A specialty chestnut shop, Maruroku Kurashiki Bikan Historical Area Store (hereafter referred to as "Maruroku") opened in the Bikan Historical Area of Kurashiki City in November 2025. Initially, they focused on selling roasted chestnuts, but it seems that a new lineup of chestnut sweets was added starting in March 2026.
The menu features items that allow you to enjoy chestnuts throughout the year, such as baked goods filled with plenty of chestnuts and refreshing monaka ice cream for summer. I went to check out the new offerings right away.
Maruroku, where you can taste rare Okayama sweet chestnuts
Maruroku is a specialty chestnut shop that opened in the Bikan Historical Area of Kurashiki City in November 2025. They have a roasted chestnut machine at the storefront, allowing you to enjoy chestnuts all year round.
They handle Okayama sweet chestnuts, known for their rich sweetness like traditional Japanese sweets, and have become a base for promoting the charm of Okayama sweet chestnuts.
![[Closed] Maruroku Kurashiki Bikan Historical Area Store - Let's eat freshly roasted Okayama sweet chestnuts when you visit the Bikan Historical Area](https://media.kuratoco.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/15064207/IMG_1318-485x323.jpg)
Introduction of sweets filled with plenty of chestnuts
Here are three types of sweets that have been on sale since March 2026, made with plenty of chestnuts.
- Amaguri Gorogoro Pound Cake
- Okayama Sweet Chestnut Cheesecake
- Amaguri IN Ice
Cute round chestnut-shaped "Amaguri Gorogoro Pound Cake"
The first chestnut sweet is the "Amaguri Gorogoro Pound Cake" (tax included 400 yen), a collaboration with the cake shop Patisserie La Biche located in Tamashima, Kurashiki City.
When you think of pound cake, you usually imagine a square shape, but this product features a round chestnut shape. Inside, there are plenty of cut chestnuts, so you can find chestnuts no matter where you cut.
When you take a bite, the moist texture enhances the presence of the chestnuts, allowing you to feel the natural sweetness of the chestnuts. It's so delicious that you'll want to eat another one.
They are also available in boxes at the storefront (1,200 yen for 3 pieces, 2,400 yen for 6 pieces, with an additional box fee of 100 yen). They could make a nice gift for someone you appreciate.
Enjoy the flavor and texture changes with "Okayama Sweet Chestnut Cheesecake"
The next sweet is the "Okayama Sweet Chestnut Cheesecake" (tax included 500 yen).
It is a collaboration product with "Haremokemo," which has its main store in the Bikan Historical Area of Kurashiki.
The cheesecake has a rich creaminess, and the moment you take a bite, the flavor of chestnuts spreads widely. The combination of the rich cheesecake and the chestnut flavor makes it an irresistible sweet for chestnut lovers.
They are sold frozen at the storefront. When partially thawed, they have an ice cream-like texture, and when fully thawed, they have a texture closer to that of a cake.
When comparing the two, I found that the colder one allowed me to taste the chestnut flavor more. As it thaws, it becomes smoother, and the texture changes so much that you wouldn't believe it's the same cake.
Be sure to buy two and compare them.
Perfect for eating on the go! Monaka ice cream "Amaguri IN Ice"
Finally, we have the self-developed monaka ice cream "Amaguri IN Ice" (tax included 400 yen).
The moment you receive it, you can't help but say "cute!" at the chestnut-shaped monaka. The rounded shape makes you want to hold it and take a picture.
When you bite into the crispy monaka, the sweet flavor of chestnuts spreads from the densely packed ice cream.
The chestnuts used have no added sweetness, relying solely on the ice cream and chestnuts. This made it challenging to bring out the chestnut flavor, so they increased the amount of chestnut paste and combined it with cut chestnuts to arrive at the current blend.
As the weather gets warmer, you'll want to stroll through the Bikan Historical Area with Amaguri IN Ice in hand.
All the sweets are made with plenty of chestnuts, allowing you to savor the deliciousness of the chestnuts themselves.
I spoke with the owner of Maruroku, Takeda Hironori, and the store manager, Kasahara Nozomi, about the development of these sweets.
Data on Maruroku Kurashiki Bikan Historical Area Store
| Name | Maruroku Kurashiki Bikan Historical Area Store |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-23 Higashimachi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 090-8009-4505 |
| Parking | None |
| Business Hours | 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Regular Holiday | Wednesday |
| Payment Methods |
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| Website | Maruroku Kurashiki Bikan Historical Area Store |
