About Kissho

Hello, travelers! This is Maru, a writer for Sarukuma.
Today I’m excited to introduce you to “Kissho”, a wonderfully cozy little shop tucked away in Minami-Kumamoto, Chuo Ward, Kumamoto City.

Located on Kotohira Street in Minami-Kumamoto, this shop has been on my radar for ages. On a chilly day, nothing sounds better than a piping-hot nikuman (Japanese-style steamed pork bun) 😍, so I finally stopped by! They even offer a unique twist — hijiki-man (steamed buns filled with seaweed). Can’t wait to dig in! ＼(^o^)／

There’s one parking space available behind the shop.

Stepping inside, you’ll find a small, snug space (^^).
I was warmly greeted by the smiling “okaasan” (mother) and her gentle “otousan” (father). The atmosphere is so welcoming that you almost want to say “I’m home!” instead of “hello” 😊

“We’re getting on in years, so we just take things at our own pace,” the okaasan said with a smile. Their lifelong dedication to their craft is truly inspiring ＼(^o^)／

I waited at the single table inside the shop. In addition to steamed buns, they also serve handmade udon noodles!

Pro tip: since the buns take time to steam, call your order in 10 minutes before arriving so you can grab them without waiting!
Frozen buns are also available for takeaway.

Everything is handmade with care — no artificial seasonings or MSG used at all.

Recommended Menu Items at Kissho

Each bun is just 180 yen, with three varieties to choose from: nikuman (pork), hijiki-man (seaweed), and anman (sweet red bean).
The handy price chart makes it easy to figure out the total — perfect when buying a batch as souvenirs (^O^)

And here’s the udon menu.
Yes, the udon noodles are hand-cut too (ﾟ∀ﾟ) — they’re guaranteed to be delicious! ✨

After about 10 minutes of waiting… here they come, fresh out of the steamer (^O^)
I tried all three varieties!

They even include a paper with reheating instructions in case the buns cool down — such a thoughtful touch.

Ta-da! Here’s the nikuman, complete with steam rising from it like clouds of happiness. Just looking at it warms you up.
The dough has that signature chewy, fluffy texture you can only get from handmade buns.

Inside, you’ll find generously cut chunks of pork, with juicy meat juices soaking right into the handmade dough ✨
Add a drizzle of the included sauce for an extra burst of flavor and take a big bite. Oh, this is pure happiness in food form 😍😍 — so good you’ll want to bow in gratitude to the kind couple who made it 🙏

The hijiki-man is also packed full of filling. Hijiki seaweed is a Japanese superfood, and the gentle, slightly sweet flavor makes it a hit with kids too 👦👧

Last but not least, the anman (sweet red bean bun) made for a perfect snack. The azuki red bean filling is clearly made with love and care — absolutely melt-in-your-mouth delicious (^O^)

Be sure to call ahead before stopping by to pick up your buns. A heartfelt thank you to the lovely couple at Kissho! 🙂🙃

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Frequently Asked Questions

*Information is current as of the time of reporting. Prices and hours are subject to change. Please confirm before your visit.