Introducing pehmea (Pehmea)

Hello, lovely readers!

It’s Binako, your SaruKuma writer — currently watching my wallet fly away thanks to too many anime collector wafers!

Today I’m thrilled to introduce a hidden gem located in Mashiki Town, Kamimashiki District, Kumamoto Prefecture:
“pehmea (Pehmea)”

Tucked away in a slightly tricky-to-find spot and run single-handedly by the lovely owner,
the best way to get the exact location and make a lunch reservation is via Instagram —
simply send a DM to Pehmea’s account♪

Once you have the address and head over,
you’ll spot a cheerful OPEN sign welcoming you in.

The parking lot is conveniently located right in front of the shop.

Look for this adorable letter “P” — that’s your landmark!♪

At the entrance, you’re greeted by a cute teddy bear
standing next to a hand sanitizer station — a thoughtful welcome.

Inside, you’ll find three table seats and one counter seat.
The relaxed atmosphere makes it perfect for a quiet solo lunch, too.

There’s also a charming little stroller-style seat for small children
plus kids’ chairs available on request♪
When mom-friends visit together, many like to sit two little ones
side-by-side in this stroller seat to play — too cute!
Just imagining the scene fills my heart with warmth.

The shop also has a lovely selection of books to browse,
making it a perfect spot for some me-time or a relaxed afternoon tea♪

Beyond lunch, Pehmea also offers a tempting lineup of baked goods to take home:
Domestic Hojicha (Roasted Green Tea) Snowball — 280 yen
Plain Snowball — 280 yen
Chocolate & Coconut Scone — 250 yen

Whole-Wheat Walnut & Maple Scone — 250 yen

With such an inviting variety of cookies and scones lined up,
they’re perfect for an afternoon snack or a sweet treat
to enjoy as dessert after lunch♪

Since lunch menu prices may occasionally change, I didn’t snap the menu photo,
but you can expect both sandwich-focused and salad-focused options^^

The sandwich menu rotates daily — on this visit, the choices were:
・Camembert Cheese & Prosciutto with Nut Sauce
・Teriyaki Chicken with Tomato & Lettuce
Delicious! ♪

The soup also changes regularly,
and on this day it was a beautiful pumpkin & sweet potato blend!

Recommended Menu at pehmea (Pehmea)

Today, I went with
the Heaping Salad with Soup Set!

A generous mountain of salad arrives alongside a vibrant golden soup
and two adorable mini bread rolls♪

First up, the salad —
tucked into boldly, but elegantly!

Made with carefully selected ingredients, this salad is a riot of colour!
From crispy crunches to refreshing snaps,
you’ll enjoy a wonderful mix of textures from the freshest vegetables♪
And that dressing — absolutely delicious!

Next, I dove into the pumpkin & sweet potato soup!
The gorgeous yellow and red hues alone are stunning…

The thick, velvety soup spreads through your mouth
bringing all the comforting flavours of the season.

With chunks of real vegetable inside, this is a soup that’s both
drinkable and hearty enough to fill you up♪
It’s so good you won’t want to leave a single drop behind!

Then it was time for the mini bread rolls!

The donut-shaped bread is wonderfully fluffy,
and when you split it open, the rich aroma of butter wafts out beautifully.

Then you spread on butter with this absolutely adorable
bunny-shaped butter knife — too cute!

The clean, light butter combined with the natural sweetness of raisins
creates an indulgent flavour I could honestly eat forever.

The round bread roll has a lovely crisp exterior
with a soft, fluffy interior

When you tear it open, the gorgeous fragrance of wheat fills the air,
with natural sweetness and a satisfyingly hearty bite!

Drinking water is served as refreshing lemon water,
which you help yourself to from the self-serve station^^

With its charming sheep illustrations
and calming, peaceful atmosphere, Pehmea was simply wonderful.
The owner is incredibly lovely too — I’m definitely heading back!

I highly recommend stopping by next time you’re in Kumamoto!

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For the exact location, please send a DM to
Pehmea’s Instagram account.

Frequently Asked Questions

※Information current at the time of reporting. Prices and hours may change. Please confirm before visiting.