Welcome to Ludoni Board Game & Cafe

Hello travelers! This is Aikero from Sarukuma.

Today I’m taking you to Oe, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, to a brand-new spot called
Ludoni Board Game & Cafe.
Newly opened in December 2025, just steps from Suizenji Station!
It’s a fresh-style cafe where you can play more than 500 different board games.
Beginners, kids, and even cafe-only visitors are warmly welcomed — making it the perfect rainy-day activity in Kumamoto \(^^)/
The knowledgeable staff can recommend games based on your group size and the kids’ ages, so no matter who you visit with, you’re guaranteed to have a blast ♪
The cafe is a 6-minute walk from Suizenji Station.
There are 4 parking spots in front of the shop.
If you’re coming with a group, please consider carpooling.
The moment you walk in, you’re greeted by the most adorable manager ♡
The kids fell in love instantly (*’ω’*)
Meet Cocoa-chan, the resident shop manager (and a fluffy charmer!).
Call her “Coa-chan” and pet her gently — she’ll absolutely love it ♪
Coa-chan is wonderful with the children, though she elegantly ignored Gussan’s greetings, haha.
Let’s escape the awkwardness and explore the shop! (￣▽￣;)
Board games line every wall, shelf, and countertop!
More than 500 titles in total — an absolute paradise for tabletop fans.

One of the staff members has actually played nearly all of them. A true board game master!
There are so many games they don’t all fit on the shelves — some are stacked on top, haha.
You know that feeling — “I’m curious about that game, but I haven’t bought it yet…”?
The truth is, you can’t really know if your kids will enjoy a game until you actually play it.
That’s exactly what makes Ludoni so amazing — you can try as many games as you like!

The staff suggest games based on age and group size, and even explain the rules, so the kids were buzzing with excitement ♪
During busy hours, explanations may be brief, so calling ahead to check is a great idea.
Here’s how a typical visit goes:
① Get seated
② Tell staff your party size and how long you’d like to stay (extensions OK)
③ Order drinks or lunch
④ Start playing — eating while playing is fine
⑤ Pay at the end
Simple and stress-free!
Pricing includes one drink and starts from 1 hour, with separate rates for adults, students, and elementary schoolers (weekday/weekend rates apply).
Most games are best suited to children around 2nd–3rd grade and up.

〈Adults〉
1 hour: ¥1,000 weekday / ¥1,400 weekend & holidays
3 hours: ¥1,800 weekday / ¥2,100 weekend & holidays
5 hours: ¥2,500 weekday / ¥2,800 weekend & holidays
Free pass: ¥3,000 weekday / ¥4,000 weekend & holidays
30-min extension: +¥300

〈Elementary schoolers〉
1 hour: ¥700
3 hours: ¥1,050
5 hours: ¥1,400
Free pass: ¥2,000
30-min extension: +¥150

Preschoolers play free, but if they want to join a game, they should:
・Be able to sit and play
・Understand simple rules (like card games)
・Not bend or chew the cards
Depending on age, very young children may not be able to participate fully.
Pick your included drink from this menu.
For board game customers, additional drinks start at ¥200; for cafe-only guests, drinks start at ¥400.

You can choose any drink for your free one, but anything beyond a soft drink requires paying the difference.
E.g.: Cola → free, melon soda → +¥100
E.g.: 2nd drink for board game customers → board game pricing (¥200~)
Yes — you can have lunch while playing board games!
Lunch-only visits are also welcome.
Choose from hot dogs, hamburgers, sandwiches, or pasta — all easy to grab between turns ♪

Set meals (with deli, soup, and a soft drink) start at ¥800.
A single dish is ¥400 less than the set price.
For board game customers, you can order a set (deli + soup) at the single-dish price.
E.g.: Yakiniku Dog Set (with board game play) → ¥800 (yakiniku dog, deli, soup)
Sweet treats are also on the menu ♡
Perfect for a sugar boost when your brain needs a break from intense gameplay!

The staff’s top recommendation uses honey from Nishioka Honey Farm:
・Honey Soft Serve: ¥400
・Pancakes: ¥900
You can fully enjoy a meal here without playing games, so first-time visitors can relax ♪

Recommended Games at Ludoni Board Game & Cafe

Since I had reserved in advance with our group size and ages, the staff prepared recommendations and explained each game.

And let me tell you upfront:
Time absolutely melts away here!!

One hour might not be enough — even on a first visit.
The kids get totally absorbed, so I recommend coming on a day with no other plans.
Of course you can always extend, so trying just 1 hour first to test the waters is also fine.
First up was “Ghost Blitz” (Obake Catch).
It’s a famous one internationally — you may already know it!
The kids picked it up fast and were playing in no time.
Next was “Onsoku Hanten” (Sonic Restaurant) — a Japanese card game often featured on TV ♪
As the name suggests, it moves at lightning speed!
My daughter had to keep up, but for older kids and adults this game gets really intense.

★Heads up — the next photos show cards depicting bugs and small creatures.
If you’re squeamish, please skip ahead.

Once the kids were warmed up, the staff swooped in with a psychological bluffing game — talk about reading the room!
Maybe that’s why this became the kids’ #1 favorite: “Cockroach Poker.”
Someone hands you a card saying, “This is a cockroach.”
You have to figure out: bluff or truth? Whoever first collects 4 of the same card OR runs out of cards loses. Simple but devious!
Let’s see what kind of poker faces these kids can pull…
Some kids said, “I never lie!” and meant it. Others were instantly busted with, “That face says you’re lying!”

Eventually all three kids had similar card counts — anyone could lose at any moment.
Then they heard the staff say, “Since only one player has to lose, you can team up if you want!” — and these two formed an alliance, haha.
They dethroned the 5th-grader who’d dominated Ghost Blitz and Sonic Restaurant — and the smiles say it all ♡

Watching kids develop their own bluffing strategies was genuinely fascinating ♪
Last up was “Ciao Ciao” — like a board game version of bluffing dice.
Only the player who rolled the dice can see the result.
Do you tell the truth, or bluff? That’s where fate is decided.

You declare your dice number, and if anyone yells “Liar!”, everyone checks the dice.
If you were lying, you fall off the bridge with a cheerful “Ciao ciao~”!
If you were telling the truth, the accuser falls instead — Ciao ciao~ Σ(･ω･ﾉ)ﾉ!
Watching all this unfold, the staff suggested, “How about something more relaxing?”
I forgot the name, but it’s a connect-the-edges strategy game.
Simple to learn, but the more you play, the more strategy emerges — really fun ♪ (We didn’t quite reach master level, haha.)
Along with our included drink, we tried the staff-recommended honey soft serve and zenzai (sweet red bean soup).
One tip: order food before playing or during a break — once the games start, you’ll be far too into them (^_^;)

The honey soft serve was incredibly delicious!
The zenzai comes with a piece of kombu seaweed — drop it in for a sweet-and-salty flavor twist that gives you two desserts in one ♡
The staff also showed us their personal favorites ♪
On the left: Flamecraft. On the right: Wingspan.
In Flamecraft, you grow a town with hard-working dragons. In Wingspan, you collect cards of real bird species to build your own ecosystem.

It’s refreshing to play these app-like experiences with physical cards!
Fun fact: Wingspan even has a fish-themed version.

Ludoni’s Instagram features many of their games ♪
Did you know?
Board game boxes list a recommended player count, but it’s not always reliable.
A “2–6 player” game might technically work with 2, but really shines with 4 — and some games even get worse with too many players.

That’s exactly why Ludoni is so valuable — try before you buy!
Whether you want to laugh and shout with family and friends, read minds at the table, or just lose yourself in board game bliss for an afternoon, this is your spot.
Knowledgeable staff and the adorable Coa-chan are waiting to welcome you ~ (^^)/

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Frequently Asked Questions

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