A place that fully affirms you, saying 'You're fine just as you are.' I wrote a letter to my future self one year from now.

I finally made it to Jiyucho in Kuramae, a place I had been longing to visit ever since I saw it on Instagram.

Do you ever have places you really want to go, but feel like they're too sacred, so you hesitate, thinking, 'It would be a waste to go now' or 'I want to save this for later'?

Maybe I'm the only one who feels that way, haha.

For me, Jiyucho was exactly that kind of place. But I gathered my courage and took that first step inside, and after just one visit, I was completely hooked😌

The moment I stepped into the shop, I felt something that's hard to put into words—the atmosphere was completely different. It felt like it was fully 'affirming' me, as if it were gently welcoming me by saying, 'You're fine just as you are'...

The staff blended in so well with the customers that at first, I couldn't even tell who worked there, and I was just standing there in a daze for a while (lol).

The staff member who spoke to me had such a wonderful smile that I couldn't help but smile back, and it felt like a flower had suddenly bloomed in my heart.

What I experienced this time was a menu called 'Tomoshibi Letter,' where you write a letter to your future self one year from now. You choose from five themes, and while sipping coffee or warm tea, you can take a breather and face yourself.

Before writing the letter, I read postcards featuring poems written by the owner and used 'reflection cards' to explore my current feelings...

The process of putting your feelings into words and writing them down is surprisingly fun, isn't it? Before I knew it, I was so absorbed that my pen was moving effortlessly. Usually, when I try to write down my feelings at home, I end up overthinking everything in my head and ignoring my true, honest feelings. But I think the space at Jiyucho has a magical charm that naturally allows you to reveal your 'current feelings.'

After finishing the letter to my future self, it was time for the fun part: using a sealing stamp to seal it! The rows of wax looked just like sparkling jewels✨

The stamp the person next to me was making had a color that looked just like delicious 'strawberry milk,' and I even had a moment where I chatted with the staff about how 'it looks so delicious😋'.

From the many colors available, I chose 'yellow-green, gold, clear, and brown.' I couldn't stop feeling excited while waiting for the result.

I was visiting alone, but the staff member kindly took a video of the moment they poured the wax. They were happy for me when the stamp was finished, and I was so satisfied with the result. Finally, they even took a commemorative photo of me with the bookshelf in the background, making it a heartwarming and fulfilling time until the very end. Thank you so much☺️

Even after leaving Jiyucho and walking through the streets of Kuramae, that gentle atmosphere remained in my heart.

Where will I be and what will my face look like when I receive this letter in a year? It was a day spent immersed in a relaxed and happy time while thinking about such things.😌

💌 Hana