Introducing gelateria SaLto

Hello travelers! It’s Kurubushi, your Sarukuma writer ☆彡

Today I’m taking you to Aioi in Koshi City, just outside Kumamoto City, to visit

gelateria SaLto — a charming gelato shop you won’t want to miss!

Coming from central Kumamoto City, take Prefectural Route 387, drive past Miyoshi Station and Country Park, and you’ll spot a Lawson convenience store on your left — turn there.

Continue along, and you’ll see a 7-Eleven; gelateria SaLto sits directly across the road from it!

What makes this shop especially heartwarming is its mission: it’s run by a company that operates a pediatric home-care clinic, in-home pediatric support services, and employment support programs — and SaLto was created as part of their employment support initiative.

There’s one accessible parking spot in front of the shop for wheelchair users.

Across from it, you’ll find 4 additional parking spaces.

Heads up: the spaces further back belong to the pharmacy on the same property, so please don’t park there.

“We’re going to a brand-new shop for ice cream!” — my kids could barely contain their excitement.

A stylish little signboard greets you near the entrance.

So chic! ＾＾♪

Step inside, and you’re immediately greeted by a beautiful display of gelato.

Here’s the secret behind these creations:

no emulsifiers, stabilizers, or refined white sugar — ever!

Instead, the gelato is made with pesticide-free rice flour grown at Miyashita Farm in Yamaga City.

For sweetness, they use gentle, body-friendly options like beet sugar and agave syrup.

On the day I visited, the lineup included:

・White Mint and Chocolate Chip

Made with house-grown mojito mint.

Refreshing in a way regular choco-mint can’t match — it tastes like the leaves were just picked. A must-try for mint lovers!

・Matcha

Made with fresh new tea from Kawakami Tea Garden.

・Brown Sugar (Walnut Topping)

Pesticide-free brown sugar from Baranya in Ashikita.

・Hojicha (Roasted Green Tea)

Tea leaves from Sakuranoen in Minamata, grown without pesticides or fertilizers.

・Blueberry Sorbet

Generously made with pesticide-free blueberries from Chokokara Farm.

・Asparagus & Lemon

Organic asparagus from Chokokara Farm topped with pesticide-free lemons from Amakusa.

・Premium Chocolate

Made with rich 64% chocolate from France. Decadent and intense!

・Pistachio

Crafted with pistachio paste from Italy’s BABBI.

・Café au Lait

Made with espresso from Bouzu Coffee in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture.

・Rich Milk

Made with omega-3 milk from Oyabu Dairy Farm.

Every flavor is crafted with meticulous attention to ingredients.

[Oyabu Dairy Farm] An Award-Winning Dairy in Koshi City! (Suya, Koshi)

Chokokara Farm, by the way, is an organic farm operated by the same company as part of their continued employment support program ＾＾

The flavor lineup rotates seasonally — be sure to follow them on Instagram for updates!

So many tempting choices — how could anyone decide?♪

The display case is set at the perfect height: my 90 cm-tall son could see the gelato without being lifted up. So thoughtful!

While I was deliberating, the staff kindly offered a sample spoon. And of course, every single one was delicious — making my decision even harder (lol).

You can choose between single or double scoops:

Single — 500 yen

Double — 650 yen

Brioche con Gelato — 600 yen

A Sicilian-style treat: gelato sandwiched inside a soft brioche bun. Delicious!

Affogato — 600 yen

The classic grown-up dessert: a scoop of gelato drowned in espresso ＾＾

Drinks are also available:

Hot Coffee — 500 yen

Cold-Brew Iced Coffee — 500 yen

Homemade Lemon Soda — 500 yen

100% Orange Juice — 500 yen

So you can enjoy SaLto purely as a café too, not just for gelato.

Takeout is available, and you can purchase an insulated cooler bag for 200 yen.

If you’re not eating the gelato right away, store it in the freezer at home — but here’s a pro tip: don’t eat it frozen-solid. Wait until the cup is soft enough to gently press from the sides, and you’ll get that perfect creamy gelato texture.

Payment options include all major credit cards, QR-code mobile payments, and cash. Super convenient for international visitors!

Inside, there’s both counter seating and table seating.

The counter seats even have power outlets — perfect for digital nomads!

There are two restrooms.

One regular restroom

And one spacious accessible/multi-purpose restroom.

Considering the size of the shop, the restroom is impressively large.

You can really see the company’s experience in pediatric in-home care and employment support reflected here — everyone can visit comfortably and confidently.

Just a heads-up: the second floor is the gelato production area, so it’s off-limits to customers ♪

(Curious, though, isn’t it? ＾＾)

After ordering, the wait was filled with anticipation.

The staff invited us to take a seat at one of the tables, so we did — though I couldn’t help staring at the counter the whole time (lol).

The table area has its own hand-washing sink, which is great for washing up before and after eating.

From the window-side seats, you can watch trucks go by on the road outside — which absolutely delighted my truck-loving son (lol).

Even the chairs had cute little cushions ＾＾

gelateria SaLto Recommended Menu

And here we go!

Asparagus & Lemon

Blueberry Sorbet

Premium Chocolate

Rich Milk

Four flavors, all in single scoops ＾＾

The Blueberry Sorbet is so deeply purple I almost mistook it for sweet bean paste!

The flavor is incredibly intense.

The skins are left in, so eating it feels like biting into pure blueberries.

Blueberry lovers will be hooked.

Rich yet free of unnecessary additives — fruity, refreshing, and absolutely delicious!

Asparagus & Lemon.

I wondered what to expect, and after one bite…

Wow! Pure asparagus! It really tastes like fresh asparagus!

And yet there’s no grassy or bitter aftertaste at all. The lemon on top adds a whole new layer of flavor.

It’s not overly sweet — a true sophisticated, grown-up gelato.

I’d happily order this again next time…
Highly recommended for vegetable lovers!

Premium Chocolate.

It was labeled “bitter chocolate,” so I worried it might be too intense for the kids — but…

The sweetness is perfectly balanced — pure chocolate happiness ＾＾

Chocolate-loving girls will smile from ear to ear.

And the Rich Milk…

Wait — someone already started without me?!

It’s made with Oyabu Dairy Farm’s omega-3 milk.

Of course it’s incredible.

Surprisingly thick and milky for a gelato — a totally new sensation!

And yet the finish is clean and refreshing, perfect for kids and adults alike ＾＾

Unstoppable!

So good — our spoons just kept going!

The portions are just right, easy to eat from the cup, and everyone — kids and adults alike — can enjoy them.

Body-friendly gelato made from carefully selected ingredients.

And knowing that enjoying this delicious treat also supports their employment program makes it taste even better ＾＾

Why not stop by for a delicious gelato break during your Kumamoto drive?♪

For up-to-date hours and the current menu, follow them on Instagram.

[Oyabu Dairy Farm] An Award-Winning Dairy in Koshi City! (Suya, Koshi)

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Frequently Asked Questions

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