A Stylish New Drive Stop in Ueki, Kumamoto

Hi, I’m asukaran-do, a writer for Sarukuma — Kumamoto’s local guide for getting out and exploring.

Today I’m introducing Buddica DONUTS (バディカドーナツ), a brand-new donut café in Ueki-machi, Kita-ku, Kumamoto City. I managed to visit before the grand opening — so here’s my firsthand take while it’s still hot.

Buddica DONUTS (バディカドーナツ) is a collaboration between H donuts (エイチドーナツ) — a beloved donut shop from Mashiki-machi — and Buddica (バディカ), a well-known Kumamoto used-car dealership. The shop opened November 22, 2025 in Ueki-machi, and the anticipation was real.

【H donuts(エイチ ドーナツ)－上益城郡益城町－】賞味期限30秒！？とろける食感は初体験！ドーナツで益城町を盛り上げるニュースポット誕生！

The first thing to catch your eye is the shop’s charming bird-and-donut sign — a fun, Americana-style logo that’s become the face of Buddica DONUTS.

The café sits right along National Route 3 — making it a natural pit stop for anyone driving through northern Kumamoto. The concept: turn an everyday drive into something a little more special.

Getting around Kumamoto really does require a car, and a stylish roadside destination like this fits perfectly into that driving culture.

Parking is available right beside the shop.

Step inside and the stylish interior hits you immediately — this is not your average donut counter.

The interior is clean, refined, and thoughtfully designed. At the time of my visit, a terrace seating area was still under construction — but it was expected to be ready for opening day.

The counter is lined with colorful donuts in every shade imaginable — my daughter couldn’t resist tiptoeing up for a closer look.

What’s remarkable is that all those vivid colors are achieved with no artificial flavors or food coloring whatsoever. Every tint comes from natural ingredients — parent-approved and kid-safe. The dough is made fresh every single day (never frozen), and every topping is handcrafted by the in-house pastry chef. This is serious artisan donut-making.

What to Order: The Buddica DONUTS Menu

Here’s the full donut lineup displayed at the counter:

Maple Almond　¥290

Glazed Orange　¥270

Framboise (Raspberry)　¥270

White Crunch　¥310

Pistachio　¥320

Strawberry　¥260

Buddica Donut (Signature)　¥320

There’s also a selection of cream-filled nama donuts (生ドーナツ — a Japanese-style soft donut filled with fresh cream, a hugely popular confection in Japan right now):

Custard Cream　¥390

Pistachio Cream　¥410

Strawberry Milk Cream　¥410

Chocolate Cream　¥410

The display case also holds handmade cakes and pudding — all made in-house.

New York Cheesecake　¥600

Pudding (Purin)　¥500

(Other cake varieties may vary by the day.)

For drinks, the espresso menu uses coffee roasted at H Coffee in Mashiki — expect the real deal:

Latte (HOT / ICE)　¥500

Americano　¥450

Salted Caramel Macchiato　¥600

Espresso add-on　+¥150

Oat milk upgrade　+¥100

Soft drinks are also available — a welcome touch for families with young children.

The shop has a proper espresso machine, and the beans are freshly roasted at H Coffee in Mashiki — coffee lovers, you’re in good hands.

Must-Try Picks: Why This Donut Shop Is Worth the Drive

Dine-in customers pick their own donuts directly from the counter and place them on sleek gold plates. Honestly, the plates alone are enough to elevate the mood.

First things first — you have to try the shop’s signature donut.

A dazzling spread on golden plates — and that latte art heart is a lovely finishing touch.

I went straight for the Buddica Donut — the one with the orange topping I’d been eyeing since I walked in.

The orange zest releases a bright citrus aroma, the dough has a subtle chocolate note, and the crunchy orange-hued cornflake topping adds a deeply satisfying bite. But the real revelation: the dough is impossibly light — airy, almost weightless. The shop’s mission is to craft “Japan’s lightest donuts,” and I can vouch for it. One donut disappears before you’ve even registered eating it, and you’re already reaching for another.

The Pistachio donut is generously piled with pistachio on a plain-style dough made with Japanese-grown kuri-kabocha (a sweet, dense variety of squash). Look closely and you’ll spot flecks of green squash skin in the dough — giving it a faint golden-green hue and a delicate natural sweetness that’s unlike anything in a standard donut.

The Maple Almond features caramelized almonds — golden, crispy, and completely addictive. The contrast of feather-light dough and crunchy topping is a textural triumph.

The White Crunch is reportedly the fan favorite among kids. Lucky children, discovering something this good so early in life.

Kids’ soft drinks come in sturdy plastic cups with secure lids — easy for little hands to hold and sip from without spills.

We also tried the Chocolate Cream nama donut — so pillowy-soft it was difficult to cut in half. Nama donuts (生ドーナツ) are a beloved Japanese style: soft, slightly chewy, and filled with fresh cream. Here the cream is made entirely from scratch in-house, and it’s wonderfully light — rich in flavor but never cloying.

Buddica DONUTS doesn’t stop at donuts — the cakes are all handmade in-house too. We ordered the New York Cheesecake.

The cross-section looked impossibly silky before we even tasted it — and it delivered: rich and creamy, yet with a gentle melt-in-your-mouth finish that doesn’t weigh you down. Even after multiple donuts, there was absolutely room for this.

And don’t overlook the shop cards — each features a different design, so you can pick your favorite as a small keepsake. Which one would you choose?

Make your next drive through Kumamoto a little more memorable — pull in, pick a donut, and let the moment breathe.

Buddica DONUTS (バディカドーナツ) is already poised to become a beloved stop for all ages in Ueki-machi. Whether you’re on a solo road trip or out with the whole family, this is exactly the kind of discovery that makes driving around Kumamoto worthwhile.

Buddica DONUTS (バディカドーナツ) — Grand Opening: Saturday, November 22, 2025 at 11:00 AM.
Please note: reservations and advance donut holds are not available — it’s first come, first served!

Follow Sarukuma on Instagram for daily Kumamoto updates!
Sarukuma covers lunch spots, parks, indoor play spaces, and family-friendly destinations across Kumamoto.
We’d love to have you along for the ride!

Frequently Asked Questions

※ Information is accurate as of the time of reporting. Prices and hours are subject to change — please verify before visiting.