Introducing 500℃Pizza

Hello travelers! I’m Aikero, a writer for SaruKuma.

Today I’m taking you to Nishihara Village in Aso District,
500℃Pizza — a charming pizzeria with a story as bold as its name.
＼Opened April 2025／
Located along Kumamoto Prefectural Route 28 (Kumamoto-Takamori Line), right next to the Tawarayama Koryukan Moe-no-Sato roadside station!
Directly across from Yamada Farm Milk no Sato, this eye-catching building with its quirky shape is home to 500℃Pizza.

The owner, who built up 35 years of experience in Japanese and Western cuisine, taught himself the art of Neapolitan pizza-making. The result? A crust that’s irresistibly crispy on the outside and beautifully chewy inside.
Beyond the pizza, the homemade gelato and pudding deserve every bit of your attention too♪
Dine indoors with views of the Nishihara countryside, or settle into the pet-friendly terrace seats.
The owner and his wife are some of the warmest hosts you’ll ever meet♫

Tawarayama Koryukan Moe-no-Sato: Grass Skiing, Picnics & Cosmos Flowers in Nishihara Village, Aso

Yamada Farm: Meet Animals & Enjoy Rich Soft-Serve Ice Cream in Nishihara Village, Aso

Look for the reddish-brown roof and the pizza flag fluttering outside.
The huge 500℃Pizza sign makes it impossible to miss — first-time visitors will find it without any trouble♪
And that name? Once you hear it, you’ll never forget it.

500℃Pizza Owner

As a pizza place, I considered an Italian-sounding name, but I went with 500℃Pizza because it’s easy to read and makes an impact.

That’s what the owner shared with me.
And why 500℃? That’s the exact temperature at which the pizzas are baked!

There’s plenty of parking available too.

Here’s the inside (^^)/
The dome-like ceiling gives the space such an open, airy feel.
It’s table seating only, but child seats are available too.
Families with kids and strollers can dine here comfortably♪

A huge chalkboard displays the menu in mouthwatering detail.
The hand-drawn pizzas alone will get your stomach rumbling♡

I’ll admit, I was a little nervous heading in — what if the chef turned out to be one of those quietly intense, perfectionist types? (laugh)
But my worries melted away the moment the cheerful, kindhearted couple greeted me with a warm “Welcome!”♫
Toward the back, there are seats with views of the scenery outside!
The contrast of blue sky and lush green is breathtaking!
When you visit Aso, you want to soak in those landscapes — so if these seats are open, grab them♫

But if you’re someone who craves an even more open-air experience…
There’s something even better waiting for you (*’ω’*)
The terrace seats!!
There’s plenty of natural shade, so on a breezy day it feels absolutely glorious♫
Wait — is that a pair of binoculars on the table?
Let’s take a peek through and see what we can spot…
The ponies at Yamada Farm Milk no Sato across the road came right into view♡
They were busy with their own lunch (just like me!) so I didn’t catch their faces, but watching them was incredibly soothing (*’ω’*)
Kids are going to absolutely love this!
Even better — pets are welcome at the terrace seats!
It’s wonderful to find a place where the whole family (furry members included) can dine together♫
Now let’s dive into the menu!
Even the illustrations have a charming, hand-drawn warmth to them.

・Margherita　　　　　¥1,600
・Marinara　　　　　　¥1,200
・Quattro Formaggi　¥2,400
・Genova　　　　　　¥1,800
・Mushroom　　　　　¥1,500
・Bambino　　　　　　¥1,400
・Prosciutto & Baby Greens　¥1,900

Every pizza lists its ingredients, so you don’t have to guess flavors based on the names alone (laugh).
For kids, the Margherita, Carbonara, or the Bambino (cheese, tuna, mayo, and corn) are great picks♫

500℃Pizza Owner

The Margherita and Prosciutto are our most popular…
My personal recommendations would be the Mushroom and the Genova.

The side menu is impressive too!

・Akaushi (Red Beef) Carpaccio　¥800
・Apple Gratin　　　　¥600
・Baguette Gratin　　¥500
・Green Salad　　　　¥600
・Caprese　　　　　　¥850

・Homemade Pudding　　¥420
・Gelato　　　　　　¥430~
・Mini Parfait　　　　¥680
・Aso Berry Berry Shake　¥550

The dessert menu has me especially curious♡
There are also great-value combo sets♪

・Set A　+¥200
Drink

・Set B　+¥400
Drink, Salad

・Set C　+¥600
Drink, Salad, Dessert (Homemade Pudding)

★Weekdays only, available exclusively with pizza orders
Orders are placed via the QR code on each table.
Scan the QR code and the menu pops right up.
Just add what you’d like to your cart.
Choosing a combo set looks like this.

500℃Pizza Recommended Menu

I went with the owner’s recommendation — the Mushroom Pizza Set C♫
A leisurely lunch with this view…♡
It may get warm on summer days, but on sunny weather, the terrace is pure bliss★The salad comes with an additive-free carrot dressing.
It’s refreshingly light and pairs beautifully with the vegetables!
Each pizza is roughly 25 cm across (give or take!).

The owner spent 35 years honing his craft in Japanese and Western cuisine at Sarasa in Nishihara Village — pretty far from pizza, right?

500℃Pizza Owner

I traveled all over Japan tasting pizza and taught myself everything from scratch.

The crust is on the thinner side.
Unless you’re a very light eater, one whole pizza per person is doable.

500℃Pizza Owner

We use the traditional Neapolitan pizza method — the dough is prepared four days in advance and left to ferment.
It’s a high-hydration dough, which is what gives you that crispy outside and chewy inside.

When I bit into the crust, I actually heard a satisfying “crunch” — I was amazed!
Fresh out of the oven is one thing, but even after a little time has passed, the surface stays beautifully crisp!
And the more you chew, the more that chewy, wheaty richness comes through♫
The sauce is a savory mushroom paste.
A medley of mushroom varieties tops the pizza too — true mushroom lovers will be in heaven♫

Next up — the Apple Gratin.
This was a hit with women back when the chef was making monthly gratin specials at Sarasa.

The apple peel itself becomes the dish, giving the gratin a refreshing, fragrant lift.

Depending on your taste, you can even eat the peel♪ (I did!)
The combination of creamy gratin, golden-brown cheese, and juicy apple was a first for me!
Who knew cheese and apple paired so beautifully?
The owner’s Apple Gratin recommendation absolutely lived up to the hype♫

The homemade pudding from Set C.
The perfect petite size for after a meal♫

It looks firm at first glance, but one bite and it melts away — silky-smooth pudding.
Made with soy milk instead of dairy milk.

And here’s the almond gelato.
The owner kindly offered me a taste.
The gelato is also handmade in-house!

I haven’t had gelato all that often, and almond was a new flavor for me!
The smooth ice melts on your tongue, releasing a deep, nutty almond flavor.
Little bits of almond add a wonderful crunch — it was absolutely delicious♪

Takeout is available too!
Grab one on your way home from an Aso road trip and enjoy it at home♪

Weekends and holidays get busy — note that reservations require a minimum of 5 people (^^)/
The shop closes once the daily dough runs out, so get there early.

If you’re looking for lunch in Nishihara Village, 500℃Pizza is a top pick!

Tawarayama Koryukan Moe-no-Sato: Grass Skiing, Picnics & Cosmos Flowers in Nishihara Village, Aso

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Frequently Asked Questions

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