Hello, fellow travelers!
This is Binako, your Sarukuma writer!

Today I’m excited to introduce a charming local bakery in Suginamidai, Kikuyo Town, Kikuchi District, Kumamoto Prefecture:
“Foodya Panboo” (風土屋 ぱんぶう).

Here’s a fun bit of Japanese wordplay for you:

Fudoya…

Fu-do-ya…

Food-ya…!

The name is a clever play on words combining the Japanese word “fudo” (meaning local culture/terroir) with the English word “food.” So clever — I was genuinely impressed!

There’s parking for about 5 cars right in front of the shop. Just keep in mind that the bakery’s delivery vehicles also use this space, so availability may vary depending on when you visit.

Step inside and you’ll find an inviting display of beautifully arranged breads. When I visited, plenty of customers were already loading up their baskets with fresh-baked goodies.

I arrived just past lunchtime, and as I expected from such a popular spot — several varieties had already sold out!

The fresh bread loaves go for just 380 yen — an absolute steal!

For the size you get, 380 yen is unbelievably affordable. No wonder this place has such a loyal local following.

You’ll also find Japanese-style milk bread (shokupan) and baked sweets!

The cream-filled shokupan with an adorable panda face on top looks absolutely irresistible. The cookies are generously sized too — perfect for a substantial snack!

They also stock sandwiches and drinks — making this a wonderfully well-stocked little bakery!
With such variety, kids will have a blast picking out their favorites too.

And now for the star of the show:

Cool Pan — 170 yen each
This signature treat is kept in a freezer to be enjoyed chilled!

Available flavors include:
Strawberry, Chestnut, Sweet Red Bean, Sweet Potato,
Coffee, Caramel, Matcha Green Tea, Lemon,
Mango, Blueberry, Custard,
Chocolate, and Melon

That’s a seriously impressive flavor lineup!

Here’s how the freezer is organized inside.
By the time I arrived, the top shelf only had two left!

Pull open the freezer drawer and you’re greeted by an army of Cool Pan in every flavor imaginable!

From fruity options to coffee-based ones… it’s almost impossible to choose just one!

Recommended Picks

This time around, I picked up:
Soft Cornet — 130 yen
Cool Pan, Coffee Flavor — 170 yen

The cornet (a Japanese cone-shaped pastry filled with cream) has become my go-to order. Always a winner!

First up, the cornet!
Look at that overflowing chocolate filling!

My son, who’s a serious chocolate cornet enthusiast, was over the moon!

“So…goooood!”

He polished it off in under 10 minutes.
Normally meals take him an hour or more — that’s how good this was!

I know, the photo is a bit dark…
But please let me share this!

The chocolate filling goes all the way to the very tip of the cornet!

That kind of attention from the baker is just the best, isn’t it?
You get to enjoy chocolate in every single bite, right down to the last!

Now for the Cool Pan!
I kept it in the freezer overnight and enjoyed it the next day.

The surface of the bread is a bit firm and crisp from the cold — exciting to bite into!

Whoaaaaa!!

It’s absolutely packed with whipped cream!
And because it’s chilled, it has this lovely light, almost fizzy texture — none of the heaviness you sometimes get with cream-filled pastries!

The coffee filling has a sorbet-like consistency and pairs beautifully with the frozen whipped cream!

The frozen bread, whipped cream, and coffee gradually melt together in your mouth — pure bliss!

Honestly, you could eat several of these without feeling full. If they showed up at snack time, I’d happily polish off two!

If you’re exploring Kumamoto, definitely make a stop here — you won’t regret it!

Frequently Asked Questions

※Information is current as of the time of reporting. Prices and hours may change. Please confirm before visiting.