mitsuba instead of green onions because the aroma would be too strong for the light flavor of the salt ramen. I was impressed by this thoughtful attention to detail. The yuzu peel in the soup also works well, and there are many clever touches that make it refreshing to eat, making it a wonderful bowl of ramen.
[Nidaime Menya Yujiro ]
Location: 4-13-56 Kojima, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture
Phone number: 080-8898-5574
Opening hours: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM *Please check our social media for evening hours.
Closed on Sundays
Parking: Available (7 spaces)
A meal the whole family can enjoy: Chicken and vegetable ramen at Miyoshino Restaurant Kojima.
Miyoshi Restaurant is located on the second floor of Miyoshi Happytown Kojima(a local shopping center). It's an old-fashioned family restaurant with spacious seating, perfect for families to enjoy a meal together. The menu is extensive, and everything looked delicious. This restaurant's Kojima Shio Ramen is called "Chicken Salt Vegetable Ramen."
*The following is an excerpt from the Shio Musubi Project's official website (some wording has been adjusted for readability).
"Located on the second floor of Tenmaya Happytown Kojima, Miyoshi Restaurant is a family restaurant that can be enjoyed by three generations of customers. It incorporates the flavors and preparation methods passed down from the Miyoshino Honten restaurant, offering a wide range of dishes. The 'Chicken Salt Vegetable Ramen' was created with the idea of offering a dish that is uniquely Kojima. Topped with plenty of vegetables, chicken, shrimp, and a boiled egg, it's a Kojima Shio Ramen similar to tanmen (a salt-based ramen with lots of vegetables). The soup, a source of pride for the restaurant, has a gentle flavor with the sweetness and umami of seafood and vegetables blended into it. It's a hearty bowl, but you can enjoy it to the very last bite."
(End of quote)
Miyoshi is also known for selling "Matsuri-zushi," a popular ekiben (train station bento box) in Okayama. As the name suggests, the ramen was hearty and packed with ingredients. The addition of yuzu pepper paste, which allows you to change the flavor as you eat, is a nice touch.
[Miyoshino Restaurant Kojima]
Location: 2-35 Okayama Prefecture Kurashiki City, Kojima
TEL: 086-473-7629
Opening hours: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Last order 4:30 PM)
Closed on: None
Parking: Available
You can eat Kojima Shio Ramen at the venue! The Shio Musubi Project event, "Bitchu Shiozai in Kojima"
On Saturday, October 31st and Sunday, November 1st, 2026, the Shio Musubi Project will hold its event, "Bitchu Shiozai in Kojima." The venue is a grassy area at the summit of Mt. Ojigatake Oujigatake. You can enjoy Kojima Shio Ramen at the venue. There will also be food stalls offering collaborative gourmet dishes combining Kojima salt with local specialties from the Kojima region. The event will include stage events, a stamp rally, a treasure hunt, and more, making it a fun and enjoyable experience for the whole family to experience the charm of salt. Be sure to check it out!
Summary: After the ramen, take home some salt as a souvenir.
The "Shio Musubi Project" sells not only ramen but also souvenirs made with salt. The gift corner at Tenmaya Happy Town Kojima store features many products born from the project. You can also purchase them at hotels in the Kojima area. For more details, please visit the Shio Musubi Project's official website. When you visit Kojima, be sure to pick up some souvenirs!
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