Kurashiki｜A Serene Courtyard in a Century-Old Machiya

Nearly a decade ago, I had an unforgettable afternoon tea at Miyake Shoten, indulging in their parfait and coffee. Over the years, I visited Kurashiki several times but always gave up due to the long queues. On the day of my evening flight back to Taiwan, I strolled around Kurashiki's temples and shrines and was delighted to find one available seat at Miyake Shoten. During lunch hours, they serve a curry set meal featuring Japanese-style curry sautéed with apple puree, paired with local vegetables, pickled radish, and finished with egg drop soup. This machiya, dating back to the late Edo period, boasts over a century of history. Originally a general store, it later transformed into a café and gained widespread acclaim. The courtyard of this historic building is a picturesque frame of greenery and eaves, offering a tranquil dining experience on tatami mats. The lunch set also includes homemade caramel ice cream and apple chiffon cake, priced at just over NT$300. The shop also sells small items, coffee, and jams. Notably, their parfaits change with the seasons, and the shop even hand-draws illustrations to explain the parfait's components. If you visit Kurashiki, consider stopping by to relax and appreciate the beauty of machiya architecture. 📍Address: 3-10 Honmachi, Kurashiki, Okayama 710-0054, Japan 🚗 A 10-minute walk from Kurashiki Station