Hello everyone, hope you’re having a great day! 😀

This is Yuzu, your Sarukuma writer ☆

Today, I’m excited to introduce Kimura Tofu Shop (Kimura Toufu-ten), a charming local tofu shop tucked away in Ichinomiya, Aso City ♪

Here’s the location! It’s set in Sakanashi-juku, a historic post town along the old Bungo Kaido highway — a route that once connected travelers across Kyushu during the Edo period.

The shop sits within a wonderfully nostalgic streetscape that feels like stepping back in time ☆

They also serve soy milk soft-serve ice cream, so a friendly little soft-serve sign greets you at the entrance 🍦

Let’s head inside — GO! GO! Right when you walk in, you’ll find amazake (a traditional sweet fermented rice drink) for sale, and on this day, fresh goya (bitter melon) was on offer too — though it was already sold out by the time we arrived ☆

First up — feast your eyes on this tofu showcase! Just look at how many varieties they have ☆

Now THAT’S a real tofu shop! 🥰

And the tofu selection is incredibly diverse, including unique flavors like edamame tofu and wasabi tofu!

Next, this showcase is filled with fried tofu (atsuage), prepared side dishes, and sweets ☆

For fried tofu, they have flavors like Negi-Miso Atsuage (thick fried tofu with green onion miso) and Spicy Negi-Miso Atsuage ☆

Of course, being a tofu shop, they also offer fresh soy milk 😀

You’ll also find traditional Japanese side dishes like kiriboshi daikon (dried daikon strips), hijiki seaweed simmer, and okara salad (made from soy pulp) 😆

And then — the SWEETS!

The lineup includes soy milk cheesecake, soy milk rare cheesecake, and soy milk mousse 😍

Right next to the register, you’ll spot the warm and homey handmade okara karinto (traditional crispy fried snacks made from soy pulp) ☆

They also serve fried specialties like pumpkin croquettes with beans and fluffy fried tofu (Tofu no Fuwafuwa-age).

And here we have thick fried tofu (atsuage) and vegetable tofu terrine (Yasai no Tofu-yose).

Don’t they all look delicious!?

The showcase had complimentary okara (soy pulp) available, so I happily helped myself. Then the kind staff gave me extra frozen okara to use as an ice pack for the trip home 😀

Did you know okara can be frozen? Such a clever tip!

Since I had so much okara to work with, I went home and made unohana (a traditional okara stir-fry), okara pancakes, and okara hamburger steaks 🥰

Recommended Menu Items

I tried the thick fried tofu / Atsuage (100 yen) right inside the shop 😆

The friendly staff warmed it up and served it with soy sauce — and even brought me a cup of tea! 😍

Fresh out of the kitchen, it was absolutely delicious 👌

Just keep in mind, there’s only one table inside, so it’s more of a quick bite spot than a sit-down dining experience 😉

Here’s everything I picked up on my visit:

Soy Milk Rare Cheesecake — 220 yen
With a real cracker base, this cheesecake is impressively authentic! Light and refreshingly sweet, you could honestly eat several in one sitting!

Soy Milk Cheesecake — 220 yen
Also wonderfully light and not heavy at all! Even my daughter, who normally doesn’t like cheesecake, raved about this one and said “I can actually eat this!”

According to online reviews, the cheesecakes are extremely popular and often sell out by lunchtime!

And it’s true — I watched other customers piling them into their baskets!

Okara Salad — 100 yen
Originally I wasn’t going to buy this, but a stylish lady who came in after me grabbed three without hesitation, so I thought, “This must be something special!” — and what a hit it was!

The okara isn’t dry or crumbly at all — it’s wonderfully moist, almost like a Japanese-style potato salad. Beautifully seasoned, it’s even kid-friendly!

Edamame Tofu — 150 yen
I enjoyed this one simply with a sprinkle of salt.

The flavor of edamame is incredibly rich and intense! Salt is the perfect pairing for this tofu! It was so creamy and delicious that I genuinely regretted not buying the other flavored tofu varieties 😱

Negi-Miso Atsuage (Thick Fried Tofu with Green Onion Miso) — 80 yen
I lightly toasted this in a frying pan at home. It’s packed with flavorful negi-miso filling — my family fought over it and one piece definitely wasn’t enough! 💦

Spicy Negi-Miso Atsuage — 80 yen
Also pan-toasted to perfection. Generously stuffed with miso, and the spicy kick makes it an ideal pairing with sake 🍶

Whether you’re a drinker or not, you won’t be able to put your chopsticks down 😁

Customers were streaming into the shop one after another during my visit 😁 If you’re traveling around Aso, definitely stop by and try it for yourself 😆 Highly recommended!

Frequently Asked Questions

※ Information accurate at time of visit. Prices and hours may change. Please confirm before visiting.