About the Restaurant

Hello, travelers! Nendo here.

Today we’re heading to Waifu, Kikuchi City, Kumamoto Prefecture to visit
“Kotobuki Onsen Shokudo” — a wonderfully nostalgic local diner.

The parking lot is conveniently located just across the street ★

Step inside, and…

…you’ll feel like you’ve stepped onto a vintage movie set!

It has that warm, time-capsule atmosphere you’d expect from a classic Japanese morning drama ╰(⸝⸝⸝´꒳`⸝⸝⸝)╯

Recommended Menu Items

Drawn in by their irresistibly cute packaging, I had to try the old-fashioned ice candy popsicles!

I got both flavors — milk and azuki red bean (120 yen each)!

The retro packaging is absolutely adorable! ♡

And the popsicles themselves are wonderfully traditional — Japanese-style ice candy with a wooden chopstick stuck in at an angle as the handle.

Rather than rich and creamy, they’re refreshingly light,
so you can enjoy the whole thing even on a full stomach.
(And they’re a generous size, too!)

Take a closer look at the showcase, and…

…there’s even a kids’ meal set on the menu! ♪

According to the locals, the champon (mixed noodle soup) is the must-try dish here!

You’ll also find set meals (from 580 yen), omurice (omelet rice with salad and drink, 680 yen),
and katsu curry (with salad and drink, 690 yen) on the menu ♡

Next time, I’m definitely going to dine in!

The seating area seemed to be popular with local regulars.

It’s such a shame to miss out on this theme-park-like atmosphere —
you could get such Instagram-worthy photos here…!

By the way, some dine-in menu items are also available for takeout ☺︎

This time they were sold out, but they also offer takeout sushi rolls featuring a thick layer of fluffy tamagoyaki (Japanese omelet) as well as inari sushi with that addictively sweet vinegared rice. Grab some early in the day and head to nearby Kikuchi Park for the perfect picnic!
(These items are available from 10 a.m.)

Whether you dine in to soak up the retro vibes or grab some takeout treats,
this old-school diner has it all!

Plus, their website is delightfully easy to browse and full of charm ♡

It captures the shop’s atmosphere so perfectly that I’d recommend it to any fellow retro lover — definitely give it a look!

※One fun note: despite the name, there’s no hot spring (onsen) here anymore — even though it’s called “Onsen Shokudo”! (haha)

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Frequently Asked Questions

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