What kind of image do you have of the Bikan Historical Area in Kurashiki?
Is it a representative tourist destination of Okayama?
Or is it the holy land of masking tape?
It is also a place with many old folk house cafes.
Being about a 15-minute walk from the nearest JR Kurashiki Station may also be one of the reasons to visit.
In the Bikan Historical Area, new shops have been opening one after another in recent years, making it even more lively.
I visited "Miyake Shoten" (町家喫茶 三宅商店), loved by locals, in the Bikan Historical Area, which attracts tourists not only from Japan but also from abroad.
A cafe where you can feel the old way of life
In the Bikan Historical Area, where old buildings from the Edo period remain, there are shops that have renovated old folk houses here and there.
Depending on the shop, the exterior may have the appearance of an old folk house, while inside, some have modern interiors.
One of the old folk house cafes, "Miyake Shoten" (hereafter: Miyake Shoten), has undergone minimal renovations, so both the exterior and interior convey a sense of history.
You wouldn't imagine from the exterior of Miyake Shoten, but once inside, you realize it is a long and spacious shop.
At the end of the shop, there is a courtyard, and further back, there is said to be a storehouse.
The walls are made of earthen walls, and if you look closely... wait? Is that the JR Kurashiki Station timetable?
From the text "Revised on October 1, 1961," it seems that about 60 years have passed as of 2021.
You can catch a glimpse of the old way of life.
Near the entrance, there is a large table seat that utilizes the shape of the wood itself.
The area raised above the large wooden table requires you to take off your shoes to enter.
Trying the popular curry!
Miyake Shoten's meal menu is simple, featuring only "Miyake Curry."
You can also have the Miyake Curry as a single dish, which comes with soup and pickles.
If you order it as a set, it comes lavishly with a small dessert of the day and a drink (coffee, tea, or orange juice).
Since I was there, I ordered the weekday limited Miyake Curry set (Miyake Curry + drink + small dessert).
| Menu | Weekdays | Weekends and Holidays |
|---|---|---|
| Miyake Curry (single) | 1,100 yen | 1,100 yen |
| Miyake Curry + drink | - | 1,320 yen |
| Miyake Curry + drink + small dessert | 1,650 yen | - |
| Miyake Curry + drink + cake | - | 1,900 yen |
The curry has spices in it, but it's sweet!
I think it's a flavor that can be enjoyed by a wide range of ages.
It also has seasonal vegetables in it, and I enjoyed the texture of the fried lotus root as well.
The rice is brown rice, and I feel like I'm getting clean from the inside out after eating it.
A small dessert was brought out after the meal.
It feels like it's not just a "small" dessert, but rather a full plate's worth of volume...
There were two types of ice cream, with matcha on the bottom and a vanilla base with nuts on top.
The chiffon cake was served with lightly sweetened whipped cream, and on top was jam from Miyake Shoten, making it visually appealing.
Sweets Menu is a Must
The curry is recommended, but the sweets menu is also a must-try.
After much deliberation, I chose the seasonal limited new tea parfait.
In May, when I had the parfait, it reminded me that it was the season for new tea.
| Menu | Price (including tax) |
|---|---|
| Parfait (single) | 1,210 yen～ |
| Parfait set (parfait + drink) | 1,430 yen～ |
On top, there is an orange processed in the Miyake Shoten workshop, and next to it is a new tea cookie.
Under the whipped cream topped with goji berries is fragrant hojicha ice cream.
It seems that the ice cream uses tea leaves from Kaitaen in Mimasaka.
I took a bite with green tea jelly and red bean paste.
Under the hojicha ice cream, there is matcha ice cream.
Since it contains walnuts, the texture changes with a crunch, so it doesn't get boring.
Under the matcha ice cream, there is pumpkin and matcha bean paste.
The combination of the natural sweetness of pumpkin and the depth of matcha is a good match.
I can't believe there's a special flavor saved for last!
How About Enjoying Popular Menu Items from Miyake Shoten at Home?
Miyake Shoten also sells jams and other items used in their menu.
On the right side of the store entrance, there is a sales corner for Miyake Shoten's retort curry and syrup for shaved ice.
Both curry and shaved ice are popular menu items at Miyake Shoten.
It's nice to be able to enjoy the taste of Miyake Shoten at home.
On the left side of the entrance, there is a row of jams and masking tape.
The jams are made at the Miyake Shoten workshop in Sakatsu.
They are visually appealing, so they would likely be appreciated as souvenirs or gifts for people from outside the prefecture.
Now, what caught my attention among these was the retort curry.
I never expected to be able to eat popular curry at home!
I was also curious about the taste reproduction, so I decided to purchase it.
I warmed the retort pouch in hot water for about 5 minutes and ate it with brown rice.
There was more pork in it than I imagined, so I thought, "Huh? It's luxurious for a retort!"
It contains both firm meat and tender fatty pieces.
There are no seasonal vegetable toppings, so it looks different from what you get in the store, but the taste is the same!
The roux highlights the sweetness of the vegetables and fruits, and I was amazed by the high level of reproduction.
Miyake curry retort can be purchased at the following locations.
- Machi-ya Cafe Miyake Shoten
- Hayashi Genjuro Pharmacy Museum
- Miyake Shoten Sakatsu Cafe
- Online Shop
Next, I spoke with staff member Nakaso Midori.
Machi-ya Cafe Miyake Shoten Data
| Name | Machi-ya Cafe Miyake Shoten |
|---|---|
| Address | 3-11 Honmachi, Kurashiki City |
| Contact | 086-426-4600 |
| Parking | None |
| Business Hours | Weekdays: 11:30 AM - 5:30 PM (Last order at 5 PM) Saturdays: 11 AM - 7:30 PM (Last order at 7 PM) Sundays and Holidays: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM (Last order at 5 PM) *Business hours may change depending on the season |
| Regular Holidays | None |
| Payment Methods |
|
| Reservation Availability | Yes Reservations not accepted during busy periods (spring break, Golden Week, summer vacation, New Year, winter vacation) |
| Seating | 1st Floor: Number of tables: 9 2nd Floor: Number of tables: 4 (used if the 1st floor is full) |
| Smoking | Completely non-smoking |
| Toilet | Western-style toilet |
| Childcare | High chairs available |
| Website | Miyake Shoten |
