Enjoy “Ramen-fest 2017,” a Winter Event at Ohi Racecourse!
Do you believe that “racecourses are for gambling”?
There’s actually a racecourse that’s practically a sightseeing location of its own, where you can enjoy fun events, gorgeous illuminations, and even amazing gourmet foods! That place is here, “Ohi Racecourse” in Tokyo’s Shinagawa.
This article will introduce you to both Ohi Racecourse and its spotlight winter event “Ramen-fest 2017.”
This article is for those of you who want to experience Tokyo’s nighttime at the end of the year, or to couples, families, and friends who are planning to visit Tokyo!
Article Contents
The Appeals of Ohi Racecourse!
Racecourses in Tokyo
Tokyo Racecourse, one of the courses operated by the Japan Racing Association, holds races every Saturday and Sunday (potentially including public holidays).
Ohi Racecourse (nickname: TCK), a municipally operated racecourse, holds races on weekdays (potentially including public holidays).
Ohi Racecourse is located near the city center, so being able to avoid large crowds typical of the weekends when going to its weekday races is one of its points of appeal!
Twinkle Race
From April through December, Ohi Racecourse hosts Japan’s first nighttime horse races, called “Twinkle Race.” (From January through March, races are held during the day. For detailed schedules), see official site.
A Twinkle Race is more than just an exciting race to the finish line; it’s also held alongside a bright and colorful illumination. There are also plenty of other fun events held, and the ability to enjoy a variety of types of entertainment at the same time as the race has had Ohi Racecourse recognized as a “new nighttime date spot in Tokyo”!
Additionally, the illumination will undergo a large-scale renewal starting in April of 2018, and in October the venue will be the largest illumination in all of Kanto (8 million lights).
Convenient Access
The stations nearest to Ohi Racecourse are Tokyo Monorail’s Oi Keibajo-mae Station and Keikyu’s Tachiaigawa Station. The racecourse can also easily be accessed by free shuttle bus from JR’s Oimachi Station, Omori Station, and Kinshicho Station, so you can even save on travel costs.
Enjoy Delicious Gourmet Foods
There are plenty of foods and drinks to enjoy as well, from delicious cheap meals to dishes aimed at women!
In addition, a horserace spectating restaurant called “Diamond Turn” offers a full-fledged buffet, supervised by a famous French chef.
Watching a horserace while savoring some delicious food is a chic different way to enjoy a date!
Ramen-fest 2017
Ramen-fest 2017 will be held at Ohi Racecourse!
There will even host restaurants famous for foods that pair well with ramen like gyoza and kara-age in addition to the ramen shops carefully selected by the famous Tokyo city magazine “Tokyo Walker”!
※Official Event Name: “#Ramen-fest 2017 in TCK”
Event Schedule and Location
Schedule (including during rainy weather):
- December 25th (Monday) and 26th (Tuesday): 14:10-21:00 (Last orders at 20:30)
- December 27th (Wednesday): 13:30-21:00 (Last orders at 20:30)
- December 29th (Friday) through 31st (Sunday): 10:00-18:00 (Last orders at 17:30)
Location:
Ohi Racecourse “UMILE SQUARE”
※Races December 25th-27th are night races, December 29th-30th are day races.
Check This Out! [Omikuji Betting Tickets]
Omikuji betting tickets are available for 3 days, from December 29th through 31st! Usually “omikuji” are fortune slips that divine your luck. The omikuji betting tickets contain randomly selected horserace betting tickets, so whether or not you win is determined by luck!!
Furthermore, there are certain “omikuji” that will come with gifts!
Food Stall Information
●Ramen
This event features a lineup of Tokyo’s leading ramen shops! You can enjoy a variety of different types of ramen, like shoyu, miso, tonkotsu, and shio; it’s almost like being in a ramen museum!
Ramen Shops Planned for This Event:
※Available stalls and their menus are subject to change without notice.
◎BASSO Drill-Man
“BASSO Drill-Man” is an incredibly popular restaurant in Ikebukuro, a hot spot for ramen! They use no chemical seasonings, so their ramen is easy on your body. The line out the door and your chopsticks both refuse to stop!
◎Kujira Shokudo
“Kujira Shokudo” is located in Tokyo’s Koganei City. Their ramen, made with Manila clams packed with seafood umami, is so popular that it’s been featured in various forms of media!
◎Nikusoba Keisuke
“Nikusoba Keisuke,” a ramen shop in Kinshicho, has amazingly delicious chashu pork! Even their portions of meat are huge! If you’re a fan of meat, this is the ramen for you!
◎Onisoba Fujiya
“Onisoba Fujiya” in Shibuya is so popular that it even sells its own cup ramen! Its clear, golden shio ramen gets rave reviews, and the restaurant is even often visited by celebrities and entertainers!
◎Shinasoba Tanaka
“Shinasoba Tanaka” offers up unique and delicious ramen thanks to its Italian owner! It’s known for its mild and beautifully presented ramen!
◎Tonkotsumen Ano Komiya
“Tonkotsumen Ano Komiya” is a ramen shop near the Tokyu Toyoko Line’s “Toritsu-Daigaku Station.” It specializes in tonkotsu ramen, and its rich tonkotsu broth is widely acclaimed!
◎Taishio Soba Toka
“Taisho Soba Toka” is a ramen shop near the Toei Subway Shinjuku Line’s “Akebonobashi Station.” This incredibly indulgent ramen brings out the best of luxurious Uwajima red snapper!
◎Menya Nakagawakai
“Menya Nakagawakai” is located near Kinshicho Station. They make rich extracts from a variety of different ingredients, leading to a soulful ramen with essentially all of its imperfections and odors removed!
★Original Dishes Exclusively for Ohi Racecourse?!
In addition to their regular menus, each ramen shop will feature “Ohi Racecourse-exclusive dishes” that are only available at Ohi Racecourse, as well as some Instagram-ready ramen dishes!
●Gyoza
Gyoza Shops Planned for This Event:
※Available stalls and their menus are subject to change without notice.
◎Dairen Gyoza Kichi DALIAN
“Dairen Gyoza Kichi DALIAN” is a famous shop located in Yokohama Chinatown. Each of their dishes are carefully made by hand, one by one.
You’ll get a head-on taste of the deliciousness of the chewy wrapper and umami-packed filling made with crispy chicken wings.
You can try their delicious dishes without having to visit Chinatown at Ohi Racecourse!
◎Utsunomiya Gyoza Washo
Utsunomiya City is the place in Japan for gyoza!
Washo, located in Utsunomiya City, makes all of their gyoza by hand. Their enormous gyoza, packed with plenty of vegetables, weigh 50 grams each!
●Kara-age
Kara-age Shops Planned for This Event:
※Available stalls and their menus are subject to change without notice.
◎Irokara
“Irokara” is a kara-age specialty shop that has original flavors you can’t try anywhere else.
In addition to their genuine “umakara” for lovers of pickled plum and super-spicy food, they offer a variety of dishes, including miso kara-age made with their special malted rice miso!! Try their Tokyo-born “Tokyo-style kara-age” at Ohi Racecourse!
◎Nakatsu Kara-age Kei
“Nakatsu Kara-age Kei” always takes home the prize at kara-age competitions. They take carefully selected Kyushu chicken and marinate it in a secret sauce for 2 days. Be sure to try this popular kara-age!
Summary
Ohi Racecourse is more of an entertainment facility than a place to gamble. Many people would certainly agree after they gave it a visit!
For this year’s end in Tokyo, enjoy white-hot races and delicious ramen alongside your family, friends, or even your lover at Ohi Racecourse!
Ohi Racecourse – Basic Information
- Address
- 2-1-2 Katsushima, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
- Tel
- 03-3763-2151
- Admission Fee
- 100 yen (15 and under free) ※Reserved seats available at additional cost
- Business Days and Holidays
- See calendar on official web page
- Smoking Areas
- Yes
- Access
-
[By train] 2 minutes on foot from Tokyo Monorail’s Oi Keibajo-mae Station
[By free bus] By free shuttle bus, about 12 minutes from JR Oimachi Station, about 8 minutes from JR Omori Station, and about 40 minutes from Kinshicho Station
[Rental cars] Parking fee 1,000 yen (1 day) - Website
- http://www.tokyocitykeiba.com/en/