I enjoyed a shaved ice dessert at Ogura's sweet shop to beat the intense heat. When the temperature exceeds 30 degrees, my body craves it! My go-to order is the "Uji Kinjou Milk with Honey" for 650 yen. The portion size is just right, with plenty of sweet red beans and chewy white rice cakes unique to this sweet shop. The slight bitterness of the matcha blends perfectly with the milk. They also serve delicious traditional rice cakes like Abekawa Mochi. The owners, a husband and wife, always work hard, making this a must-have shop in town. Thank you for the wonderful meal. ❤️

I had a matcha milk shaved ice. It was from a long-established sweet shop, and I was pleasantly surprised by the deliciousness of the white balls served with it. The matcha was rich, the milk was plentiful, and yet it was a perfect shaved ice that went down smoothly until the end. The quality is definitely worth over 1000 yen in a city, but the cost performance of just over 600 yen is excellent. As it is getting hotter, this is a shop I want to visit regularly.

At Masuya in Sakaimachi, which has no relation to Masuya known for Pique 8, I bought ohagi for 90 yen and left. There are two types of ohagi: normal and with soybean flour. Both have sweet bean paste filling and are delicious, but I slightly prefer the soybean flour version.

After having lunch with a friend at Unai, we decided to visit for some shaved ice as a palate cleanser. This year marks the 70th anniversary of this longstanding sweet shop. It is located in Uomachi 2-chome, right across from Sisan Udon Uomachi branch. The shop has a sales corner near the entrance and a cafe corner towards the back. There are 8 types of shaved ice on the menu. Both of us ordered the Uji Milk Sweet Potato for 650 yen. It was quite tall and had a good amount of volume. The top layer had condensed milk and matcha, while the bottom had red bean paste and matcha, offering a two-stage flavor experience. The rich bitterness of matcha combined with the sweetness of condensed milk and red bean paste was delightful. After enjoying the refreshing shaved ice, we also bought some traditional Japanese sweets before heading home. The Ohagi for 90 yen comes in four varieties: red bean paste, smooth bean paste, kinako with red bean paste, and kinako with smooth bean paste. The soft mochi with a subtle sesame topping was delicious. The Mizuyokan for 110 yen was moist and sweet, wrapped in a cherry blossom leaf. The Mizufuku for 120 yen was a slightly salty and moist mochi with smooth bean paste, perfect for summer. While the traditional Japanese sweets were good, the Uji Milk Sweet Potato was exceptional with its balance of sweetness and bitterness. Highly recommended!

A friend mentioned that they wanted to eat mochi, so I thought of places like Kotokudo Kissaten, Otafuku, or Masuya in this area while strolling through Kokura's arcade. Otafuku was a bit far, so we decided to check out both Kotokudo Kissaten and Masuya, and ended up liking the atmosphere of this place, so we went in. They had a sign saying they would start serving shaved ice from May 8th. It's a small and cozy place, and surprisingly very affordable. We decided to share some mochi dishes - I chose the Isobe Maki (550 yen) and my friend chose the Abe River (550 yen). The Isobe Maki was a solid and filling mochi roll with a side of soy sauce. It was simple but delicious, and quite satisfying. The green tea had a subtle kelp-like flavor that paired well with the Isobe Maki. The Abe River had a generous amount of kinako on top, and it was definitely more than enough. My friend ate it in a refined manner, while I enjoyed it by adding more kinako on each bite. The sweetness was mild, making me crave for more. I personally preferred the Abe River. We both agreed that we want these kinds of places to stay around. Right after this, my phone malfunctioned and went into factory mode, causing me to lose the photos. Luckily, my friend had taken some, so I was able to write this review. I am truly grateful!

A hidden gem shop that sells rice cakes and sweet bean paste sweets, with 16 seats available for customers. In the summer, shaved ice is popular, while in the winter, they also serve traditional rice cake soup. Their drink menu includes nostalgic items like milkshakes. They offer a variety of coffee options such as Mocha, Colombian, and Mandheling, which pair well with their Japanese-style sweets. I ordered the "zenzai" for 550 yen (tax included). It had a gentle sweetness and rich red bean soup, with two small rice cakes. I wish there were a bit more rice cakes, but overall it was delicious. Next time, I might try pairing it with "isobe maki" and a "Mocha".

On July 31st (Wednesday), I was feeling really exhausted from the heat in Kokura, so I decided to escape to this place! I was so glad I looked it up beforehand! The menu item I wanted to try here was the Uji milk sweet potato for 650 yen. It was packed with sweet potato! In the end, my body was freezing cold, so the warm tea was very much appreciated. I had one of the rice cakes at the beginning and saved the other for last, but it had slightly frozen and hardened. It's soft and tastes better when eaten first.

The prices, appearance, and taste of the cute dumplings are all delightful. I went to buy the soft and plump strawberry daifuku that I like, but they said they don't sell it anymore (￣▽￣;). They changed it to water manju. But no matter which one you eat, they are all delicious and easy on the wallet. It's a great shop, right? The water manju was delicious too ☆ It's so soft and jiggly (⌒▽⌒)

This time, I came to eat o-zoni☆ Since they don't always have it, I called ahead to make sure they had it. Haha. It's not easy to find a place that serves o-zoni at this time of year, but I remember it being around 550 yen. The broth is delicious, the mochi is big, and it really fills you up. Sometimes I just crave it (@￣ρ￣@). I also bought their strawberry daifuku (around 100 yen) as a souvenir to take home. The strawberry daifuku is not like the usual mochi, it's more like a jelly. It's delicious☆

I tried the Uji Milk Kin-to with Uji tea, and the rich flavor of the Uji tea paired perfectly with the Kin-to. It's no wonder it's so popular.

I received a Uji (500 yen) dessert. It has a slightly bitter and sweet taste of matcha. It's solid so you have to break it apart...Oops, it fell; there are two shiratama balls inside, but if you eat them first, it feels like an avalanche...It was nice to visit a traditional-style shop, but it may not be the best choice for men. I enjoyed it, thank you for the meal.

端午の節句はちまきの季節♪ In the city of Kokura, when it comes to traditional Japanese sweets shops, Matsuya is the place to go! On May 3rd, in the early afternoon, there were plenty of "chimaki" displayed on top of the showcase. While my main focus was on chimaki, I couldn't resist getting some oak leaf mochi and Mizu Daifuku as well. The staff asked me if I was okay with their chimaki not being sweet, which surprised me. Apparently, they have been serving a salt-boiled type of chimaki here for a long time. I love chimaki, but this type was new to me. I bought them and tried them at home. The oak leaf mochi and Mizu Daifuku were consistently delicious. The Mizu Daifuku had a smooth texture that was different from Fu Manju, and the oak leaf mochi had a nice seasonal flavor with the scent of the leaves. Now, onto the chimaki... it really wasn't sweet at all! And it was served on a stick! It had more of a rice-like taste, similar to kitandambo. It made me want to dip it in soy sauce or something (laughs). It was an interesting dish. I suddenly felt like having their shaved ice again, so I'll come back on a hot day next time!

In the midst of a scorching heatwave, nothing beats craving for something cold. While drinks are good, I believe shaved ice is a summer tradition. Lately, with fancy shaved ice options on the rise, I heard about a place where you can get shaved ice at a reasonable price. Located on a bustling street filled with people heading to drinking parties at night, there is a traditional Japanese sweets shop on the first floor. Honestly, I passed by it at first (laughs). After entering the Japanese sweets shop and passing through the noren curtain at the back, there is a dessert shop. They offer traditional sweets like sweet red bean soup and coffee, but this time I opted for shaved ice. I chose the most expensive one, the Uji Milk Kinako, priced at 650 yen. The ice is not the bright green color you would expect, but a deep green shade, which is quite unique. The size is a bit smaller but just right. The sweet red beans, called "kinako," are generously hidden within the ice. The milk flavor is not too sweet, giving it a sophisticated taste that I enjoyed. I just wish they provided wet towels as my hands got messy while eating.

A shop where you can enjoy fluffy shaved ice and mildly sweet ohagi. The shop is small but quite crowded with customers. This time, I indulged in the Uji milk sweet potato shaved ice. The fluffy ice with rich Uji flavor and plenty of red beans. The chewy white dumplings placed on top are delicious! By the time I finished eating, I was full! However, the shop is quite cold inside, so I recommend bringing a jacket if you plan to eat shaved ice. I always make sure to wear one, but my friend was feeling cold. It really chills you to the bone. The warm green tea they serve as a complimentary drink suddenly tastes delicious. All in all, I have been a regular customer of this shop every year.

I have been going to this shop since I was a student, so it's been my favorite place for decades. As soon as the rainy season ends and it gets hot, I start craving their shaved ice. On weekends, the air-conditioned store fills up with women of all ages. There are many women's magazines available, and it's fun to flip through them even though I don't usually read them. Unfortunately, I don't like red beans, so I always order the Uji milk flavor. The Uji milk flavor at Masuya is strong and bitter, a true authentic taste. The ice is piled high with plenty of matcha powder sprinkled on top, perfectly complemented by the sweetness of condensed milk. Be careful when eating from the top, as the ice can easily crumble and fall apart. There are two chewy white rice cakes included, but if you leave them for too long, they will harden due to the coldness of the ice, so eat them quickly. As you reach the end, the ice melts, creating a delicious sweet green tea. By the time you finish, your body will be chilled even in the summer, but the staff will bring you warm tea at just the right time. This tea is incredibly sweet and delicious, even though it's just a small amount! In the summer, I always end up ordering shaved ice, but their traditional Japanese rice cake soup is also top-notch. Since it's a Japanese sweets specialty shop, the rice cakes are naturally delicious, and the soup is well-seasoned with a light taste. That's why I want to visit this shop in both summer and winter. The sun is getting stronger, so I think I'll go there soon!

Today (7/25) is Shaved Ice Day ★ ☆ ★, so here are three servings of shaved ice (＾Ｏ＾☆♪ My reviewer, PuiNyu, introduced it as a sweet red bean paste shop before. I had some business in Kokura today, so I finished up and hurried over there. The easiest way to find it is to head towards "Sushi Udon" from the Monorail Heiwadori Station. Walk so that "Sushi Udon" is on your left, and when you see the sign for soba noodles at Bashoan on your left, immediately look to your right (￣▽￣). It's a bit hard to find, but the shop is there. This is my second visit today... actually, it's the second visit in three days (￣▽￣). The first time I visited, I thought about ordering some Japanese sweets, but they had shaved ice (⌒▽⌒)... so I ordered the Uji Milk Kinako for ¥650 ☆. How many years has it been since I had shaved ice? It's been so long... It's insanely hot, so it was delicious like a devil ☆ ★ ☆ I also had Kinako for the first time in a while ε-(´∀｀; ) Next, I visited after having lunch today, around 1 pm. I thought there wouldn't be many customers at that time... but there was only one empty seat (￣▽￣). That was close... Today, I ordered the Milk Topping for ¥450. Since it's been a while since I had shaved ice, I mistakenly thought it was topped with milk;^_^A. Of course, it was condensed milk ☆ ★ ☆ It's so sweet, but since the sweetness doesn't penetrate into the ice, I enjoyed it while neutralizing it ε-(´∀｀; ) Shaved ice is definitely a must-have in the summer (＾Ｏ＾☆♪

I discovered Masuya through a local information magazine in Kitakyushu, and it quickly became one of the restaurants I must visit this summer! Located off the main shopping street in Kokura, the restaurant does not have its own parking lot, so I parked at a nearby coin parking lot. As soon as I walked in, I noticed the display of traditional Japanese sweets, all looking delicious! While enjoying my shaved ice, I saw many customers also purchasing these sweets. Inside, there were about 9 cozy table seats in a calm atmosphere. The restaurant opened at noon, and since I arrived right at opening, there were only a few customers. The menu offered not only shaved ice but also drinks like coffee. I chose the Milk Uji Kanjou shaved ice (600 yen) from the various options available. In just 3 minutes, my order arrived, and the Milk Uji Kanjou was as expected - the ice was fluffy and the matcha flavor was rich! I definitely want to visit this place again this summer, even if I have to pay for parking!

Introducing a small Japanese confectionery shop in the street. The location is on Renaissance Street, parallel to Peace Street in Kokura, with a black glass building and a sign above as a landmark. You can see a showcase with traditional Japanese sweets like ohagi through the glass. This time, I went for sweets with my daughter and for some reason, my sister's friend joined us. We bumped into her at Amu Plaza by chance. Sister's friend: Oh, it's you! Hello! Are you shopping today? Are you heading home already? Me: I'm not sure what to do yet. There's a shop rumored to have delicious shaved ice... Sister's friend: Really? Where is it? (Excited reaction) So, we decided to give it another try! Actually, last time it was full and we couldn't get in... We walked 5 minutes from the station. The shop is open from 15:00 during the Obon season. We opened the glass door and entered the shop. The interior is different from the exterior, with a pure Japanese style. It's a small place with 5-6 tables. First, they served us cold water and we looked at the menu. I chose the Milk Sweet Potato for 500 yen, attracted by the ohagi displayed outside. The ice was different, not fluffy but soft, melting slowly with fine ice crystals. The milk was sweet and the white syrup was refreshing. The red bean paste sandwiched in between was delicious. The large rice cakes were chewy and tasty. It was a lot, but I finished it all. My sister's friend had the Uji Milk for 500 yen, which was also great. The strong matcha syrup was slightly bitter and refreshing. Most people seemed to order this. It costs 600 yen with red bean paste on top. Next time, I might try that too. They also served hot tea, which was thoughtful. It's an old-fashioned sweet shop quietly standing in the city. After the hot summer is over, it might be nice to try the ohagi or rice cake set. One word: - They offer takeout for Japanese sweets. Masuya http://gourmet.walkerplus.com/196461003331/#

October 27, 2010 "Unexpected Visit ヽ(ﾟ∀ﾟ )ﾉ Craving for Rice Cakes and Sweet Red Bean Soup♪" Yes, as promised (?!), I revisited "Masuya." I was regretful for missing out on the "sweet red bean soup" last time, so I had to come back. My friend ordered the "honey beans." ... Honey beans? (・ω・) Truly, you can't predict what will come out in this restaurant from the name. I ordered the "sweetened condensed milk shaved ice" because it was hot. I didn't expect it to be this big! Come to think of it, when was the last time I had "shaved ice" at a restaurant? It was delicious♪ The ice was delicate and the condensed milk flavor was evenly distributed, making it really tasty. Finally, the star of the show, the "sweet red bean soup" appeared ヽ(ﾟ∀ﾟ )ﾉ It was packed with red beans (*ﾟーﾟ) haha. It had a refined taste, not too sweet. As for the rice cakes, as expected, they were grilled before being added. They were cut into about four pieces each, making it easy to eat. This restaurant really has unexpectedly fun menu items. ★ This time, I bought some of the items sold at the storefront. They were small and had a refined taste, which was nice. The prices were reasonable too. It's really a great restaurant (*ﾟーﾟ)b September 15, 2010 "Finally Found the Kind of Restaurant I Was Looking Forヽ(゜∀゜)ノ For Those Who Want to Eat Delicious Rice Cakes♪" Actually, I don't want to tell anyone about this restaurant (´・ω・) haha. I've been looking for a nice restaurant where I can eat delicious rice cakes at a leisurely pace. Finally found it♪ "Masuya" ヽ(゜∀゜)ノ Oh, it's too blurry to see haha. But actually, even on-site, you can't see inside from outside. I boldly entered and immediately saw a display shelf on the right. Looks delicious~ヽ(゜∀゜)ノ I didn't buy anything that day, but next time, I'll definitely buy something before leaving♪ And next to the display shelf is a curtain with the store's name. You can't see inside, but there's an eat-in space at the back where you can relax. I was lucky to be the only customer that day. I kept the corner seat. Jazz music was playing in the background, creating a very calming atmosphere. Ah, I like this place (*゜ー゜)〜♪ The atmosphere, from small items to everything, is well-coordinated and really nice. It seems like the store is run by a husband and wife, and they energetically and cheerfully serve the customers. "Oshinagaki" is written as "oshina-gaki" and read as "menu" (゜▽゜) It's really enticing. I heard that the shaved ice is popular, but I didn't hesitate and went for the [rice cakes] (*゜ー゜)b "Abe River" and "sweet red bean soup" - which one should I choose? I was seriously pondering, and they suggested, "How about trying one first and then deciding?" The "Abe River" appeared ヽ(゜∀゜)ノ Honestly, it's like a "kinako mochi"♪ Sugar is sprinkled on top, so you can adjust the sweetness as you eat. It also comes with green tea and kelp, maybe for a palate cleanser. I took a bite... Oh, delicious...? (´・ω・) Oh, I see, in the world, the rice cakes for kinako mochi are grilled. At Mick Family, we use boiled rice cakes. The rice cakes are crispy on the outside and hot inside. It doesn't stretch like crazy, but it has a chewy texture and is a delicious rice cake. My jaw was tired from eating three! After having Indian curry + cheese naan, I could easily eat three of these, so you can understand how tasty they are♪ But, I had to pass on the "sweet red bean soup" this time haha. Next time, I'll definitely have the "sweet red bean soup"... I wonder if the rice cakes are grilled for that too.

I came here looking for ozoni (New Year's soup with rice cakes), but they didn't have it in August. They offer shaved ice with flavors like milk, Uji green tea, and mizore (shaved ice syrup). The shaved ice is not the trendy fluffy kind, but the traditional crunchy type.