Introducing Omusubi Sabo Toki

Hello everyone, this is Aikero, writer for [Sarukuma].

Today I’m introducing a lovely spot located in Motoyama, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City:
[Omusubi Sabo Toki]Newly opened on March 10, 2025!
I visited this rice ball shop that prides itself on quality ingredients, so let me share what I found (^^)/

It’s right on Taihei-bashi Street, just a short walk from [ROTARY COFFEE]!
Turn at the FamilyMart and you’ll spot it.

Coming from Route 3, turn at Gin-shari-tei opposite [N+ Onigiriya] and head straight — you’ll find the shop ♫
Since the rice comes from a different region, it could be fun to do a rice ball taste comparison!

[ROTARY COFFEE] A wonderfully cozy coffee shop tucked in a residential area where you can also enjoy delicious sweets ⭐︎ {Motoyama, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City}

[N+ Onigiriya – Honjo-machi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City] Taste Niigata and Himeji while in Kumamoto! A meticulously crafted rice ball shop has just opened!

Parking is a short distance from the shop, with 4 spaces available.
Note that the lot directly behind the shop is NOT for customers, so please be careful (^^)/
Details are posted on the [Omusubi Sabo Toki] Instagram, so please check before you visit.Look for the white concrete lot with this sign — that’s the shop’s parking.Inside, the shop is bright and welcoming, with a natural, woody atmosphere.
There are eat-in seats available too ♫
The counter stools are a bit tall, so families with small kids might feel more comfortable at a table seat (^^)Why open the shop here? Where does the name come from? You’re probably curious too (^^)/
I got to chat with the owner ♫ (Sorry — I forgot to take a photo of them, so please enjoy a rice ball photo instead!)

Aikero

I noticed there’s a silhouette of a toki (crested ibis) bird in your logo — is the shop named after the bird?

No, actually! Our shop is run by family, and my grandmother’s name was Tokiko. We took one character from her name. The kanji means “to bind” or “bring together,” which we thought paired beautifully with onigiri ^^

Omusubi Sabo Toki staff

Aikero

What a lovely story! “Bringing together” really does suit onigiri ♫
So what made you decide to open a rice ball shop right here?

This space used to be where we did assembly work for another business. When we moved that operation to a different factory, we all sat down to discuss what to do with the space, and we landed on opening an onigiri cafe!
Since most of us are housewives, we figured rice balls were something we could really do well.

Omusubi Sabo Toki staff

Aikero

Onigiri are perfect — easy and approachable for any age group ♪
I hear you’re also particular about your ingredients?

Absolutely! Our rice is Sunada-mai, an organic, pesticide-free variety from Kikuchi and Shichijo. Our nori is from the Ariake Sea, our salt is from Amakusa — every ingredient is sourced right here in Kumamoto Prefecture.
They’re rice balls that taste delicious even when they’ve cooled down ♪

Omusubi Sabo Toki staff

Aikero

When the recipe is simple, the quality of the ingredients really shines through!
But honestly, your prices aren’t high at all — I’m a bit surprised. Rice prices have skyrocketed lately, and organic rice is even pricier, right?

…They really are (^_^;) Both rice and nori are quite expensive these days.
But a lot of our customers are elderly folks and students, so we work hard to keep our tax-included prices as low as possible — right at the edge of what’s sustainable — so everyone in the community can drop by easily!

Omusubi Sabo Toki staff

I arrived a little after 2 p.m., so as you can see, a few items had already sold out Σ(･ω･ﾉ)ﾉ!

But don’t worry!
As long as the rice and the filling are in stock, they’ll happily make any sold-out item fresh for you ♫
For large orders, please call to reserve at least one day in advance.

〈Standard Onigiri〉
・Salt (Shio)　　　　　130 yen
・Kombu (Kelp)　　　　150 yen
・Okaka (Bonito Flakes)　150 yen
・Tuna Mayo　　150 yen
・Takana (Pickled Mustard Greens)　150 yen
・Honey Pickled Plum　200 yen
・Salmon　　200 yen
・Salmon Mayo　　200 yen
・Tuna Mayo (Premium)　　200 yen
・Nori Tsukudani (Simmered Seaweed)　250 yen
・Omusubi Skewer　300 yen
Alongside the standard menu, three weekly-rotating onigiri were on display!

“That weekly special from before was so good — please bring it back!” — apparently they get requests like this all the time ♫

The team brainstorms together to come up with delicious flavor combinations.
For spring, they’re planning vibrant, colorful, photo-worthy onigiri ♪The omusubi skewer — exciting just to look at ♡
Karaage (Japanese fried chicken) — the perfect partner for onigiri.
The simmered seaweed (tsukudani) used in their nori onigiri is also sold separately ♫
Many customers fall in love with the rice ball and end up taking home a jar of the tsukudani too!

At [Omusubi Sabo Toki], there are special breakfast and lunch sets available for eat-in only.

・Breakfast Set: any onigiri + 250 yen, available 9:00–11:00 only
(Includes miso soup and pickles)

・Lunch Set: any onigiri + 450 yen, available 11:00–15:00 only
(Includes pork miso soup, pickles, karaage, and tamagoyaki)

Lunchtime gets busy, but I went after 2 p.m. and was able to enjoy a relaxed meal ♫

Recommended Menu Items at Omusubi Sabo Toki

I went with my daughter, so we ordered the lunch set and zenzai (sweet red bean soup with mochi).
For onigiri, we picked the weekly-special negi shio okaka (green onion, salt, and bonito) and the honey pickled plum.
They even asked whether we wanted green onion in our pork miso soup — such a thoughtful little gesture.
The generous bowl was packed with chunky, hearty vegetables ♪
Ichimi (Japanese chili pepper) is available at the self-serve corner — feel free to help yourself (^^)/The negi shio okaka had a bold, satisfying flavor with real depth!
Every ingredient came through clearly — it was truly delicious ♫

The honey pickled plum had been sold out, but they kindly made me a fresh one once the next batch of rice was ready (*’ω’*)
The plum wasn’t sour at all, the moist nori had a perfect crisp bite — also incredibly tasty!

Depending on your onigiri choice, the lunch set starts at just 580 yen — what a steal ♪
The zenzai was loaded with sweet red beans ♪
The pickles served alongside it? Absolutely irresistible ♡

“The mochi is so chewy and yummy!” — my daughter happily devoured every bite.
A gentle, comforting sweetness that just melts your worries away ♪They also serve the trendy Greek yogurt — “We strain it ourselves as a team!” they told me proudly.
It’s wonderful to have a casual spot where you can enjoy treats like this (*’ω’*)

The owner’s family has called this neighborhood home since their grandfather’s generation, so local elders stop by, moms drop in with kids on the way home from a stroll — it’s already a beloved fixture in the community.

“Even if you just want to chat or grab a cafe item, please come by!” they warmly invited.

[ROTARY COFFEE] A wonderfully cozy coffee shop tucked in a residential area where you can also enjoy delicious sweets ⭐︎ {Motoyama, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City}

[N+ Onigiriya – Honjo-machi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City] Taste Niigata and Himeji while in Kumamoto! A meticulously crafted rice ball shop has just opened!

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Frequently Asked Questions

※Information is current as of the time of reporting. Prices and hours are subject to change. Please confirm before your visit.