Remembering that day in Kuramae a year later. A "time capsule trip" to record the memories of two people on letter paper

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Is there a trip that you still remember fondly?

Every time I look back at the photos, the memories of my trip come back to me as if it were yesterday. It could be a casual conversation with a friend, the aroma of coffee I drank at a cafe, or the color of an old sign I found in an alleyway. Memories that I felt with my five senses like these never fade over time, and rather become more meaningful with the years.

Traveling with friends from school days is an irreplaceable treasure, especially. The time you spend together before each of you embarks on a new path will surely become an invaluable asset.

A letter brings back memories one year later: A "time capsule trip"

If you're planning a trip with friends to make special memories, we recommend a "time capsule trip," where you write down your memories of the trip in a letter to "yourself one year from now." It's sure to be a hit with both couples and groups.

The stage for this is Kuramae, a town where the craftsmanship of artisans dating back to the Edo period and up-and-coming creators come together, and where old and new cultures intersect. In this town where you can feel the passage of time, why not deliver the thoughts and memories of this moment to your future self?

[Time Capsule Journey Procedure]

Breakfast at a cafe with a striking blue interior | "feb's coffee&scone Blucca"

A two-minute walk from Kuramae Station on the Toei Oedo Line. Start your trip with breakfast at feb's coffee&scone Blucca, marked by its blue exterior. Opened in September 2023, this is a sister store of the popular Asakusa store FEBRUARY CAFE, and is a collaboration with anvers, a flower shop also located in Asakusa.

Upon opening the door, you'll be greeted by the deep blue theme color of "anvers" and antique furniture. The tastefully placed potted plants create an urban yet warm space.

For breakfast, we chose the "Scone Set (800 yen)" which is only available from 8:30 am to 11:30 am. It is a luxurious morning meal that includes a scone (choice of plain, cranberry, nut, or whole wheat) that is warmed to order, clotted cream, molasses, and your choice of drink (choose from a selection of coffee, tea, etc.).

Both of us were excited by the breakfast, which not only looked good but also tasted great! We also took a photo of our first memory with a Polaroid camera. The time we spent casually drinking coffee becomes an irreplaceable moment when we look back on it later.

feb's coffee & scone Blucca

Make your own original notebook as a souvenir| "Kakimori"

After warming our bodies and minds with breakfast, we next headed to Kakimori, known as a mecca for stationery lovers. The store, which has the theme of "Happy writing," is filled with a wide selection of carefully selected stationery items, including notebooks, pens, and letter paper. We were excited by the unique atmosphere of Kuramae, a manufacturing town lined with traditional wholesalers of leather and fabric products, and artisan shops.

The bookbinding space in the center is a highlight, but the herringbone pattern on the walls and floor is also eye-catching. This design is inspired by colored pencils, and is said to embody Kakimori's desire to "add new value to old, nostalgic things."

The most attractive feature is the custom-made service, which allows you to create your own original notebooks. You can customize each notebook to your liking, from the cover material and color, to the type of paper inside, and even the binding method.

We tried to make our own original notebooks to record the memories of this special day. You can freely combine your favorites from over 60 different cover materials, colors and patterns, and over 30 different types of inner paper. You can choose the size, B5 or B6, and the opening style, vertical or horizontal.

Choose the front cover, back cover, and inner pages from the shelves in the store. There are so many cute designs that you won't have enough time to choose! The cover materials are cloth, leather, washi paper, and many other colors and patterns. You're sure to find a design that suits your taste.

What's more, the combinations available when it comes to ring colors and fasteners such as rubber bands, seals, and buttons are endless!

Once you've finished selecting everything, it's time for the binding. Kakimori offers a unique experience where you can watch your notebook being made up close and personal, listening to the clanging and snapping sounds. Your original notebook will be complete in about 30 minutes (approximately 1 hour during peak times and on weekends).

What's more, if you take your notebook to Kakimori after you've finished using it, they will replace the paper inside (for a fee. Mailing is also available)! You can continue to use your beloved notebook for a long time.

Discuss things like, "Which design should we go for?" and "What color clasp do you think would go well with this cover design?" and create a book that will become both a souvenir and a memento of your trip.

Kakimori

Overlooking the Sumida River and Skytree | "Inf~Sumida River Italian~"

After the experience, it's time to get hungry. After passing through the retro back alleys of Kuramae, you'll find an adult hideaway along the Sumida River! Enjoy lunch in a sophisticated space that appears in the middle of a good old streetscape. The space combines an industrial interior reminiscent of Brooklyn, NY, with warm wood, making it a truly memorable and photogenic location.

Furthermore, from the terrace seats by the windows you can get a panoramic view of Tokyo Skytree and the Sumida River, a symbol you won't want to miss if you've come all the way to Kuramae.

For lunch, I chose the popular "Cinnamon Bolognese." This is a dish the chef, who has trained in Tokyo for over 10 years, inherited from his master and is the pride of the restaurant. The extra-thick, curly noodles, which are rare for pasta, are from Tonnarelli Romana in Asakusa Kaikaro, a local restaurant. The traditional recipe is topped off with an original sauce that adds cinnamon, making for a perfect combination.

The unique atmosphere of a trip to Kuramae will make for great conversation. It's also fun to look back on your trip by looking back at the photos you've taken.

Inf Sumida River Italian Kuramae branch

Experience the warmth of the city and its people | "Nui."

If you feel like taking a break during your stroll around Kuramae, head to "Nui. HOSTEL & BAR LOUNGE." This space, renovated from an old warehouse building, is a bustling place where travelers from all over the world and locals mingle.

The name "Nui." is said to represent the process of construction, where the space was created not according to blueprints but through daily conversations and relationships of trust, and the desire to value individual thoughts rather than relying on manuals.

The open lounge on the first floor, with its high ceilings, operates as a cafe where you can enjoy coffee, tea, seasonal fruit juices, etc. It's the perfect place for a short break while walking around town.

The second to fifth floors are the accommodation floors and are also open as a hostel. In addition to dormitories, there are multiple types of private rooms, including double rooms with views of the Sumida River and twin rooms that are convenient for friends.

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Nui. HOSTEL & BAR LOUNGE

Write a letter to record your memories of this trip | "Jiyucho"

The trip is finally coming to an end. The morning conversation at the cafe, the favorite notebooks that we chose together. The last destination of the day, "Jiyucho", is the place where today's memories are delivered to the future.

What you can find here is a special letter called the "TOMOSHIBI LETTER," a letter set that allows you to send a letter to your future self one year from now.

In this shop, where handwritten messages line the white walls, why not take your time writing a letter to yourself a year from now while looking back at the photos you took today?

There are five themes for the letter to choose from depending on the scene or feeling, such as when you want to remember something, when a special day is coming up, etc. Among them, we chose "A new morning toward a dream" because it was our graduation trip.

"TOMOSHIBI LETTER" is a set that includes a postcard to address to yourself one year from now, a Reflection Card, and an additional postcard with pictures that you can use. You can spend some relaxing time writing your letter with a cup of hot tea (or coffee).

Jiyucho is a place that is completely dedicated to "writing letters," and has a wide variety of stationery that you can use freely. One of the most recommended items is the ballpoint pen "TETZBO" made by metalwork artist Yoshikazu Takai. The brass handle is said to be unique in that it naturally polishes with use, becoming a lustrous gold color. You will feel as if you are connected to the people who visit Jiyucho across time.

You will write down your memories of your trip as you answer questions and have conversations on the included Reflection Card.

Once you've finished writing the letter, you can enclose any instax photos you took on the trip to make your memories even more vivid. If you have digital instax photos or photos from your smartphone, you can have them printed at the store for 550 yen each (up to 5 photos per person).

Seal the envelope with your own original seal. Choose from a variety of colorful wax colors and melt them to create your own seal.

Once you've poured the wax and stamped it, your letter is complete! Pack all the special moments and feelings you had today into the envelope and seal it carefully, then hand it over to the staff at the store to finish.

Jiyucho

Make memories of a trip together with a friend from your school days or with your partner.

When the letter arrives a year later, feelings that could not be captured in a photograph and something important that you didn't notice at the time will slowly seep into your heart, just like opening a time capsule.

When we open this letter, what kind of future will we be walking into? I'm sure that along with today's memories, new dreams will unfold. So why not start a journey of new memories that will reach the future?

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