Hello, travelers!
This is Cho-san, a writer for [Sarukuma]!

Today I’m introducing
Sakimoto, a
premium shokupan (Japanese milk bread) specialty shop
located in Hikari-no-Mori, Kikuyo Town, Kikuchi District, Kumamoto Prefecture.

This high-end shokupan specialty shop opened in the Hikari-no-Mori area in November 2019.

The parking lot is shared with the neighboring Steak Mania restaurant.
There’s plenty of space available.

I made a reservation and arrived at the 11:00 opening time to pick up my order — but several customers were already waiting outside!

(Pro tip: reservations earn you 1 bonus point on the loyalty card, so booking ahead is highly recommended♪)

Near the entrance, there’s a chalkboard listing the day’s baking schedule.
They post the bake-out times publicly so customers can enjoy bread at its freshest.

Step inside and you’re greeted by the wonderful aroma of freshly baked bread — instant happiness♪
The interior has a warm, welcoming atmosphere with natural wood accents.
While I didn’t snap photos this time, there’s also a cafe with eat-in seating attached to the takeout shop.
The open sandwiches look absolutely delicious♪

Along the path to the register,
you’ll find 16 varieties of jam lined up with free samples to taste.

They’re sold under the brand name “jewel jam”.
The selection is incredibly diverse.
From fruit-based and milk-based jams to ones inspired by traditional Japanese sweets — you’re sure to find a flavor you love♪
Prices range from ¥680 to ¥780.
They also sell carefully sourced artisan honey in jars,
priced from ¥1,080 to ¥1,350.
With charming gift box options available, these make wonderful souvenirs☆

Something rare for a high-end shokupan shop — they also offer pre-sliced bread.
And the packaging is seriously stylish!
A single 28mm-thick slice (1/4 loaf) comes in special packaging,
perfect for lunch or as a small gift — a really convenient size!!
Priced from ¥280, it’s affordable enough to sample several varieties.

Recommended Menu

In addition to the regular menu, there are also day-of-the-week specials, so the lineup never gets boring♪

This time I bought the plain-style
Gokubi “Natural” Shokupan — ¥900.
It comes in a paper bag that adds to the premium feel!
The simple yet elegant shopping bag is also delightfully stylish☆

The side of the loaf is even branded with the “嵜” (Saki) character!
When you pick it up, it feels seriously HEAVY!!
Really substantial in your hands.
The crust is barely noticeable, with a pale, milky-white appearance.
When torn by hand, it has just the right chewiness
with a clearly moist, tender texture.

True to their concept of “bread you can enjoy every single day,”
it contains no eggs and no dairy,
yet the rich aroma of wheat fills your mouth with every bite.
There’s a gentle natural sweetness, but the wheat flavor really shines through —
you’ll absolutely understand why people want to eat this every day.
Made with North American wheat — the variety most familiar to Japanese tables —
this simple, healthy shokupan
is so good you’ll keep eating it plain, with nothing on top♪

Let me also share how it tastes toasted♪
Oh wow — even more amazing!!
It becomes delightfully crisp on the outside,
the wheat aroma intensifies, and there’s a subtle boost in sweetness too…!!
Toasting reveals a completely different personality.

I just had to try one of those unique jams, so I picked one up too♪
“Earl Grey Pearl” — ¥780
I’d never heard of Earl Grey jam before, but —
it’s INCREDIBLY delicious!!
It’s made by slowly simmering milk tea brewed with Earl Grey down into a jam.
I’m usually a coffee drinker, but for this I brewed up some tea to pair with it♪
The elegant milk-tea flavor turned breakfast into a truly luxurious experience~♡

And the shopping bag is once again so cute!!
Pairing the shokupan with a jam makes a stylish, adorable gift —
sure to delight whoever receives it☆
Who wouldn’t be thrilled to get such a thoughtful present?!

A little side note…
As a self-proclaimed “bakery-obsessed writer,” I, Cho-san,
actually flew to Sakimoto’s flagship store in Osaka back before they opened in Kumamoto —
because I just couldn’t wait to try it!
I still remember boarding the plane home with two whole loaves in hand as Osaka souvenirs… haha!

The Osaka-based parent company runs Western confectioneries and cafes,
and has expanded not just throughout Japan but worldwide.
When I heard they were launching a premium shokupan brand, I just had to check it out!

It’s been wonderful watching Sakimoto open in Kumamoto, become a local hit,
and gradually win over more and more Kumamoto fans —
I’m quietly thrilled (though I have no idea why I’m acting like I have a stake in this, haha)!

If you haven’t visited yet, please give it a try♪

Don’t miss this dream collaboration project
put together by Sarukuma’s mom-writers —
our dream project!
《Premium Shokupan Tasting Roundtable》
Check out that article too!

[1st Sarukuma Writers’ Roundtable] Tasting 8 Premium Shokupan Specialty Shops

We did a tasting comparison of premium shokupan from across the prefecture!

[1st Sarukuma Writers’ Roundtable] Tasting 8 Premium Shokupan Specialty Shops

Frequently Asked Questions

*Information is current as of the time of reporting. Prices and hours are subject to change. Please confirm before visiting.