Introducing .M (Dot M)

Hello, this is Aikero, a writer for Sarukuma!

Today I’m introducing a wonderful spot in Ozu Town, Kikuchi District:
【.M (Dot M)】.
Many of you may already know honey lemon soda.m from local marché events — perhaps you’ve even tasted their famous lemonade!

On April 29, 2025, the owner finally opened a brick-and-mortar shop in their hometown of Ozu Town!

You’ll find the café along the old main road through Ozu, in the former location of “Musubiya En” — easy to spot. The road in front gets quite busy, so if you’re visiting with little ones, please hold their hands tight and use the crosswalk safely.The interior was hand-built DIY by the owner and staff! They laughed about how they hammered “five times more nails than a real carpenter would” while putting up wallpaper and wood panels. The result is full of personality and warmth (●＾o＾●)
Here’s the menu!

・Original Honey Lemon Soda — 400 yen
・Honey Lemon Craft Ginger — 500 yen
★Available without carbonation upon request.

・Americano — 500 yen
・Caffè Latte — 600 yen
・Caffè Mocha — 650 yen

・Gâteau au Chocolat — 450 yen

During Golden Week, they ran a special pop-up event:
a popularity vote on the daily light meals!

The winners may even become permanent menu items — keep an eye on what comes next!

.M (Dot M) Recommended Menu

While I was deciding between the two lemonades, the ginger version sold out right before my eyes Σ(･ω･ﾉ)ﾉ! So I went with the Original Honey Lemon Soda!

Honestly, I had never tried honey lemon soda.m before, so this was my first taste.
The lemons used are domestic Shiranui lemons from Shimizu Orchard in Shiranui Town — meaning you can eat the whole fruit, peel and all♫

This isn’t lemonade made from syrup alone — it’s loaded with real lemon flesh and peel. The fizzy, sweet-sour burst was exactly what I needed on a warm day (●＾o＾●)

Unlike some “lemon-flavored” drinks that disappoint, this one delivers true lemon flavor in every sip. It’s not too tart, which is why kids at the marché events have always loved it.
The leftover lemon pieces? I took them home to enjoy! On the drive back, the melted ice water gave me a second round of lemon goodness… ha!

The peel had a pleasant hint of bitterness — also delicious♪

Of course, I had to join the popularity-vote event!
The day’s choices were:
・Healthy(?) Ginger Pork Salad
・Sweet Chili Chicken Salad

I picked the Sweet Chili Chicken Salad! Despite the name, it wasn’t very spicy — and it was absolutely loaded with chicken. Whether it’ll come back depends on followers’ votes — fingers crossed!

About .M (Dot M)

I had a wonderful chat with the staff this time, too!

Aikero

Congratulations on your grand opening! First question — what’s the meaning behind the name “.M (Dot M)”?

It comes from our marché brand “honey lemon soda.m” and our photography brand “Marcato.” Marcato is a musical term meaning “distinct, not blending in with other notes” — and it reflects how we cherish each individual encounter we have.
With close friends, I joke that it’s because my last name is Matsumoto! ha

Staff #2

Actually his name is Takeshita, not Matsumoto! ha

Staff #1 and #2.5

Aikero

(I quickly checked the business card to confirm! ha)
It’s wonderful for visitors to know the meaning behind the name♪ Why did you choose this particular spot for the shop? Were you active in this area before?

Thank you, that means a lot! Ozu Town is my hometown, and I really wanted to help liven up the local community. While I was searching for the right space, this location came up — it felt like fate. We renovated everything ourselves, so it’s not perfect, but it’s full of love.

Staff #2

Aikero

DIY-renovating the entire shop is impressive! And these lemons are domestically grown, right? Are you particular about where they come from?

Honestly, I wanted to use lemons grown in Ozu, but there aren’t many local growers. I found one farmer, but they retired — so now we source from Shimizu Orchard in Shiranui. Next year I’d love to use seasonal green lemons, too.

Staff #2

Aikero

Green lemons have such a beautiful aroma♡ I’m already excited for next year! Thank you so much for sharing your stories with us today♪

The lovely staff who appeared in those speech bubbles — Staff #1, Staff #2, and Staff #2.5 of .M (Dot M).

The moment I introduced myself with “I’m from Sarukuma…,” they lit up: “Sarukuma came to visit us!” Their excitement made my day (●＾o＾●)

Everyone is energetic, fun to chat with, and the whole place puts a smile on your face♪
As the weather warms up, come recharge with the cheerful staff at .M (Dot M) and a refreshing glass of whole-lemon lemonade (*’ω’*)
The shop sometimes closes for off-site events, so check their Instagram before heading over!

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Frequently Asked Questions

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