I tried my luck with a draw in Ashiya Town and ended up with Kokurakita Ward in Kitakyushu City. Since it wasn't too far from Ashiya to Kokura, we headed to the center of Kokura after enjoying a squid rice bowl. After discussing with my daughter, we decided to have dessert, and she mentioned she wanted a matcha dessert. That's when I remembered a place in Kyomachi Ginza near Kokura Station called "Kisako," a sweets shop run by the well-known confectionery store Kogetsudo. We ordered the Uji Kin Toki (850 yen including tax), a shaved ice dessert with Uji matcha on top. It was served with three shiratama and a piece of soft red mochi on top. The matcha flavor was rich and consistent throughout the dessert, making it a satisfying treat on a hot day. The Uji Kin Toki was delicious, and I would love to visit Kisako again in the future.

At first glance, it looks like a sweet shop, but there is a space at the back where you can have a meal. I went there during lunchtime and there was a huge line, so I waited for about 20 minutes at the end of the line. Since I had a hearty breakfast, I decided to have some sweets. Today's dessert set (Western) for 900 yen included chocolate cake, pudding, and what seemed like tea pound cake (it had a chiffon-like taste but was not too light). All three items were served and they were all made with care and had a moderate level of sweetness. They were all satisfyingly delicious. The fruits were fresh and of high quality. The iced coffee was refreshing and had no bitterness, unexpectedly delicious. The hamburger steak-like dish looked appealing, and my friend who ordered it seemed very pleased. We visited this restaurant for a business meeting and it was chosen by the other party. It seems to be an established sweet shop, and selecting traditional Japanese sweets was the right choice. Whether it's Japanese cuisine, Western cuisine, Western sweets, or Japanese sweets, everything looks and tastes delicious. The quality of the ingredients and the care in preparation are evident, but the customer service from the staff was not exceptional, considering the order was placed through a touch panel. The taste, however, was delightful. Thank you for the meal.

After eating plate udon in Hakata, we took the JR train to Kokura in Kitakyushu City. Our destination was the Kitakyushu City Manga Museum near Kokura Station. The first honorary director of the Kitakyushu City Manga Museum was the late Leiji Matsumoto, who passed away in February 2023. He is a great manga artist who is known for works such as "Galaxy Express 999," "Space Battleship Yamato," and "Space Pirate Captain Harlock." Matsumoto lived in Kokura from the third grade of elementary school until he graduated from high school, where he made his professional debut as a manga artist. As a result, there are statues of Maetel, Tetsuro Hoshino, and Captain Harlock at Kokura Station, and the Kitakyushu City Manga Museum has a very extensive section dedicated to Leiji Matsumoto. During our visit, we took our time to admire the exhibits in memory of the beloved Leiji Matsumoto. After the Kitakyushu City Manga Museum, we visited Kogetsudo near Kokura Station. Kogetsudo is a well-known traditional Japanese confectionery shop founded in 1895 in Kitakyushu City. Personally, I like their chestnut manju and gion taiko, so I visited to buy souvenirs. The building also houses a cafe and restaurant called Kogetsudo Kissa-ko, so we decided to take a break there. The cafe was spacious with comfortable seating. We ordered a matcha parfait using the tablet input system. The parfait arrived, and it was a refreshing treat on a hot day. The parfait had a traditional Japanese touch with matcha ice cream topped with red bean paste, shiratama, and chestnuts. It was a sweet dessert, but it helped cool us down and refresh our mood. After enjoying the parfait, we returned to Hakata for a night of exploring izakayas. It was a delicious meal that revived our spirits. Thank you for the wonderful experience!

This is my first time using this place for lunch. There is a hidden gem behind a long-established confectionery shop in Kokura. There are many female customers around, with a majority being elderly. The young person next to me is enjoying tea and Mont Blanc for dessert. I ordered the Chicken Nanban set meal and a draft beer. The set meal is not too big, and the tartar sauce is delicious, making the rice go down smoothly. For dessert, there are various options from Japanese to Western, but since it's hot, I went for the safe choice of strawberry and strawberry milk shaved ice. It was satisfying with a strong strawberry flavor and delicious. However, the ice is not too fluffy, so eating a lot can make it too cold and a bit uncomfortable for the head and throat. I finished my meal while drinking warm tea. There is Wi-Fi available, and if you avoid the busy lunch hours, you can relax and enjoy your time there.

Kogetsudo is a long-established confectionery shop founded in 1895 with its headquarters in Kokura. The main store near Kokura Station has a café. The spacious area offers Wi-Fi access. I tried their shaved ice, the Milk Kaki Gori (860 yen). It was delicious, but a bit plain. I wish there were more shiratama (rice flour dumplings). Cost: 860 yen Rating: 3 points Would like to visit again!

A relaxing atmosphere where you can take your time. I went in the early afternoon and there were only 3 groups ahead of me. I ordered the polar bear shaved ice (@￣ρ￣@). When I took a bite, it didn't have much flavor. I mixed it up because there was a little cream inside. It was a very lightly sweet shaved ice, so it felt a bit lacking.

This is a must-visit shop when visiting Kokura. The atmosphere inside is calm and relaxing. Of course, the taste is the top priority. This time, I mainly had Uji Kinjito. The astringency of matcha was delicious, and the sweetness was just right. I enjoyed a delicious dessert while having a lively conversation. Thank you for the meal!

Arrived after 7 PM. There were two groups of customers already there. The store closes at 8 PM, with last order at 7:15 PM. I had the Mont Blanc parfait. The vanilla ice cream is coated with Mont Blanc around it. The parfait had a variety of ingredients. It was quite sweet, but at the bottom, there was a berry sauce that provided a refreshing finish. Free Wi-Fi is available.

The aunties of Kokura take a break at the relaxing Lake Tsukidou. Among the hustle and bustle, they calm their stomachs with the comforting udon noodles, enjoying the view of the garden and finally finding peace. #Kotsukido Tea House #Kokura Aunties #Blow-in Udon Set #Kokura

The first time I went to a cafe was in high school, with my club advisor. I was really nervous in the very adult atmosphere of the place, and even now, many years later, I still remember it. It's said to be a "relaxing spot for the older ladies around Kokura Station" or something like that... A mysterious cafe where I can now confidently enter at my age. Whether it's taking a break alone, meeting friends for a chat, for some reason, I can't imagine going with my husband or family (at least I can't). It's a peculiar cafe. Maybe the fact that there's an elevator is a selling point loved by the older ladies. The staff's service is like a little hotel and very pleasant. Sitting in a seat with a view of the garden, I forget that this is in the bustling area in front of Kokura Station. The atmosphere is nice and the sofa is comfortable, so the older ladies' backs get even heavier and they don't want to leave (laughs).

I ordered Shiratama Zenzai. It was nice that you can choose between Shiratama and Kakigori at the bottom. Since it was hot outside, I chose Kakigori. The mildly sweet red bean paste and plenty of Shiratama satisfied my love for Shiratama. The Japanese black tea had no bitterness and was just right for warming the stomach.

It's more like a snack place than a regular cafe. They have a unique and delicious-looking Japanese parfait with strawberries, which I chose this time. Next time, I might try the sweet potato shaved ice.

I enjoyed a fruit tea on a sofa with a view of the garden. The tea was made by steeping fruit in hot water, resulting in a refreshing blend of sweetness and acidity that was soothing to the stomach. The tea also came with a fork, allowing me to enjoy the hot fruit pieces inside. It was a relaxing time with a beautiful view.

Lake Tsukidou Ren Shoku, a healing sanctuary for the stomach. The busy and quiet atmosphere is perfect for a gentle stomach-friendly hot pot udon. The dish always includes meat, but there is no shrimp tempura here. Tempura is not needed right now anyway. And don't forget the steamed chestnut yokan. That is a must-have. #HotPotUdon #LakeTsukidouTeaHouse #SteamedChestnutYokan

When I was a child, one of the things I looked forward to when going to Kokura was eating parfait at Kogetsudo. After a long time, I was indecisive about where to eat dessert and ended up at Kogetsudo. Even on a weekday afternoon, the spacious restaurant was full with 2-3 groups of people waiting. From inside the restaurant, you could see the courtyard and hear live piano music, creating a relaxed atmosphere separate from the outside hustle and bustle. Looking at the menu after a long time, I was surprised by the variety of options available. This time, I ordered the "Silk Mont Blanc Set" for 1500 yen. The silk Mont Blanc is made from 100% Japanese chestnuts. You can choose between ice cream or pudding inside, and I chose ice cream this time. It was very satisfying and a bit too much for one person. Despite that, I enjoyed it until the end and it was a fulfilling dessert. Next time, I would like to try their meals. It was a nostalgic and enjoyable time, almost like going back in time. Thank you for the meal.

Visited on November 18, 2021. Took a break here after sightseeing and feeling tired. My friend was aiming for wagashi from Koketsudo, so we stopped by the store. It was around 2:30 pm on a weekday, and about 80% of the seats were taken. 100% of the people eating meals or sweets were women. It might be a little intimidating for men to enter. *Prices are as of 2021* - Silky Mont Blanc (Pudding) Sky Tea Fields ¥1500. You could choose between pudding or ice cream for the filling. My friend said it was quite sweet. - Iced Cafe au Lait ¥600. This was my order, but no photo (*^_^;). It was a bit pricey, but the atmosphere was very nice for a relaxing time, and the staff were friendly. The meals also looked delicious, so I would like to try them if I have the chance.

I received a "Mont Blanc parfait." It is like noodles pouring down, with ice cream inside. It is not as sweet as it looks, but rather subtly sweet and luxurious. I enjoyed it with coffee. Every time I come to Kitakyushu, I spend time here while waiting for the Shinkansen, buying souvenirs, etc. It is a representative confectionery souvenir tea shop in Fukuoka, and everything I order is very delicious! This time, I also bought souvenirs here and was delighted to end my journey.

Founded in the 28th year of the Meiji era, Kogetsudo is famous for its Gion taiko drum and chestnut manju sweets. The main store in Uomachi allows customers to dine in. I only vaguely remember seeing Kogetsudo sweets at places like Sanrio, but I think I have tried them before. I used to associate Kogetsudo with buying traditional sweets for the family altar at my grandma's house, but it's actually quite different. In addition to sweet treats, they also offer set meals like omurice and chicken nanban, which are delicious! The prices are reasonable, and the spacious interior allows for a relaxing dining experience. [Business Hours] 11:00-20:00 [Budget] 2000-3000 yen [Ordered Menu] - Apple Pie Set 900 yen - Matcha Tiramisu Set 1000 yen - Soba and Tempura Set 1380 yen - Omurice with Hashed Beef 1180 yen

Second visit. Last time I had a meal. This time I came for the shaved ice. Popular place, lined up~ but spacious seating, I like the atmosphere inside. Waiting is also understandable. Chose a unique shaved ice. My husband had creme brulee, I had mont blanc. It's strange how the cream and ice blend together without being too sharp! Surprisingly, I was able to eat it until the end. The coffee was delicious. Since it's a Japanese confectionery shop, there is also the enjoyment of shopping at the sales space on the way out. A shop that you'll want to stop by when you come to Kokura.

It was the perfect space for women to chat. I went alone for the first time, but almost everyone around me was women. There were mostly mothers and daughters or female friends. It seemed like there were many regular customers. I was guided to the second floor. There were many menu options, you could even have a meal, and of course, there were plenty of dessert choices. Around me, there were many cake sets and Mont Blanc parfaits. After much deliberation, I chose a Japanese set. Among the three snacks, the chocolate macaron was a nice touch (the macaron was delicious!). The shiratama zenzai with agar underneath was delicious as expected. The Japanese sweets were average. I chose tea for the pot service. It's close to the station and the seats are spacious, so it's a nice cafe to spend about an hour leisurely. They also have Wi-Fi. On the way back, I bought chestnut manju and the famous Gion Taiko sweets at the first-floor store. There was a double-sized chestnut manju that caught my eye, but I decided to save it for next time because I didn't want to overeat.

Freshly made Mont Blanc mille-feuille set (with coffee) ¥1100 Silk Mont Blanc set (with coffee) ¥1500 It was sweet. It might have been enough for two people to share one mountainous Mont Blanc. It was nice to enjoy it with the eyes.