Welcome to Imoya Chobei

Hi everyone, this is Aikero, a writer for Sarukuma!

Today I’m taking you to a hidden gem in Mashiki Town, Kamimashiki District —
【Imoya Chobei (芋屋長兵衛)】.
This place gets rave reviews online for its delicious treats — and after my visit, I totally understand why ♪
They serve up Kumamoto’s famous ikinari dango (sweet potato and red bean dumplings) along with a huge variety of sweet potato confections.
Located near Aso Kumamoto Airport, it’s the perfect spot to grab souvenirs before flying home.
You’ll spot a big sign on National Route 443 heading from Mashiki toward the Second Airport Road, but the actual shop sits a little off the main road.
It’s also reachable from the Second Airport Road, so just plug it into Google Maps and you’ll arrive without any trouble (^^)/
If you’re wondering “is it really down here?” — just follow the colorful banner flags ♪
Parking is right beside the shop, near the vending machines.
The lot in the back is for the factory, so please park near the storefront.
Inside, the shop is nice and roomy — strollers fit easily, so it’s stroller-friendly for families ♪
You’ll find boxed ikinari dango, gift sets paired with imokenpi (candied sweet potato sticks), and even ikinari dango–flavored Country Ma’am cookies.
They ship nationwide too, so they make wonderful gifts to send back home ♪
For sake lovers, they also stock authentic imo-shochu (sweet potato shochu) — a true Kyushu specialty.
Two of the most exciting words in any shopper’s vocabulary: fill-the-bag!
These sweet potatoes might have peeled skin or odd shapes, but they’re large and you can stuff in as many as you like — as long as the bag doesn’t tear. Total bargain!

You might wonder — why is a sweets shop selling raw sweet potatoes?
Because Imoya Chobei grows, harvests, and processes their own sweet potatoes from start to finish!
They raise the seedlings, harvest the potatoes, and turn them into all kinds of confections, sold here at the shop and at special events around Japan.
They also have an online shop, which is perfect if you can’t make it in person ♪

And yes — they even sell sweet potato seedlings if you fancy growing your own.
Now, let me show you what’s on the menu!

・Ikinari Dango — 130 yen
(Plain, Purple Sweet Potato, Sakura, Yomogi/Mugwort, Brown Sugar)
– Set of 5 — 650 yen
– Set of 10 — 1,300 yen

・Purple Sweet Potato Roll Slice — 220 yen

Items are made fresh to last until 17:00 closing, but popular items can sell out earlier when customers buy in bulk (>_<)

You can call ahead to reserve items — I dropped by in the morning to put aside what I wanted, then picked it up on my way home. Super convenient!
・Imo Dora (Sweet Potato Dorayaki Pancake) — 330 yen
・Chobei Mochi — 90 yen

・Beni-haruka Sweet Potato Pound Cake
– 1 loaf — 864 yen
– Boxed — 1,020 yen
・Imokenpi (Candied Sweet Potato Sticks) — 370 yen
・Mini Kenpi — 150 yen
They have plenty of frozen items too!
If you plan to buy frozen treats, don’t forget to bring an ice pack and a cooler bag.

・Roasted Sweet Potato Ice Pudding — 350 yen
・Annoimo & Roasted Sweet Potato Ice Cream — 350 yen
・Oyatsu Imo (Snack Sweet Potato) — 650 yen
・Oimo-bo (Sweet Potato Stick) — Cup — 350 yen
・Oimo-bo — 300g Box — 600 yen
・Oimo-bo — 1kg Bag — 1,600 yen
・Frozen Ikinari Dango — from 730 yen

Not pictured, but the freezer next door is full of outlet items too!
I peeked in and saw big bags of ikinari dango at discounted prices.
If you want to stock up for home, the outlet section is a steal (^^)/
A heads-up: ikinari dango and Chobei mochi have different expiration dates depending on the season (summer vs. winter), so check before you buy.
Shopping bags are 3 yen or 5 yen.

Imoya Chobei — Recommended Items

I picked up two flavors of ikinari dango — Plain and Purple Sweet Potato!
They’re a nice classic size — not too big, not too small.
Cut one open and you can see just how thick the sweet potato slice is!
The red bean paste layer is on the lighter side — letting the sweet potato shine.
(My son couldn’t wait to eat it!)
The first bite — wow, that mochi-like chewy outer skin is incredible!
A quick 30-second microwave warms it up just enough, and the kids could dig in right away.
The red bean filling is only lightly sweetened, so you can really taste the natural sweetness of the sweet potato ♪
I knew the kids would adore oimo-bo, so I picked up the 300g box.
It’s a frozen item, but I had forgotten my cooler bag — so it went straight into the freezer when we got home.
They hand it over as-is, so don’t forget your cooler bag and ice pack (^_^;)

Sure enough, it was so delicious I had to rush to snap a photo before it disappeared. Haha!
You can let it thaw naturally, but the kids and I were too impatient — we ate it straight from the freezer!
The candy coating is crispy, and the sweet potato inside is cold and ice-cream-like in texture.
A little firm, sure — but so delicious we devoured it frozen ♪
The bite-sized pieces make it dangerously snackable (^_^;)
“Mom, I wish you’d bought more! Let’s get it again ♡”
The kids gave it a huge thumbs up ♫

Next time, I’m going for the 1kg bag!!
Authentic ikinari dango, made by sweet potato farmers themselves.
Whether you’re hunting for Kumamoto souvenirs, an everyday treat, or a snack for your Aso scenic drive, this place delivers ♫
It’s tucked away in a slightly off-the-beaten-path spot, but trust me — once you visit, it’ll become one of your go-to stops in Kumamoto ★
Definitely worth a stop on your next trip (^^)/

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Frequently Asked Questions

※Information is current as of the time of the visit. Prices and opening hours are subject to change. Please check before visiting.