Introducing Juicy frutto

Hello! This is Aikero, writer for Sarukuma.

Today we’re heading to Toshima in Higashi-ku, Kumamoto City to visit
Juicy frutto.
For anyone who grew up in Kumamoto, “Juicy” is a flavor of childhood — the small carton of mikan (Japanese mandarin orange) juice handed out at school. The bright, tangy citrus taste on a hot summer day during sports day practice is unforgettable. Even as adults, there’s something nostalgic and special about it.

Now, JA Kumamoto Kajitsuren (the Kumamoto Fruit Growers’ Association) has opened its very own café where you can enjoy that same Juicy along with soft serve, gelato, and juices made from local Kumamoto fruit.
There’s even a food-education corner where kids (and curious adults!) can learn about Kumamoto’s fruits and how Juicy is made.
It’s a wonderful spot for families — and a sweet stop for international visitors curious about Japan’s regional produce.
The shop sits in Toshima, Higashi-ku, just across the street from the JA Kajitsuren building (look for the orange mikan logo).
There’s plenty of free parking.

Inside, the space is bright and welcoming, with wide aisles that easily fit strollers.
There’s a restroom inside the shop.
Note: there’s no diaper-changing table or accessible restroom on site.
Toward the back of the shop, you’ll find shelves lined with juices — way more varieties than I’d ever realized existed!
There it is! That iconic carton with children’s drawings on the front!
It’s the classic “Juicy” everyone knows — though, fun fact, the actual product name is “Mikan 100.” I’ve been calling it Juicy for over 30 years!

・Mikan 100 — 80 yen

100% mikan juice with no added sugar — exactly the kind of drink you can feel good about giving to kids.
・Uma-carrot — 90 yen

A blend of carrots from Kikuyo Town and domestic Japanese fruits.
No sugar added, and the natural fruit sweetness makes it a great option for kids who don’t usually like vegetables or raw fruit.
・Mikan Latte — 110 yen

An unexpected pairing that somehow just works! Made with milk from Rakuno Mothers, a local dairy right next door.
The lineup also includes straight mikan juice, citrus mix, dekopon squash, apple, mango, vegetable juice, tea, and water — in single-serving cartons, larger 1-liter bottles, and more.

Here’s a fun trivia tip for juice-shopping in Japan:
Illustrations or photos of fruit slices and juice droplets on a package can only legally be used on 100% fruit juice. Once you know that, walking through any juice aisle becomes a little detective game!
In the center of the shop, beautiful fresh citrus is on display!
It sits at toddler-eye level, so keep an eye on little hands.

When we visited, the shelves were overflowing with seasonal Kumamoto citrus: dekopon, yu-bare, banpeiyu, and more.
Dekopon is a brand-name citrus — only fruit that meets JA’s strict quality standards is allowed to bear the name.
Yu-bare is a brand-new variety developed in Kumamoto Prefecture, originally bred as “Kumamoto EC12” and trademarked in 2022.
Its vivid orange color is striking — it absolutely catches your eye!
There’s also a wide selection of beautifully boxed gift sets.
Kumamoto is famous for its delicious fruits, so these make perfect gifts to send to friends and family.
The shop also offers nationwide shipping within Japan.
Beyond fresh fruit, there are jelly assortments…
…and juice gift sets too.
Honestly, I want one for myself!
This is the food-education corner.
Here you can learn about JA Kumamoto Kajitsuren, the fruits grown in Kumamoto, and the production process behind Juicy.
Looking around really drove home just how much of a fruit powerhouse Kumamoto is.
I asked my daughter what fruit she liked best — and she said dekopon. Of all the premium fruits to pick!
Can you guess each fruit’s peak season?
At Juicy frutto, you can enjoy sweets and juices made with seasonal fruits.

・Soft Serve — from 430 yen
・Shake — from 380 yen
・Gelato — 450 yen
・Juice — from 250 yen

The flavors rotate with the seasons — pure, fresh fruit happiness in every bite.
They also sell single-piece fruits and individual jellies, which is great if you just want to try a little bit of everything.
There’s an eat-in space inside, so you can enjoy your treats right after ordering.
Juicy has been served in school lunches for over 50 years.
Fun fact: the original Juicy came in a triangular pyramid-shaped pack!
You can even buy a pouch shaped like that nostalgic triangle, plus the iconic Juicy-kun mascot doll featured in the famous jingle.

Recommended Menu at Juicy frutto

While I was busy taking photos, my husband and kids quietly snuck off to buy their own treats.

My vehicle-loving son went straight for the excavator-print Juicy.
The juice inside is the same — but classic Juicy fans know, picking by the picture on the box is half the fun.
Juicy was originally created with a simple wish: that growing children could enjoy the natural flavor and nutrition of mikan from Kumamoto, one of Japan’s mikan-producing regions.
Kumamoto was the first prefecture in Japan to introduce it into school lunches.
From there, it spread to Kagoshima, Hokkaido, the Kanto region, and Osaka.

That sweet-and-tangy mikan flavor is bottled exactly as you remember — this is Juicy.
The gelato lineup is mostly orange-toned right now.
The dekopon flavor will be back once supply allows.

By the way, the most popular gelato is mikan straight × cream cheese.
I’d been craving exactly that flavor anyway, so I happily ordered it!
A perfect, plump little scoop. So cute!
The fragrant, refreshing mikan pairs beautifully with the gentle tang of cream cheese.
It’s silky-smooth and not too sweet — easy to keep eating, bite after bite!
As I’d predicted… it disappeared way too fast. I wanted just a little more!
The soft serve is wonderfully milky with a clean, refreshing finish.
My daughter took one bite and went, “Wait — this is really good!”
On the way out, we picked up a few more juices to take home!
Wondering what’s the difference between Juicy and Mikan-chan? Mikan-chan is 50% juice.
My son’s mischievous grin says it all.
The Uma-carrot has fruit blended in too, which makes it really easy to drink and seriously tasty!
The small size is perfect for a kid’s afternoon snack.
The reason Juicy frutto opened in the first place?
It’s designed to be a hub for sharing Kumamoto’s fruits with the rest of Japan — and also a place for food education for kids.
Kumamoto is famous for watermelon and melon, but did you know it’s also Japan’s 4th-largest producer of mikan?
And “mikan” isn’t just one thing — it includes Satsuma mandarins, dekopon, banpeiyu, and many more varieties.

It’s a wonderful chance for parents and kids to learn together about Kumamoto’s fruits and the love behind the Juicy that’s served in schools.
Drop by Juicy frutto and treat yourself to a little tour of Kumamoto’s amazing fruits through their juices and sweets.
My kids and I are already planning our next visit!

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Frequently Asked Questions

※Information is accurate at the time of reporting. Prices and hours may change. Please confirm before visiting.