倉敷郵便局 (Kurashiki Post Office) - Kurashiki, Okayama

It's our second and last day in Kurashiki. I had posted all the postcards I brought from home, but I wanted to send two more postcards to my friends. I didn't plan this initially, so I didn't bring my washi tapes and sticker collection with me, only some pens for writing. However, I was planning to buy some supplies today, so hopefully I could create something decent.

If you haven't done so, you can check out our first day in Kurashiki here and here. 

***

After checking out (most hotels in Japan have a check-out time of 10 am), my husband and I went to 橘香堂 (Kikkodo), a Japanese sweets store famous for its むらすずめ (murasuzume). Murasuzume is a traditional Japanese sweet from Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, with sweet adzuki red bean paste wrapped in a thin, folded, crepe-like egg pancake. The shop opened at 9 am, but the murasuzume-making experience started at 10 am. We were the first participants on that day. I forgot to take pics that didn't show us, so here is the photo from the official website for reference. 

After that, we went to a couple more shops to get stickers, washi papers, and some other journaling supplies. I had wanted to visit the Ohara Fine Arts Museum, as it was the first collection of Western art to be permanently exhibited in Japan and held paintings by artists such as Monet. However, it was under renovation and would be closed until April 24th, 2026, so I just visited the museum shop instead (the museum shop was still open) before heading to the place I wanted to go the most in Kurashiki: tane. Tane is a washi tape specialty store that boasts more than 1200 types of washi tapes, including tens of original designs. As a washi tape enthusiast, I couldn't miss it. I had to resist the urge to just buy every cute and cool washi tape I found. They have a gift service where you can pick a glass bin and put in whatever washi tape you like. Two Japanese men came and chose that glass bin package as a gift for a friend who was getting married, and in the end, they also picked several for themselves. Washi tapes for everyone!

With all the supplies ready, we looked for a cafe where I could write and decorate the postcards I'd bought the previous day. We found a nice cozy cafe in a refurbished old Japanese building called Rojan Boro. All the desserts looked appetizing! I had a fondant au chocolat served in Bizen ware (a type of Japanese pottery from Okayama, characterized by its iron-like hardness, reddish-brown color, and lack of glaze). It was super delicious! However, as usual, I forgot to take pictures T_T. You can check their Instagram here. 

After finishing my dessert, I took some time to decorate and write on the postcards with the washi tape and papers I bought in Kurashiki. After the postcards were ready, we visited Achi Jinja to get some goshuin and Ukiyo-e Kurashiki to enjoy Ukiyo-e paintings (and get some more postcards!) before going to the Kurashiki Post Office.

Kurashiki Post Office is situated a little bit away from the Bikan Historical Quarter. We walked through the tunnel that passed through the hill where Achi Jinja was located. It was a national holiday, and the curtains were down, so I was afraid that I had gotten my information wrong. However, I saw that the service counter remained open, and quite a few people were lining up to get their postal services. I took my obligatory mailbox picture and went inside to get fukeiin for the two postcards and for myself.

***

A few days later, my postcard with the fukeiin arrived. The fukeiin depicts the view of Kurashiki-kan, where I went the previous day (you can read more about it here), with the Kurashiki river and a few other kura (warehouse) buildings. 

From the Japan Post Official Website: "This fukeiin depicts important traditional buildings along the Kurashiki River." The Fukeiin was launched on September 20th, 1979. Just like in other fukeiin I got in Kurashiki City, I wish the description were a bit more detailed. Oh well. At least I took this picture for a more detailed reference.





I'll see you all on my next fukeiin adventure!

Cheers,

Mulic



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