About the Restaurant

Hello, travelers! It’s Maru, your Sarukuma writer 🙂🙃

Today I’m introducing a wonderful spot located in Onoue, Higashi-ku, Kumamoto City,
“Dagojiru Saryo Kokonotsu” — a hidden gem serving Kumamoto’s beloved local soup!

Look at that beautiful, brand-new noren curtain at the entrance!

That’s right — this lovely spot just opened in October! 👏👏👏

You’ll find it near the Higashi Post Office,
right next door to an izakaya called “Shinya.”

The restaurant is set inside a converted traditional Japanese house — full of warmth and charm.

You can park below or in front of the restaurant.
There’s space for about 6 or 7 cars in total.

The pathway is narrow but absolutely lovely — a delightful little approach to the entrance.

There’s no big signboard outside, so the restaurant has a quiet, hidden feel.
Keep an eye out so you don’t walk right past it! (^ ^)

We were the very first customers of the day!

Inside, you’ll find about 6 table seats.
The two-seat tables come with folding screen partitions for added privacy — perfect for a quiet conversation.

And there’s a tatami room with a table inside — a wonderful taste of traditional Japan.

My personal recommendation? The traditional zashiki (tatami) room!

It has such a calm, refined atmosphere — truly special.
The room is about 8 tatami mats large, which is quite spacious! (°д°)

Since there’s only one zashiki room,
I highly recommend reserving in advance, especially if you’re traveling with children! (^ ^)

★Note: The zashiki is on a raised platform (koagari style),
so there’s a noticeable step up to the tatami area — please watch your step!

The numerous windows let you enjoy peaceful views of the garden outside.

The interior design has a sophisticated, grown-up vibe!

Recommended Menu

The menu is refreshingly simple!

Kokonotsu Service Lunch — 980 yen (limited to 15 servings per day)

Kokonotsu Gozen Set — 1,500 yen

Large Dago-jiru with Rice — 1,000 yen

Omakase Gozen (reservation required) — 2,000 yen

And here’s the menu for drinks and zenzai (sweet red bean dessert).

We ordered the 980-yen Service Lunch.

So elegant and refined!

Today’s set included grilled salted mackerel, rolled cabbage, simmered meat, and shira-ae (tofu salad with vegetables).

Everything was delicious, but the shira-ae was especially perfect — exactly the seasoning I love! 😊

And here it is — the star of the show! After all, this is Dagojiru Saryo!
The bowl was much bigger than expected — what a pleasant surprise! (°д°)

Quick culture note: Dago-jiru is a hearty traditional Kumamoto soup with hand-pulled wheat-flour dumplings and vegetables. Instead of the usual miso version, this one is “sumashi” style — a clear, dashi-based broth that’s gentle and soul-warming. Absolutely delicious! ✨

And here’s the lovely after-meal zenzai (sweet red bean soup).
The little bunny bowl might be Miffy?

Lightly sweetened and refined — just delightful!

You can add coffee for just 100 yen extra,
but we got so caught up chatting that we forgot to order it (^^;;

PayPay is also accepted for payment — convenient for cashless travelers!

The Service Lunch was super reasonable at just 980 yen (tax included)! (°д°)

And that even includes the zenzai dessert — what a deal!

Kengun Shrine is also nearby,
so why not stop by for some delicious dago-jiru after visiting the shrine? 𓂃𓂂🍃

Follow us on Instagram for daily updates!
At Sarukuma, we share lunch spots, parks, indoor play areas, and more useful info for families in Kumamoto.
We’d love your follow! (*´∀｀*)

Frequently Asked Questions

*Information current as of the visit. Prices and hours are subject to change. Please confirm before your visit.