When looking on Instagram for delicious places to eat in Kurashiki, one name I often came across was “Kurashiki Afternoon Tea.”
The many elegant photos caught my eye, but I had the vague impression that it was a little intimidating, so I hesitated to go. Before I knew it, the event had ended…
And so, I watched it end several times without ever making it there.
This year, I finally thought, “This is the year!” and experienced “Kurashiki Afternoon Tea” for the first time. I’m sharing my experience in the hope it will be helpful to others who are interested.
The information presented was current when this article was published in February 2024. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is “Kurashiki Afternoon Tea”?
“Kurashiki Afternoon Tea” is based on the British custom of enjoying light meals and sweets with tea. This elegant tea gathering, “afternoon tea,” was adapted to reflect Kurashiki and launched in 2015.
It is held twice a year, in summer and winter. Every participating restaurant uses seasonal specialty fruits from Kurashiki and Okayama, and the event has the following features:
- “Peaches or grapes” are included in summer, and “strawberries” in winter
- Drinks include “two servings,” “free refills,” or “served in a pot”
The Winter 2024 afternoon tea is held from January 15 to March 31 at 28 cafes in Kurashiki City.
My first afternoon tea at “Takenoya Bettei”
From the south exit of JR Kurashiki Station, it’s about a 10-minute walk via Ichibangai Street.
I visited “Takenoya,” a Japanese restaurant in a historic 150-year-old traditional house.
Passing through the gate, I found a Japanese garden at the center of the grounds. A variety of plants are growing there, and it seems you can enjoy the changing scenery of the seasons depending on when you visit.
After walking down an atmospheric corridor, I was shown to a private room overlooking the garden. The natural light from outside was lovely, and the private space made me feel relaxed.
Reservations for afternoon tea at “Takenoya Bettei” are required by 5 p.m. the day before. The private room overlooking the garden is apparently limited to the first three groups.
Once seated, I first looked over the menu.
It had cute illustrations, and I found myself wondering, “What colors will the dishes actually be?”
It seems that drinks are also served to pair with each dish.
Tasting the afternoon tea
At last, the dishes began to arrive.
The staff carefully explained each dish, building my anticipation.
The first dish was a bowl dish: steamed domyoji rice with fragrant broth and highland vegetables.
The drink pairing was “premium sencha.”
Brewed with water at 50°C, the first infusion lets you enjoy its sweetness and umami.
The second dish was hassun.
It was an assortment of ten kinds of creative dishes made with seasonal ingredients, including A5-grade Japanese beef roast beef, oysters simmered in ginger and soy, winter yellowtail grilled with soy koji, and iburigakko cheese.
For the drink pairing, the premium sencha from earlier was brewed again, this time with water at 80°C, bringing out a clean, refreshing astringency.
The third dish was cute, bite-sized temari sushi.
The staff suggested dipping the sencha leaves in soy sauce and eating them. The flavor changed to something like ohitashi, a Japanese dish of vegetables steeped in broth, which was a pleasant surprise.
And the fourth course was the long-awaited lavish “tiered plate,” piled high with sweets.
- Strawberry cassata tart
- Lemon cake
- Matcha macaron with red bean paste and butter
- Hojicha panna cotta, and more
The sweetness was perfectly balanced with acidity, saltiness, and bitterness, so we could enjoy every item to the last bite without getting tired of the flavors.
The pairing drink was hot Japanese black tea served in a wine glass.
We enjoyed the elegant aroma of Takahashi Black Tea from Takahashi City, Okayama Prefecture.
The final dessert was buckwheat tea jelly with seasonal fruit.
The buckwheat tea jelly had a refreshing aftertaste and was easy to eat.
About the interior
The shop also had soba choko cups, chopstick rests, and small plates on display and for sale.
There were also works featuring cute creatures such as birds and fish.
It would be nice to buy a souvenir to remember your time at Takenoya Bettei.
From the Writer
My first Kurashiki Afternoon Tea was much more casual and enjoyable than I had imagined, and the food was delicious.
I’d love to visit Takenoya Bettei again and invite family and friends.
The “Kurashiki Afternoon Tea 2024 Winter” event also includes a paper stamp rally.
The stamp card distributed at participating shops can be used to receive the following prizes.
- 5 stamps: ¥1,000 Kurashiki Afternoon Tea dining voucher (for everyone)
- 10 stamps: ¥3,000 Kurashiki Afternoon Tea dining voucher (for everyone)
- 15 stamps: ¥5,000 Kurashiki Afternoon Tea dining voucher (for everyone)
- 3 or more stamps: Tickets usable at participating shops and carefully selected products (46 winners chosen by lottery from among applicants)
For details about this great campaign, check the official website of Kurashiki Afternoon Tea.
Kurashiki Afternoon Tea 2024 Winter Information
| Name | Kurashiki Afternoon Tea 2024 Winter |
|---|---|
| Dates | January 15–March 31, 2024 |
| Location | Kurashiki City |
| Participation fee (tax included) | Price (tax included): ¥2,000–¥5,500 Varies by shop |
| Website | Kurashiki Afternoon Tea |
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