5 Popular Souvenirs in Kumamoto

Feb 18, 2026 - 15:03

Souvenirs in Kumamoto

Every city and town in Japan, big and small, has meibutsu (local specialities) and Kumamoto is no different. The prefecture is famous for its castle, Kurokawa Onsen and the ever-active volcano, Mount Aso, with its surrounding grasslands. Here are five souvenirs in Kumamoto that make for perfect keepsakes to bring back home.

1. Musha Gaeshi

Souvenirs in Kumamoto — Musha Gaeshi is lovely with coffee and black tea as well as green.

This Japanese-Western fusion treat takes after a famous stone wall at Kumamoto Castle. The popular souvenir is made up of 100 thin layers of buttery pie crust wrapped around creamy, sweet bean paste.

Price: ¥983 (5 pieces)
Official website

2. Karashi Renkon Chips

Karashi renkon (spicy lotus root) stuffed with miso and Japanese mustard is a local specialty that used to be reserved for the samurai class. This souvenir is a crunchy reimagining of the classic Kumamoto dish, with the spicy lotus fried into chips. It goes great with drinks!

Price: ¥1,296 (4 bags)
Official website

3. Higo Daiko

Named after the old province of Higo, this large handmade senbei (cracker) is a salty treat. Made from a mix of soy sauce-flavored arare (small roasted mochi pieces) and peanuts, this sweet-crunchy snack is a Kumamoto specialty that is just right to bring home as an omiyage.

Price: ¥1,112 (6 pieces)
Official website

4. Homare no Jin Daiko

This classic omiyage from 1958 uses domestic Azuki beans, boiled in Mount Aso’s pure underground spring water and soft gyuhi (a rice-flour confectionery). Wrapped in a special film, this treat can stay moist for a long time, making it an excellent souvenir.

Price: ¥1,290 (8 pieces)
Official website

5. Donuts Bou

Donuts Bou are one of Kumamoto’s most famous souvenirs and these Okinawan black sugar-coated versions are especially tasty. Known for their crispy exterior and moist interior, these long-running treats, which debuted in 1987, have just the right amount of sweetness.