When you go sightseeing, choosing what souvenirs to bring home is one of the pleasures of the trip.
Ideally, they’re things rooted in the place you visited or loved by the local people.
And when it comes to classic souvenirs to buy on a visit to the Bikan Historical Area, one of the first things that comes to mind is “Murasuzume.”
It’s a Kurashiki specialty confection loved by local people, too.
The confection that represents Kurashiki, Murasuzume, is made and sold by Kikkodo. Founded in 1877, it is a long-established confectionery shop that is one of Kurashiki’s best-known.
Murasuzume is a traditional Japanese confection devised by Kikkodo and made there since the shop’s founding.
Behind it was the founder’s passionate desire to “create and nurture a local specialty in Kurashiki.”
Kikkodo also makes Western-style confections, not just Japanese ones. In fact, it was the first shop in Kurashiki to make baumkuchen.
Here we introduce Kikkodo, a long-established confectionery shop born in Kurashiki that makes Murasuzume as well as many other appealing products.
The information presented here is current as of the article’s publication in May 2024. Please note that it may differ from current information.
Kikkodo is a long-established confectionery shop founded in 1877
Kikkodo is a long-established confectionery shop founded in 1877.
The confection Murasuzume, a Kurashiki specialty and a classic Kurashiki souvenir, was created at Kikkodo.
Murasuzume was created by Yoshimoto Daikichi, Kikkodo’s first-generation owner, and has been made since the shop was founded in 1877.
For more than 140 years, it has continued to be loved by many people, from local residents to tourists.
Kikkodo also makes many confections besides Murasuzume.
Its wide range includes Western-style confections as well as Japanese ones.
In particular, it was the first shop in Kurashiki to make baumkuchen.
Kikkodo operates five stores, mainly in Kurashiki City.
Kikkodo operates several stores, mainly in Kurashiki City. In central Kurashiki, it has the Main Store and the Bikan Historical Area Shop.
The stores sell a wide variety of Japanese and Western-style confections, including Murasuzume.
The history of Murasuzume, a Kurashiki specialty devised by Kikkodo
Murasuzume has its roots in Kurashiki’s traditional culture.
During the Edo period, Kurashiki flourished as a river port and a hub for the collection and distribution of goods. Many things, including cotton, were transported through the area, and among them was rice grown in Bitchu Province, known as “Bitchu rice.”
The rice harvest had a major impact on the lives of Kurashiki’s residents. So every year around the time of the Obon festival, residents would dance wearing hats woven from igusa rushes, praying for a good harvest.
Inspired by the woven hats worn in prayers for a good harvest and by rice ears, first-generation owner Daikichi came up with the shape of Murasuzume.
The confection was named “Murasuzume” (群雀, “flock of sparrows”) because the woven hats worn by people dancing to pray for a good harvest looked like sparrows flocking around rice ears with their wings spread.
Recommended products from Kikkodo
Kikkodo offers a wide variety of products.
Here we’ve picked out some of its signature and recommended products.
There are also assortments containing several products, such as Murasuzume and Kuriman.
Products and prices are current as of May 2024. Prices include consumption tax.
Murasuzume is a traditional Japanese confection that represents Kurashiki
Kikkodo’s signature product is Murasuzume (150 yen each).
When you think of Kurashiki souvenirs or Kurashiki food, Murasuzume is probably one of the first things that comes to mind.
To make Murasuzume, the batter is spread thinly into a circle and cooked on a griddle. Sweet azuki bean paste is placed on top, then the confection is folded in half to enclose the filling.
The batter is made with fresh eggs from Okayama Prefecture, specially blended flour, and other carefully selected ingredients. A distinctive feature of Murasuzume is the many small bubbles that form on the surface as the batter cooks.
The sweet azuki bean paste is made with azuki beans from Hokkaido.
Murasuzume has also won the following awards at the National Confectionery Exposition:
- Honorary President’s Award
- Prime Minister’s Award
- Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Award
- Tea Ceremony Grand Master’s Award
- Excellence Award (No Judging)
Murasuzume is also designated as a October confection by the various schools of tea ceremony.
The bubbles on the surface of the batter are another key feature
When you bite into Murasuzume, the thin batter feels fluffier than you might expect.
It’s also pleasantly moist, with a subtle sweetness and a hint of egg flavor.
The smooth sweet azuki bean paste inside has a pleasantly crumbly texture from the beans.
It has the refined, full sweetness you’d expect from the filling, and pairs perfectly with the batter.
A real treat for anyone with a sweet tooth.
Kuriman is a manju filled with a whole large chestnut
Among Kikkodo’s Japanese confections, the most popular after Murasuzume is Kuriman (200 yen each).
As its name suggests, Kuriman is a manju made with chestnut.
It’s a satisfyingly substantial confection with a whole chestnut inside each manju.
For Kuriman, Kikkodo carefully selects soft-textured chestnuts that are fully ripe and rich in flavor.
They’re also large.
The chestnut is wrapped in white bean paste, then enclosed in manju dough and baked. The chestnuts are carefully handled to keep them from becoming hard.
The appeal of Kuriman lies in the harmony of the dough’s flavor, the sweetness of the white bean paste, and the chestnut’s texture and taste.
The manju skin was moist, with a toasty aroma and a subtle sweetness.
The white bean paste inside was moist and delicately sweet.
The large, chunky chestnut inside was tender yet pleasantly firm.
Its sweet, mellow flavor went well with the taste of the white bean paste and the skin.
Chestnut buns are especially popular with local customers.
They are often bought as gifts.
Indeed, when my family held a memorial service, we often had relatives bring chestnut buns.
Tourists and business travelers also buy them along with Murasuzume, become fans, and sometimes order chestnut buns online.
“Nakayoshi” is popular as a refined, long-lasting treat to serve with tea to guests
Kikkodo also sells higashi (dry Japanese sweets).
One of its products is called “Nakayoshi (18 pieces, from ¥530),” and it is one of the products that local customers have loved for many years.
Nakayoshi is made with Awa wasanbon sugar. It feels firm when you bite into it, but gradually melts in your mouth.
You can enjoy its smooth, melting texture and elegant, refined sweetness.
These small, bite-sized sweets come in two colors, pale pink and white, and have a refined, charming appearance.
▼The container is stylish and elegant, too.
The container could also be put to use after you finish the sweets.
Kikkodo calls this hollow an “ekubo” (dimple).
I thought it really did look as charming as a dimple.
Nakayoshi has a shelf life of 120 days from the date of manufacture. They are also charming and elegant in appearance.
That is why many local customers keep them at home to serve with tea when unexpected guests arrive.
“Kurashiki Baumkuchen” was the first baumkuchen sold in Kurashiki and comes in two varieties
Kikkodo is best known for its Japanese sweets, but it also makes Western-style confections.
One product that stands out is “Kurashiki Baumkuchen.” Kikkodo was, remarkably, the first shop in Kurashiki to sell baumkuchen.
Kikkodo’s baumkuchen comes in two varieties: “Soft” and “Pyrenees.”
Both are carefully made specialties using flour from Okayama Prefecture, eggs from Okayama Prefecture, and high-quality butter.
We recommend buying both and comparing them.
Soft is the same type as a typical baumkuchen.
Pyrenees, on the other hand, recreates the traditional method and flavor from the foothills of the Pyrenees, the birthplace of “gateau pyrenees,” which is said to be the forerunner of baumkuchen.
In a sense, it is a sweet that resembles the original form of baumkuchen.
The product name Pyrenees also comes from the Pyrenees Mountains.
Kurashiki Baumkuchen Soft
Here is the baumkuchen packaging.
Soft has a light, fluffy texture. Its sweet flavor and aroma fill your mouth.
Kurashiki Baumkuchen Pyrenees
Pyrenees comes in the same packaging as Soft.
Its appearance and color are so distinctive that they bring wood to mind
Pyrenees is browner than Soft, with thicker, uneven dark-brown lines.
It is also made with cultured butter, giving it a very rich sweetness and buttery flavor.
Its texture seems slightly chewier than Soft.
It is pleasantly chewy, and with every bite I could taste the aroma of butter.
It is hard to choose between Soft and Pyrenees.
Personally, I prefer Pyrenees, with its sweeter taste and buttery aroma.
The Bikan Historical Area shop also has a café corner
The Bikan Historical Area shop also has a café corner.
The café corner has three tables seating four people and one table seating ten.
The ten-person table is shared when the café is busy.
There were individual drinks such as hot coffee (¥450), as well as set menus with Murasuzume (from ¥550).
Prices as of May 2024. Prices include consumption tax.
The Bikan Historical Area-exclusive “Murasuzume hand-baking experience” is a big hit with children!
The Bikan Historical Area shop has a workshop inside where visitors can try hand-baking Murasuzume.
There are two hand-baking experience courses: three regular-size Murasuzume or one jumbo-size Murasuzume.
▼ The hand-baking experience is especially popular with children.
During spring and summer vacations and long weekends, lots of children often line up and wait!
When you make them, a staff member demonstrates and gives you instructions alongside you, so you can feel at ease.
▼ Rolling it up is where you can show off your skills!
▼ “Jumbo Murasuzume” are not sold in the shop. They are only available through the hand-baking experience.
Jumbo Murasuzume are about seven times the size of regular Murasuzume.
They are also filled with shiratama dumplings.
▼ They look difficult to make because they’re so huge.
Adults were working hard at making them, too. Maybe Murasuzume you bake yourself somehow taste even better.
While reporting, I saw a group of adult men and women, apparently on a business trip, taking part in the hand-baking experience.
Even the adults looked like they were having fun like children, baking while taking photos and videos on their smartphones. I also saw people who seemed to be from overseas taking part with great interest.
I think the appeal of the Murasuzume hand-baking experience is that people can enjoy it regardless of age or nationality.
How to sign up for the Murasuzume hand-baking experience
▼ The per-person fee for the hand-baking experience is as follows.
| Details | Fee (tax included) |
|---|---|
| Three Murasuzume + one made by a confectioner | ¥1,000 |
| One jumbo Murasuzume | ¥1,300 |
Prices as of May 2024. Prices include consumption tax.
Sign-ups for the hand-baking experience are accepted from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Those who are in third grade or above and at least 130 cm tall and can take part on their own may sign up.
To try the hand-baking experience, tell a staff member at the confectionery counter that you would like to take part, and pay the fee. You will receive a ticket after paying.
The experience is offered in the order people pay.
When it is busy, wait in front of the workshop until your turn comes.
When it is your turn, go to the workshop, hand your ticket to a staff member, and begin the experience.
The nearby main store is also recommended
Kikkodo’s main store is also very close to the Bikan Historical Area shop.
The main store is about 150 meters north of the Bikan Historical Area shop (toward JR Kurashiki Station).
It is along Kurashiki Chuodori (Motomachi-dori).
The main store carries a wider range of products than the Bikan Historical Area shop.
It is close to the Bikan Historical Area shop, so be sure to stop by the main store, too.
Kikkodo products are also available through its online shop
Kikkodo also operates an online shop.
Most Kikkodo products are also available through the online shop.
If there is no Kikkodo store or retailer carrying Kikkodo products near you, be sure to give it a try.
Kikkodo makes a variety of appealing Japanese and Western-style sweets, including Murasuzume, a historic Kurashiki specialty.
We interviewed Tano Hideki, a director and head of sales at Kikkodo.
Kikkodo Co., Ltd. (Bikan Historical Area shop) Information
| Name | Kikkodo Co., Ltd. (Bikan Historical Area shop) |
|---|---|
| Address | 2-22-13 Achi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-424-5725 |
| Parking | None |
| Hours | 9:30 a.m.–6 p.m. ・Cafe corner: 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m., last order at 5 p.m. ・Hand-baking experience: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. |
| Closed | New Year’s Day |
| Payment methods |
|
| Website | Kikkodo |
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Murasuzume is by far Kikkodo’s most popular and best-selling product!