Hello everyone! 😀
This is Yuzu, a writer for Sarukuma ☆

Today I’m excited to introduce a wonderful spot located in Oguni Town, Aso District, Kumamoto Prefecture:
[Handmade Soba & Mountain Cuisine Wa no Hana] ☆

Here’s the location! ↑
It’s tucked away deep in the mountains of Oguni 🚗

At the entrance, there’s a clear, large signboard to guide you!
There are also signs along the way, so we got there without getting lost!

This is the mountain view from the parking lot ⛰

Look at that! It’s so peaceful, you can practically feel the fresh mountain air filling your lungs 😆

The parking area is spacious, and there’s even a second parking lot 🚗

While waiting your turn or just to pass the time, there’s a foot bath 😁
It’s a great way to keep kids entertained while you wait 👌

Now, let’s head inside!
The atmosphere is so charming, it really gets you excited!
I couldn’t wait to go in! ☆

Time to step inside!

I didn’t confirm with the staff, but it looks like there’s a ramp-style entrance available too 👍

Inside the restaurant, you’ll find traditional Japanese touches in every corner!
So many beautifully crafted details 😆

Seating includes both indoor and terrace options.

There are traditional tatami (zashiki) seats as well as table seating,
so it’s nice to have a choice!

They even have child-sized chairs for the tatami area ☆

I went with the terrace seating.
The terrace has 2 tables 😀

It has netting, so you don’t have to worry about bugs 👌

A river flows below, so you can enjoy your meal while listening to the sound of running water 😆
I visited in September, and it was wonderfully cool 😃

Sorry I couldn’t quite capture the full beauty of the scenery in photos! 💦

There were also handmade crafts on display for sale inside ☆

The restrooms have both Western-style and Japanese-style toilets,
and there’s even a bench inside — they’re quite spacious ☆

With this much room, if you’re with kids,
you can have them wait on the bench, which gives you peace of mind 😀

Recommended Menu

Now, here’s the food menu!

And next, the drink menu!

Sipping a cold beer in the middle of all this nature would have been heavenly,
but this time I had to resist the temptation 💦

This time I ordered the Tori-zen (Salt) — 1,380 yen
You can choose between salt or sauce flavor for the jigoku-mushi (hell-steamed) chicken!

I went with salt, and the flavor was perfectly seasoned all the way through ☆
The meat was juicy and so tender it just fell apart in your mouth!!

Incredibly tender!

The rice was bright white and glossy, absolutely delicious, and paired perfectly with the chicken!!
The miso soup was packed with ingredients and tasted wonderful ☆

The pickles had a subtle sweetness — so good, I wanted to take some home 👍

And then the Wa-zen — 1,700 yen

The soba had an amazing aroma and silky texture,
“So this is what real soba tastes like! 😆” I thought, savoring every bite!

It’s a bit of a drive, but
I highly recommend making the trip to this hidden mountain spot for amazing soba and steamed chicken 😃

You’ll come back refreshed by the fresh mountain air,
guaranteed!!

Frequently Asked Questions

* Information is current as of the visit. Prices and hours may change. Please confirm before visiting.