What comes to mind when you think of souvenirs from Kurashiki?
Famous sweets from Kurashiki such as "Murasuzume," Okayama's specialty "Kibidango," Momakari, fruits like grapes and peaches, Igusa products, jeans products...
There are many famous items, but if you choose something standard as a souvenir, it might be something the recipient has received many times in the past.
So, how about choosing a product that is rooted in the local area and known only to the locals as a souvenir?
There is a souvenir shop that handles such items in the Bikan Historical Area.
That souvenir shop is called Kurashiki Meisankan.
The products that the owner is passionately committed to are mainly from "Tora Shoyu," a long-established soy sauce shop in Kurashiki, along with many local souvenirs.
In summer, popular items like Momotaro grapes and white peaches are also sold.
Let me introduce the souvenir shop in the Bikan Historical Area that sells these carefully selected products, Kurashiki Meisankan.
Kurashiki Meisankan is a souvenir shop that sells products the owner is passionate about
Kurashiki Meisankan is a souvenir shop located in the Bikan Historical Area.
It is directly across from Yamau Coffee Stand.
It is operated by a couple, and their motto is "We only handle proper products."
The main products handled by Kurashiki Meisankan can be broadly categorized into three types.
- Tora Shoyu products
- Momotaro grapes (summer limited)
- White peaches (late spring to autumn limited)
All of these are proud local specialties of Kurashiki.
Customers visiting Kurashiki Meisankan seemed to be diligently selecting products.
▼When the peak season for white peaches and Momotaro grapes arrives, the layout of the shop also changes.
Additionally, they also handle popular products such as Okayama City's Kanmandou's souvenir sweet "Kibidangaku" and products from Soja City's Ginger Farm, as well as baked Momakari.
Most of the products handled by Kurashiki Meisankan are from Tora Shoyu
Since Momotaro grapes are a summer limited item, most of the products handled by Kurashiki Meisankan are Tora Shoyu products.
Tora Shoyu was founded in the late Edo period in the Sakadu area of what is now northern Kurashiki City.
It is so rooted in the region that "when it comes to soy sauce around Kurashiki, it is Tora Shoyu."
Inside the shop, Tora Shoyu products were lined up closely together.
There were familiar products from around Kurashiki as well as newly developed trendy items.
The owner of Kurashiki Meisankan is known among Tora Shoyu employees as "the person who knows everything about Tora Shoyu."
If you have any questions about Tora Shoyu or want to know about recommended products, feel free to ask the owner.
About 80% of Tora Shoyu's products can be found at Kurashiki Meisankan
About 80% of the products handled by Kurashiki Meisankan are Tora Shoyu products!
You could say, "If you want Tora Shoyu products, go to Kurashiki Meisankan."
Let's take a look at some representative products.
▼The standard soy sauce products " Bessen Koikuchi" and "High Gold Koikuchi."
▼The familiar "Usukuchi" is also a well-known product.
▼And the new product that is number one in popularity is "Yellow Nira Soy Sauce."
▼There is also a value pack of 1.8 liters.
This soy sauce uses yellow nira, a specialty of Okayama.
- Egg over rice
- Tofu
- Chicken tempura
It goes well with various foods.
▼The "Mushroom Soy Sauce," made with brown mushrooms, which are also a specialty of Okayama, is also popular.
▼The "Okayama Pakuchi Dressing," which has a sweetness while also enjoying the flavor of cilantro, is also a popular product.
In recent years, cilantro has also become a specialty of Okayama.
▼The popular seasoning series from Tora Shoyu was all available.
From the left: "Tora Goma," "Tora Ume," "Tora Shio," "Tora Pon," and "Shiitake Soy Sauce."
▼The western part of Okayama has long been a production area for yuzu. This is "Yuzu Soy Sauce" made with the famous Bichu Yuzu.
It pairs perfectly with hot pot dishes and grilled fish.
You can also sample the yuzu soy sauce.
▼This is the sauce "Tora Taro" for the popular B-class gourmet "Horumon Udon" from northern Okayama Prefecture.
▼Currently, various products from the brand "Tomo Sauce," developed by Tora Soy Sauce, are also available.
▼There were also sweets called "Hishio-yaki" made using soy sauce produced by Tora Soy Sauce.
In addition to these, Kurashiki Meisankan offers many more products from Tora Soy Sauce.
Directly Shipped from Producers! The Summer Limited "Momotaro Grapes" are Also Popular
▼At Kurashiki Meisankan, "Momotaro Grapes" are also sold during the summer season.
Momotaro grapes are a brand of the variety called "Seto Giants."
They were developed in Okayama Prefecture over a period of more than 20 years.
▼Momotaro grapes are characterized by their large, beautiful jade-colored berries. They are seedless and have thin skins, so they can be eaten whole.
▼At Kurashiki Meisankan, only those grapes directly shipped from farmer Daiku Ishii in Funao-cho, Kurashiki City are sold.
They have a sugar content of over 18 degrees.
Ishii's Momotaro grapes are reputed to be delicious, and according to the shop owner, "There are even people who come from far away specifically to visit Kurashiki Meisankan for Momotaro grapes."
By the way, the sales period for Momotaro grapes varies from year to year, but it is generally from around July to October.
It is a popular product that is sure to sell out.
After the sales of Momotaro grapes end, from around November for about a month, a variety called Shine Muscat will also be sold.
Shine Muscat is also a high-end variety and is popular.
Okayama's Specialty "White Peach" is Sold Directly from Selected Production Areas
▼Alongside grapes, Okayama Prefecture's specialty fruit is white peach.
At Kurashiki Meisankan, only carefully selected white peaches from specific production areas are sold.
▼The production areas of the white peaches handled by Kurashiki Meisankan are as follows.
- Tamashima area in Kurashiki City (mainly the Tomita area)
- Ichinomiya area in Okayama City
All of them are sold directly shipped from the production areas.
The sales period for white peaches is from around the spring holiday season to early December.
Many varieties are sold, and the varieties sold differ depending on the time.
▼During the early July when the interview was conducted, the peak season for the "Hakuto" variety was occurring.
By the way, the famous variety from Okayama, Shimizu Hakuto, is generally sold from around late July to early August.
Products from "Ginger Plantation" are Also Recommended
While Kurashiki Meisankan has many products from Tora Soy Sauce, it also handles other items.
Among them, the products from Ginger Plantation in Soja City are particularly popular.
These are made from ginger cultivated in-house within Soja City, and there are various products available.
▼Among them, "Garlic Soy Sauce," "Garlic Ponzu," and "Ginger Stir-fry Sauce" are recommended.
Additionally, "Ginger Jam" and "Powdered Ginger" are also recommended.
Olive Products from Ushimado, the First Olive Cultivation Area in Japan, are Also Recommended
In addition to seasonings from Tora Soy Sauce, products from Ushimado Olive are also noteworthy.
Ushimado Olive is a company that manufactures products using olives from the Ushimado area in Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture.
Ushimado has a history of over 70 years of olive cultivation and has the largest olive grove in Japan.
▼At Kurashiki Meisankan, olive oil from Ushimado Olive is sold.
From left to right, the following products are available.
- Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil Blend
- Red Roof Garlic Olive Oil
- Red Roof Pure Olive Oil Rich
Among these, the Red Roof Garlic Olive Oil is particularly noteworthy.
It won a bronze award in the flavor oil category at the 2019 Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition.
It is the only award in Japan.
Conclusion
The owners of Kurashiki Meisankan are committed to "selling truly good products."
All the products in the store are handled with the owner's passionate dedication.
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to ask the owner.
They will explain in detail with enthusiasm.
When you visit Kurashiki for sightseeing, it is recommended to look for souvenirs at Kurashiki Meisankan.
While they may not be the usual items, giving something rooted in the local area will surely delight the recipient.
Kurashiki Meisankan Data
| Name | Kurashiki Meisankan |
|---|---|
| Address | 4-13 Honmachi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-422-2997 |
| Parking | None |
| Business Hours | 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Regular Holidays | None |
| Payment Methods |
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| Website | You can find almost all Tora Soy Sauce products at Kurashiki Meisankan. | Soy Sauce Brewing, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, Tora Soy Sauce, which has received prestigious offerings |
