KumamotoFood

Start Your Walking Tour with Fresh, Warm Honey-Filled Rotating Manju

About this spot

Born in Minamoto, Kumamoto, this shop specializes in rotating manju with a focus on honey, wrapping generous amounts of sweet bean paste in dough made with their own foraged honey. The fillings come in two varieties: rich black bean paste made from Hokkaido azuki beans and refined white bean paste. Watching the craftspeople individually bake each bun on copper plates is part of the appeal. The Kamitōri Arcade location is a classic Kumamoto spot, and biting into the fresh, warm, fluffy bun will fill your mouth with the fragrant sweetness of the pastry and the abundant filling. The convenience of buying just one makes it perfect for your first stop on a food-walking tour.

Tips

Queues often form on weekends and in the evening, so aiming for right after opening in the morning is your best bet. The filling is very hot when freshly baked, so be careful not to burn yourself. Since it's inside the arcade, you can stop by without worrying about rain. We recommend trying one of each—black and white bean paste.