Candle Fairy 〜 A shop near the Bikan Historical Area where you can make a one-of-a-kind handmade candle

Interview with Candle Fairy owner Masao Inoue

Could you tell us how Candle Fairy came to be?

Inoue

Originally, we operated as the CandleWorld Antenna Shop at Kurashiki Ivy Square for more than 12 years after opening.

However, when Kurashiki Ivy Square expanded and renovated its large banquet halls and other facilities, we had to return the shop space we had been renting in March 2017.

At the time, it was a Pegasus Candle directly operated shop, but we decided to close it in March 2017.

After that, people came to us from all over, saying, “It’s sad” and “We hope you’ll continue.”

Inoue

But Pegasus Candle itself didn’t have many staff, so it wasn’t in a position to do that.

So I decided that I would do it myself. With help from my older sister, who had also been an instructor at the CandleWorld Antenna Shop, I decided to reopen as a specialty shop for handmade candle experiences.

So you started as a completely separate company.

Inoue

That’s right. However, all the products are from Pegasus Candle, so the contents themselves haven’t changed.

Even now, some people still go to Kurashiki Ivy Square, but we have brochures there, and customers from back then also find us after seeing them or looking us up online.

So Candle Fairy was launched in response to customer requests.

Inoue

That’s right.
As you can see, there’s hardly any foot traffic on the street right in front of Candle Fairy.

In the past, it was a lovely townscape, and people often passed through on their way to Achi Shrine.
Since the Bikan Historical Area became more active, this area has become completely deserted.

But it’s been about a year since we moved, and people come back from outside the prefecture, as well as customers from our days at Kurashiki Ivy Square. I hope we can continue operating while cherishing our customers.

So you have many customers who like the shop and keep coming back.

Inoue

Everyone from two-year-old children to the 89-year-old woman two doors down enjoys coming here.

We make a variety of things, changing the menu with the seasons so that repeat customers don’t get bored.

So we have more creations to choose from than when the shop was at Kurashiki Ivy Square.
We try to make choosing enjoyable and offer a variety of attractions.

For example, we replace this wall, where we display photos of our visitors smiling, every month.

Finally, could you tell us about your plans for the future?

Inoue

There’s still nothing on the street right in front of Candle Fairy, but we’re working with nearby shops to create an “Experience Street.”

We want to make it a street where, when people wonder, “Is there anything to do?”, they can say, “There’s something to do on Experience Street!”

If the shops become lively, more restaurants will open, and it will be safer for older people and children to walk through.
We want to welcome more customers and make the area more and more fun.

Inoue

In the past, even Honmachi Street, where Miyake Shoten and Hayashi Genjuro Shoten are located, wasn’t popular as a shopping area.

There are lots of customers now, but in the past, only the main street by the river was bustling.
But thanks to the efforts of Miyake Shoten and Hayashi Genjuro Shoten, many people started coming here.

The area around Candle Fairy isn’t a tourist spot in the Bikan Historical Area, but I’d like to make it more interesting through “experiences.”

Candle Fairy, a handmade candle shop filled with people’s smiles

At Candle Fairy, you can make a one-of-a-kind original candle.

You can take your time making highly customizable handmade candles, and the warm, smile-filled atmosphere made it a very comfortable place to be.

It’s the perfect place to pick up a souvenir from the Bikan Historical Area or leisurely make memories for a special occasion.

As I made a candle, I felt my heart grow warm.

It’s fun for everyone from children to adults, so feel free to stop by.

Candle Fairy details

Name	Candle Fairy
Address	3-18-6 Achi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture
Contact	086-454-4505
Parking	None
Hours	Hours: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Last admission for the handmade candle experience is 4:00 p.m.
Closed	Tuesday, Wednesday
Payment methods	Cash PayPay
Website	Candle Fairy

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