School Lunch Tasting Event at Uchibun in Uchide Featuring Beef Rice or Dakgangjeong

It looks like the “School Lunch Exhibition,” an event where visitors can sample school lunches, will be held on Thursday, July 23 and Friday, July 24 at “Uchibun” (Uchide Education and Culture Center/Uchide Park), near Hanshin Uchide Station!

Screenshot from the official Ashiya City website

40th School Lunch Exhibition: “Nourishment for the Mind and Body”

When is it?

Thursday, July 23, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Friday, July 24, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Where is it?

Uchibun (Uchide Education and Culture Center)
※The venue has reportedly changed starting this fiscal year.

Here it is on the map ↓

The address is 15-9 Uchide Kozuchicho, Ashiya, Hyogo.

What can you do there?

• Panel displays about school lunches and food education 📋
• Student artwork corner 🎨
• Quiz rally (participation prize included) 🎁
• School lunch tasting corner (advance registration required) 🍱
• Shiratama dumpling making and kinako soybean flour grinding (12:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.) 🍡
• Chirimen Monster Hunt (1:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m.) 🐟
• Vegetable stamping and vegetable weighing game 🥕

Here’s what’s on the tasting menu ↓
・Thursday, July 23: Beef rice, croquette, lemon-dressed salad, and grape jelly
・Friday, July 24: Chinese-style seasoned rice, dakgangjeong, colorful salad, and special pudding

Serving times are 1) 12:00 p.m.–12:20 p.m. and 2) 12:30 p.m.–12:50 p.m. (You cannot choose your time slot.)

How much does it cost?

Admission is free.

What is the capacity?

School lunch tasting corner: Approximately 240 people (around 60 per time slot and 120 per day)

How to apply

Advance registration is required for the school lunch tasting corner. Apply using the application form.
Deadline: Friday, July 10
If there are too many applicants, participants will be selected by lottery. Each application may include up to three people, and each group may apply only once.
Only successful applicants will be notified by email by Friday, July 17.
If selected participants cancel, numbered tickets will be distributed on the day of the event. (Scheduled ticket distribution times: 1) from 12:05 p.m. and 2) from 12:40 p.m., at the reception desk on the second floor of the venue.)

For event details, see the official Ashiya City website.

Wrapping Up

Ashiya’s school lunches are famous for being so delicious that they were even featured in a movie. Both days’ tasting menus sound tempting, but we’re especially curious about the “dakgangjeong”! (A quick search says it’s fried chicken coated in a sweet and spicy sauce. Sounds delicious!)

There are also plenty of hands-on activities for children to enjoy, including making shiratama dumplings and hunting for “chirimen monsters.” Advance registration is required for the tasting, and the deadline is Friday, July 10, so be sure to apply soon if you’re interested!