Welcome to Tamakohi

Hello travelers! It’s Gachako, your local writer from Sarukuma.

Today I’m taking you to a wonderful little spot called
【Tamakohi】, tucked away in Iwasaki, Tamana City.

You’ll find it along National Route 208, heading toward the new Tamana City Hall, right near the Super Maruei supermarket.

“What is this place? Some kind of shop?”
I bet plenty of people drive past wondering exactly that.
(I was definitely one of them!)

It turns out to be a coffee shop run by a social welfare corporation.
Let’s step inside and take a look!

The first thing that greets you on the right is…
BOOM!!

An enormous coffee roaster!
The staff told me they actually trained at “Coffee Roasting Lab Wataru,” a renowned coffee institution in Kumamoto City, and now they roast their own beans right here on this very machine.
Now that’s serious coffee dedication!
Who would have guessed such a quality coffee shop was hiding so close by?
So glad I stopped in 🌟

Here’s the coffee menu.
While I was deliberating…
…they kindly let me sample some.
You can taste-test everything from light to dark roasts and pick the one that suits you best.
Single-serve drip packs start at just 100 yen — incredibly affordable!

They also sell handmade baked treats from the workshop in the back (from 110 yen)
and beautifully packaged coffee-and-sweets gift boxes — perfect souvenirs to take home.

Freshly baked breads from Kazekobo bakery line the shelves too.
Here’s the bread menu.
For the widest selection, the staff recommend visiting just before lunchtime!

Tamakohi’s Must-Try Picks

I picked up a cold-brew coffee (300 yen), a Honey Bear pastry (180 yen), and a soy milk bun (130 yen).

Right next door, there’s a relaxing community space with cozy wooden cube seats.
It’s a perfect spot for parents and kids to unwind together!
These cubes were thoughtfully designed with universal accessibility in mind, so anyone can sit comfortably.

The cold-brew coffee is crisp and clean — almost too smooth to be cold-brew. Clearly the result of slow, careful extraction. Absolutely delicious!

This is the kinako (roasted soybean flour) Honey Bear.
The nutty aroma of kinako, gentle sweetness, and rich buttery notes — what a delightful combination!

The soy milk bun is filled with creamy soy milk cream AND chunky sweet red bean paste.
Thanks to all those wholesome beans, I felt zero guilt eating it 🌟 (which is probably why I’m not losing weight…)

Upstairs, I also got a tour of the “Minna no Reizoko” — literally “Everyone’s Refrigerator,” a community pantry initiative.

Donated food and daily essentials are distributed free of charge to families with children.

Donated nori (dried seaweed) from local companies,

Nankan somen noodle ends (a regional specialty),

and even hygiene products are available.

Here’s how the program works.
It’s designed for households with children under 18, as well as students living alone.
An application is required, so please contact them first to learn more.

The “Minna no Reizoko” community fridge is also
looking for supporters who can donate food and supplies.
Donations are welcome from both companies and individuals.
With global price increases affecting everyone, this is a wonderful way to fight food waste while supporting families in need.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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