Introducing Setoya

Hello travelers! It’s Maru, a writer for SaruKuma 🙂🙃
Today I’m excited to introduce you to a hidden gem in Amizu-machi, Uto City, Kumamoto Prefecture — “Setoya”.

A stylish cafe and photo studio that opened in March 2021 ☕!!

You’ll find it on the right-hand side as you drive from Uto toward Misumi along Route 57. I’d been curious about it every time I passed by, and it lived up to all my expectations — what a charming, beautifully designed spot! \(^o^)/

Setoya opens its cafe doors at 12:00 PM.
Heads up: in the mornings, the space transforms into a photo studio called “Setolog,” so plan your visit accordingly!

There’s a spacious, easy-to-use parking lot right next to the shop — perfect for road trippers.

Takeout is also available! On a sunny day, grabbing your order and enjoying it on the bench out front is a lovely way to soak in the atmosphere.

Inside, you’ll find a cozy setup with counter seats and two tables — small but full of personality. The interior design is wonderfully curated, creating an incredibly relaxing atmosphere (^O^)

Behind the cafe area, you’ll discover an open photo studio.
The baby photos here are absolutely adorable 😍😍 Newborn photography is one of their specialties.

They have a wonderful collection of charming baby outfits available.
The owner is the photographer, while his wife assists with the babies during the shoot.

On the day I visited, his wife was there — such a kind and gentle person that you’d feel completely at ease leaving your little one in her care. I wish I could have taken my own kids’ photos in a place like this! 👶

One corner of the cafe doubles as a photo gallery — just looking at the displayed photographs filled me with happiness.

By coincidence, the family of one of the babies featured in the photos was visiting that day, and the baby had grown up so adorably I wanted to take her home! Just being nearby was incredibly heartwarming 😍😍

Here’s the photo studio pricing for your reference.

Since the building used to be a sake shop, you’ll also find some unique craft beers and other liquors available for takeout — they’d make wonderful gifts to bring home (^ ^)

Setoya’s Recommended Menu

Here’s the menu!
The soft serve ice cream at Setoya is the famous “Yume Miruku” soft serve from Silica Farm Shisui — a name that frequently pops up on SaruKuma.
It’s truly delicious soft serve, so I highly recommend it for dessert!

[Closed] Silica Farm Shisui: A Drinkable Yogurt That Will Blow Your Mind! (Eishi, Shisui-machi, Kikuchi City)

The hot dogs seem to be a popular favorite. Look at that sausage hanging out the sides — it looks huge and incredibly tasty 😍

The strawberry parfait is loaded with all sorts of goodies 🍓🍓🍓

A petite-sized Ice Monster! It’s wonderful that you can choose from 5 different flavors (^O^)

And there’s also Buranko Ice Cream — these additive-free, handmade ice creams are perfect for kids too 👦👧

This time, I went with a cafe latte and the strawberry Ice Monster!

On a chilly day, the combination of a warm drink and ice-cold dessert is absolute heaven ❤️💛

The soft serve was wonderfully refreshing and incredibly delicious, while the strawberries were sweet and fresh 🍓 It was so good I devoured it in no time! (^ ^)

The cafe au lait was a generous serving that gently warmed up my chilled stomach 💛 You can really taste the care that goes into their coffee.

Next time, I want to come back for a hot dog. If you’re exploring Kumamoto by car, definitely make a stop here ✨ Highly recommended!

Follow us on Instagram for daily updates!
SaruKuma shares lunch spots, parks, indoor play areas, and more for families exploring Kumamoto.
Thanks for following along! (*´∀｀*)

Frequently Asked Questions

*Information current at time of visit. Prices and hours are subject to change. Please confirm before visiting.