About Sakuraya Horsemeat Shop

Hello there!
This is Maru, a writer for Sarukuma 🙂🙃

Today I’m introducing a wonderful local gem located in Minamidanbara-machi, Uto City, Kumamoto Prefecture:
“Sakuraya Horsemeat Shop” (Basashi no Sakuraya)

You’ll find the shop conveniently located not too far from Uto City Mall — easy to add to your Kumamoto food adventure!

Parking is available right in front of the shop — perfect if you’re traveling by rental car.

Step inside and you’ll feel right at home.

This is a long-established butcher shop with deep roots in the community.
While horsemeat sashimi (basashi) is the star of the show, they also offer fried delicacies, ready-to-eat side dishes, and a great selection of frozen meats!

Here’s the horsemeat section, featuring basashi (raw horsemeat sashimi), horse tendon, horsemeat for grilling, and tategami (mane fat) — a Kumamoto specialty. The variety is impressive! 🐴

And here’s the deep-fried snacks section!

Horsemeat croquette: 180 yen
Beef croquette: 180 yen
Chicken katsu: 159 yen
Menchi katsu (fried minced meat cutlet): 250 yen, and more.

On the day I visited, there were 10 different varieties lined up!
The best part? They’ll fry your order fresh on the spot — piping hot and ready to eat (^O^)

The frozen food section is also well-stocked, with options like:
Simmered horse offal: 1,382 yen and simmered horse tendon: 1,080 yen — convenient items you can simply heat up and enjoy. Perfect for taking back to your hotel or accommodation!

Jersey beef hamburger steak: 324 yen each

Additive-free hamburger steak: 324 yen each

From pork spare ribs to yakitori (grilled chicken skewer) sets, the variety is truly impressive.

Recommended Menu Items at Sakuraya

This time, I picked up some side dishes and basashi to take home!

Freshly fried in-store: the horsemeat croquette at 180 yen.

The combination of silky-smooth potato and minced horsemeat is an absolute winner — comfort food at its finest! ♪

And here’s the menchi katsu at 250 yen.

If you zoom into the photo, you can practically see the juicy goodness oozing out!
My daughter happily devoured hers (^^)

Now this one is a real treat — the frozen basashi-man (horsemeat steamed bun) at 330 yen.
Just pop it in the microwave and it’s ready to enjoy in minutes!

I expected something similar to a regular pork bun, but to my delight, it was packed with generous chunks of horsemeat — pure luxury in every bite (^O^)!

The sweet-and-savory simmered horsemeat was incredibly tender with no gamey aftertaste at all — absolutely delicious.

Definitely a flavor I’d want to enjoy again and again ♪

And finally, the moment we’d all been waiting for — the premium lean basashi at 972 yen for 100g.
The portion shown in the photo costs just over 1,000 yen. We paired it with the special basashi soy sauce (270 yen).

Just look at that beautiful red color — it’s absolutely mouthwatering (^^)

Add a generous helping of fresh ginger that comes on the side, and…
We savored every bite of the fresh, premium-quality lean horsemeat. As expected from a specialty shop — top-notch quality!

Whether it’s basashi, side dishes, or even souvenirs to take home, Sakuraya has something for everyone. Highly recommended for any food-loving traveler in Kumamoto! \(^o^)/

Frequently Asked Questions

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