When was the last time you penned a hand-written letter? As we now live in a fast-paced digital world, many of us have lost touch with pen and paper. At Jiyucho, you can take the time to reflect on your day and write a letter to yourself which will be sent to you a year later.
It’s a unique concept, and the shop offers several letterset options. The Tomoshibi (¥2,970) is the most popular, where you get to choose a postcard themed on past, present or future to help prompt your letter, as well as a cup of coffee or tea. Once you’ve finished, seal your letter and hand it to the staff who will mail it to you a year later.
The Cup of Letter (¥880) option, on the other hand, gives you a poem and an essay written by Jiyucho’s owner Koyama-san, along with a drink to enjoy while reading. This set can be mailed to yourself or a friend as a lovely surprise gift.
Lastly, Jiyucho’s Calendar letter subscription (¥1,760) will send you a monthly calendar page and reflection card which you can write on at the end of each month. Once you’ve received all your cards, they can be made into a book at the shop as a nice journal of your year.
Jiyucho also offers a special book exchange service, where you can leave a message or note within the book for the next reader. Once you’ve dropped off your book, you can pick up another from the bookshelf to take home with you.
Reservations are recommended when visiting on weekends.