Fun with masking tapes
Posted by: kirin on 
Aug 5th, 2012 | 
Filed under: TravelSpeaking of masking tape, mt masking tape is famous and it’s from Okayama! There was a shop that sells kawaii masking tapes and some nice postcards and etc. in the Bikan-Chiku historical area in Kurashiki. ^_^
Nyochikudou
You see they decorate the entrance doors with masking tapes. How kawaii! 
Nowadays mt masking tapes have become so popular that we can buy them at various shopping malls in Japan.
But I’m not sure if this Kurashiki Machiya (Machiya is a traditional town house) tape is only available in Okayama…
I liked how they displayed the Kurashiki Machiya tapes. 
I also found some cute Moomin tapes.
But what’s most exciting was that they have a desk in the shop and dozens of masking tapes and simple small paper bags to be decorated with so the shoppers like us can experience what it’s like to play with masking tapes! I love to do such things!! It’s free, of course!
There was a note asking only 1 bag per person and we should consider for the other people who wait to do that, but there was no one else but us in the shop then. So I was able to spend enough time to choose which tape to use among dozens of kawaii tapes.
While I was devoting myself to this work, some customers entered the shop and I felt pressured because I thought I looked as if I occupied this desk. I thought I had to finish it sooner because everyone would wish to do this.
Anyway, I ended my work considering for the others who might be waiting for me.
Then I asked my hubby to take these pics and we left the desk immediately to yield to the next person, but there was no next person, surprisingly. They all left without playing with the tapes…:O I could have played with tapes for hours if I were allowed to make more decorated bags…it’d be nicer if I had made more bags and put some souvenirs in them to give to my friends.
Changing topics, we had a Udon breakfast in Kurashiki.
Bukkaketei Honpo Furuichi
My cold Udon was only 350yen in the morning. (They open from 7am.)
My hubby’s set meal was 500yen. Besides that, each of us had a shrimp tempura for free, thanks to the coupon we got from a free local magazine we grabbed somewhere.
It was good, reasonable and speedy. Quite nice for a breakfast. It seemed the restaurant is loved by the local people as well.
I’ll keep writing more posts on my journey so you can see some other parts of Japan via TKE. ^ ^
Cheers~~
Kirin
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August 5th, 2012 at 1:51 pm
I really enjoy these posts from your trips around Japan, Kirin! Most travel accounts I read are by gaijin – it's great to have the perspective of a Japanese native. Good pictures, too.
August 5th, 2012 at 2:02 pm
This shop is so interesting!!! I would love to decorate the paper bag too! It's so cute! And the Japanese breakfast makes me miss Japan A LOT!!!
August 5th, 2012 at 2:46 pm
I love MT Tapes!
I'm glad my workplace sells it!
I have quite a collection too ^^
August 5th, 2012 at 5:51 pm
That masking tape shop is so cute! I love the traditional townhouse tape. If I were there, that's the one I'd have bought.
The food looks good to. I'm trying to earn enough points on my Visa card to get a free round trip ticket to anywhere in Asia. It will take years but at least I have my destination picked out. 
August 5th, 2012 at 8:33 pm
Oh I didn't knew that this tape is so popular, and that you use it for decoration! Here in Germany, you only find very few tapes and they are usually used only for gift wrapping xD But it is a really good idea!
August 6th, 2012 at 3:03 am
Hi Phil,
Thank you for your comment. ^ ^
I wish to travel more in my own country to share my experiences with TKE readers. But from now on I'll have to work hard to cover the expenses I've spent for this trip. haha! Sometimes it's possible it costs more to travel in Japan than to travel some Asian countries. I wonder I could've travelled in Thailand or somewhere at the same expenses as I paid for this trip. ^ ^;;
August 6th, 2012 at 3:04 am
Oh you already started to miss Japan a lot? ^0^
I'll be always waiting for you here~~ ^__^
August 6th, 2012 at 3:05 am
I think I know why people can be so crazy about these tapes, it was FUN to play with them!
August 6th, 2012 at 3:05 am
Come to Japan, come to Japan, come to Japan and let's meet up~~~~!!
August 6th, 2012 at 3:07 am
So many kawaii ways to use masking tapes. ^__^ http://www.maskingtape.jp/
August 6th, 2012 at 3:58 am
If I make it there, calling you will be the first thing I do.
August 6th, 2012 at 9:53 am
It's the first time for me to know about this way of decoration, and using tape deocration is really cute. I like it. ^_^
August 6th, 2012 at 3:54 pm
yes they are! And there are so many designs! And you can mix them up to make even more designs!!
People can paste on their water bottles, bento boxes, stationery, so much to do!
August 7th, 2012 at 6:48 am
hahaha you enjoy the shop as a kid!! A thing I like from japanese people is that you do the things thinking in don't disturb to the other people like when you take hurry to finish because others costumers get into the shop, that is a very nice thing.
August 7th, 2012 at 8:31 am
Are they "acid free"? Does it say anywhere? Many of us who scrapbook have been hesitant to use these decorative tapes from Japan… If the tape isn't acid free, it will gradually deteriorate the paper underneath.
August 7th, 2012 at 9:09 pm
So many different colours and patterns. No wonder people like masking tapes.
August 8th, 2012 at 1:04 am
I hear some people are so crazy about these tapes, now I think I understand them. ^ ^
August 8th, 2012 at 1:06 am
Thank you Lore.
Yes, that is how most Japanese think. ^ ^
We often think if we are not making other people uncomfortable or disturbing them. ^ ^
August 8th, 2012 at 1:19 am
I don't know, I didn't check that point. But if you are talking about how sticky and how easy to detach the tape from the paper, it's easy. It sticks well but detaches well so the paper underneath will never be deteriorated. ^_^
August 8th, 2012 at 1:20 am
No wonder! ^0^
August 8th, 2012 at 5:59 am
Those super cute masking tapes look like washi tapes! Or are they the same thing?
August 9th, 2012 at 2:54 pm
Hi, Kirin
Especially, its decoration.
well done!!
Japanse foods are very nice 
Thanks for these interesting posts. How cute these masking tapes
Ur work is kawaii !! U used the masking tapes with a creative way
And to make others experience this kind of work !! it’s really great idea. In fact, we understand the great value of things, just when we experience them
Yammy ur breakfast was so delicious
Thanks for these nice posts and for the efforts you've done to let us know more & more about Japan. U're so kind.
August 11th, 2012 at 1:05 pm
Yes, I guess so. Usually Japanese masking tapes are made of Washi so the paper is a kind of transparent and soft.
August 11th, 2012 at 1:07 pm
Hi Sanaa,
Thank you for your sweet comment. It's always nice of you to cheer me up with kind words. ^ ^
I hope you can see a glimpse of our food and culture via this blog.
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