I moved to Kurashiki from the Kanto region in December 2023, and I’m amazed by how many restaurants there are in the Bikan Historical Area.
There are several places I’d like to try, but since this is a tourist area, I don’t know what the price range is, so I keep hesitating to go in. It’s something I find myself puzzling over day after day.
Then I came across information about an event called the “Kurashiki Lunch Itadakimasu Stamp Rally,” where you can enjoy lunch made with Okayama Prefecture ingredients in winter, so I decided to take part.
The information provided was current when this article was published in March 2024. Please note that it may differ from the current information.
What is the “Kurashiki Lunch Itadakimasu Stamp Rally”?
The “Kurashiki Lunch Itadakimasu Stamp Rally,” organized by the Kurashiki Tourism and Convention Bureau, is being held for two months, from Saturday, January 20 to Sunday, March 17, 2024.
Restaurants at 44 locations in Kurashiki City are serving creative lunches made with ingredients from Okayama Prefecture.
Lunch is offered at three price points: 1,500 yen (before tax), 2,000 yen (before tax), and 2,500 yen (before tax), making it easy to choose a restaurant to suit the occasion.
Please check the participating restaurants on the official website or in the images below.
How to participate
First, get an entry postcard.
I picked one up at the Kurashiki Tourist Information Center in Kurashikikan, in the Bikan Historical Area, but you can also get one at major tourist information centers around the city, including JR Kurashiki Station and Kurashiki City Office. You can also download one from the official website.
Some restaurants require a reservation by the day before, so be sure to check.
On the day, enjoy a lunch included in the “Kurashiki Lunch Itadakimasu Stamp Rally” and have your stamp card stamped when you pay.
I visited three restaurants, so I’ll introduce them in this article.
Ryoriryokan Tsurugata
For my first stop, I went to Ryoriryokan Tsurugata.
Tsurugata is said to have been built in 1744 and is the second-oldest building in Kurashiki. Since it usually specializes in kaiseki cuisine, I’d always thought it seemed a little intimidating.
However, during the Lunch Itadakimasu Stamp Rally, you can enjoy the “Tsurukaze” lunch set for 2,000 yen (before tax).
I visited with a friend who was in town from Kyoto. They were delighted, saying, “Not only do you get kaiseki cuisine, but you can also have Misato-raised Japanese black beef shabu-shabu, and at this price it’s such a great deal.” Of course, the food was delicious, too.
There were many dishes, but each came in a small portion, so I appreciated that it was an amount even someone with a small appetite could easily finish.
Washu Rakushoku Seribe
For my second stop, I went to Washu Rakushoku Seribe, across the street diagonally from Geibunkan Hall, on the south side of the Bikan Historical Area. It serves Japanese sake and obanzai.
Ever since moving to Kurashiki, I’ve dreamed of having a regular izakaya, but I haven’t had the courage to explore restaurants on my own, so my list of places I want to try just keeps getting longer. Washu Rakushoku Seribe was one of the izakaya I’d been curious about. This time, I used the “Lunch Itadakimasu Stamp Rally” as an excuse to finally step inside.
The menu was a tempura set meal. I was surprised by the plate piled high with tempura, but every piece was fluffy inside and crisp on the outside, and delicious.
I couldn’t finish everything, but I was able to take home the tempura I couldn’t eat.
The owner was also friendly and kind. They sent me off saying, “If you ever miss a home-cooked meal in Kurashiki, come by anytime,” so I’d like to return for Japanese sake and obanzai.
Peche Luna
For my third stop, I went to Peche Luna, an Italian restaurant in Naramanno Koji in the Bikan Historical Area.
It’s tucked just off the main street, so even on weekends, the atmosphere is quiet.
Here, you can get an “Italian Veal Tongue Stew Set,” made with Okayama vegetables and Italian veal tongue slowly simmered, for 2,000 yen (before tax).
The chunky vegetables were all sweet, and the meat was so tender and fall-apart soft that it was hard to believe it was tongue. It was delicious. They also serve grape juice as well as wine, so it’s fine to come by car.
The portions are manageable even for someone with a small appetite, so after lunch at Peche Luna, you could stroll around the Bikan Historical Area and stop at a cafe.
From the Writer
Just bringing the “Kurashiki Itadakimasu Stamp Rally” card with me when I entered each restaurant gave the staff a chance to strike up a conversation, asking things like, “Where are you visiting from?” and “What other restaurants have you been to?”
By taking part, participants can feel warmly welcomed, as if they’ve become part of this town.
I’m just one restaurant away from completing my stamp rally. I’d like to visit an area outside the Bikan Historical Area for my final stop, and I wrote this report while pondering my options.
The “Kurashiki Lunch Itadakimasu Stamp Rally” is being held through Sunday, March 17, 2024. Why not take your stamp rally card and discover some delicious restaurants?
Kurashiki Lunch Itadakimasu Stamp Rally Information
| Name | Kurashiki Lunch Itadakimasu Stamp Rally |
|---|---|
| Dates | January 20 (Sat) to March 17 (Sun), 2024 |
| Location | Kurashiki City |
| Participation fee (tax included) | Three options: 1,500 yen (before tax), 2,000 yen (before tax), and 2,500 yen (before tax) |
| Website | Kurashiki Lunch Itadakimasu Stamp Rally |
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