Introducing the Shop

Hello, fellow travelers!

I keep telling myself I should hit the gym…
but so far it’s all talk and no action.
This is Binako, your Sarukuma writer!

Today I’m taking you to a little gem located in
Miyoshi, Koshi City, Kumamoto Prefecture:
“Koya Manju”.

The buzz around Koya Manju is honestly unbelievable
I’d heard their ikinari dango (Kumamoto’s iconic sweet potato dumpling) was out of this world, so I had to see for myself!

Bonus points for parking right out front—super convenient for visitors with rental cars!

Get this—ikinari dango orders are
limited to 50 PER HOUSEHOLD lol
Who on earth is buying that many?!
I’ve never seen a quantity cap like this at any shop before.

Besides ikinari dango, the menu features
ohagi (sweet rice ball with red bean paste), kome no ko dango (rice flour dumplings), and sakura mochi (cherry blossom rice cake)
—four delicious varieties in total, each just 120 yen!

I arrived at 11:00 a.m. and most items were already sold out.
The ikinari dango had a “sold out” sign too,
but just as I walked in, a fresh batch came out of the steamer and the sign was taken down!

Lucky me, right?!

Recommended Menu

Time to dig in!
First up, the famous ikinari dango.
You can also buy each type individually for just 120 yen!

Hold up… wait a second…
I seriously underestimated ikinari dango.

This is INSANELY GOOD!!
This is, hands down, king-level ikinari dango—pure flavor explosion.

The sweet potato inside is dripping with natural honey-like syrup, with that perfect creamy, sticky texture
The sweetness is beautifully restrained, making it incredibly easy to eat—I was honestly shocked at how delicious it was
No wonder people order them by the dozens!

Next up, I tried the ohagi!

The slightly chewy rice grains and smooth red bean paste blend together,
creating a perfectly balanced sweet harmony in every bite.
And that anko (red bean paste)—oh my, it’s incredible!!!

If you’re visiting Kumamoto and looking for an authentic taste of local Japanese sweets,
you absolutely must try Koya Manju—I promise you won’t regret it!

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Frequently Asked Questions

※Information is current as of the time of coverage. Prices and hours may change. Please confirm before visiting.