Kasanoya かさの家 (Dazaifu, JAPAN) ★★★★☆

A trip to Dazaifu is not complete without tasting its Umegae mochi (梅が枝餅), a traditional Japanese sweet unique in the area, consisting of a thin, chewy rice cake filled with sweet azuki red bean paste, grilled to a crisp on a hot iron plate with a plum blossom stamp. Sold as a warm, toasted, and slightly salty delicacy, it is best enjoyed freshly baked near the famous Dazaifu Tenmangū Shrine (太宰府天滿宮).

To find the best Umegae mochi in Dazaifu, just follow the longest line and you’ll likely end up at Kasanoya (かさの家), located right across the street from Dazaifu’s remarkably designed Starbucks.

Situated on the buzzing Dazaifu Tenmangu approach/Omotesando (太宰府天滿宮参道), you can watch the chefs diligently flipping the hot iron plates behind the scenes — an experience in itself!

After less than 10 minutes in the line, I finally got us some sizzling hot Umegae mochi!

I had this last time around during the summer, but in winter time amidst the cold weather, this tasted even better as a heart-warming snack.

Now, we have just enough time to visit Dazaifu Tenmangū Shrine before sunset.

Mission complete!

Food Rating: 6/10

Price: ￥￥

Address: 2-7-24 Saifu, Dazaifu, Fukuoka 818-0117, Japan

Closest Train Station: Dazaifu

Tel: +81 (0)92-922-1010

Opening Hours: 9:00am - 6:00pm daily

Ramen Oigen Dazaifu 拉麵 おいげん 太宰府店 (Dazaifu, JAPAN) ★★★☆☆

Ramen Oigen Dazaifu (拉麺 おいげん 太宰府店) is a pork bone broth ramen shop we first visited two years ago during our trip to Dazaifu (太宰府). After skipping lunch to make time for a Mont Blanc dessert in Kurume earlier in, we figured this was the perfect opportunity to relive a flavorful memory. Plus, by the time we arrived at around 3pm, most eateries in the area had already closed for their lunch service.

But clearly, we weren’t the only ones with this idea. A line had already formed, and we found ourselves waiting in the cold, with the temperature hovering around 2°C.

It took a while before we could finally get in (more on that later).

Tonkotsu Ramen (豚骨らぁ麵) (920 yen) — Still the star of the show at Ramen Oigen. The creamy pork bone broth was deeply flavorful, yet beautifully balanced — not overly rich or intense. But the real standout was the smoky aburi chashu (chargrilled pork belly). Perfectly charred, tender, and packed with flavor, and definitely elevated the entire dish.

Shoyu Ramen scented with shrimp oil (海老香る醤油らぁ麵) (1,050 yen) — I had the shoyu ramen scented with shrimp oil this time around. The broth had a savory umami profile, but to be honest, it lacked the depth and richness I was hoping for. And regrettably, it didn’t come with the smoky aburi chashu — my favorite. (Yes, I could have added it as a topping but forgot).

Meanwhile, the soft-boiled egg was nicely done.

This didn't taste anywhere as good as their smoky aburi chashu.

The thin noodles were pretty satisfying.

Our visit wasn’t all smooth sailing. As we stood in front of the line outside the shop, braving the cold, three seats became available but only two were next to each other. However, no signal came from the staff to usher us in or guide us in any way and the ramen shop was set to close in about half an hour. In the end, I had to step inside and explain our situation, asking if little nugget and mom could be seated first while I waited outside. Thankfully, they agreed, but the moment felt a bit awkward (why not offer us to be seated separately?).

All things considered, I felt the incident could have been handled with more care and compassion by the team. When you're hungry, cold, and traveling with a small child and elderly, those little gestures go a long way.

We did have a great time in Dazaifu, as always. 

Food Rating: 6.3/10

Price: ￥￥￥

Address: 1-10-32 Saifu, Dazaifu, Fukuoka, 818-0117 Japan

Closest Train Station: Dazaifu

Tel: +81 (0)92-408-8697

Website: www.ramen-oigen.com

Opening Hours: 10:00am - 4:00pm daily

Kasanaya Okinohata カサナヤ沖端 (Yanagawa, JAPAN) ★★★★☆

Yanagawa City  (柳川市) is a peaceful and historic town in Fukuoka Prefecture known for its picturesque canals and “donkobune” boat rides.

And Okinohata (沖端), one of the most scenic and culturally rich parts of the city, is where time slows down, and history flows as gently as the canals that wind through the neighborhood. 

Since Okinohata is literally in the backyard of our hotel, we couldn’t resist heading there to soak in the vibe. Quaint shops line the narrow streets, many of them selling fresh local produce, crafts, and specialties unique to the area. But what really caught our attention was a little gem tucked in between the city's iconic unagi eel restaurants — a cozy snack shop called Kasanaya Okinohata (カサナヤ沖端).

Kasanaya Okinohata keeps its focus razor-sharp with a menu of just four items but every one of them punches above its weight in flavor and flair.

Mutuyaki (220 yen) — A whimsical twist on the classic taiyaki (鯛焼き), the mutuyaki is cooked in a blowfish-shaped mold rather than a sea bream. Its golden, waffle-like batter is lightly crisped on the outside and pillowy soft inside.

One can choose from four fillings: red bean paste, custard, chestnut, and a savory ham and mayo. Being a sweet tooth myself, I went with the custard option. The crust was nice and spongy while the custard cream was smooth with a mild sweetness. The overall experience was a delightful one although I won't mind a little more sweetness in the custard. 

All in all, it’s the kind of snack that makes you smile even before the first bite.

Shrimp cracker 🦐 (700 yen) — For an Instagram-worthy bite, look no further than this shrimp cracker. The freshly made cracker arrives piping hot and fanned out across a wire rack. 

It takes about 6–8 minutes to make, but the anticipation only added to the experience especially for little nugget, who could barely contain his excitement watching it come to life.

The texture was crispy and airy with bright flavors of shrimp and umami that came mostly from two large prawns as toppings. It was our first time trying freshly made shrimp crackers, and honestly, I thought 700 yen for something this fresh and eye-catching was a total steal!

With our snacks in hand, we found a quiet spot by the canal to take in the scenery while we munched away. For under 1,000 yen, we've feasted on two hand-crafted, high-quality snacks under the late morning sun. Kasanaya Okinohata isn’t a place you stumble upon in guidebooks, but it’s exactly the kind of little treasure that makes traveling in Japan so magical.

Food Rating: 6/10

Price: ￥￥

Address: 34 Okinohatamachi, Yanagawa, Fukuoka 832-0065, Japan

Tel: +81 (0)80-3956-9329

Opening Hours: 11:00am - 4:30pm (Thu - Tue)