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Though the food is typically light and healthy, there are many instances in traditional Japanese cuisine you will encounter a snack that is dense enough to constitute a meal in and of itself. Such is the case with Ikinari dango, an treat consisting of raw sweet potato steamed while wrapped in mochi (rice dumplings). Perfect for fall and winter, Ikinari dango is typically served warm, and is every bit as heavy as it sounds. The Kumamoto speciality is bound to keep you pleasantly satiated while containing the bare minimum of processed sugars that you could ask for from such a substantial treat.
Kumamoo traditional specialty Ikinari dango is a wonderful treat made out of mochi and sweet potato
Kumamoto’s specialty Ikinari dango can be translated literally as “sudden dumplings.”  Though you will inevitably have at least one friend who elicits groans in feigned surprise every time he sees them, the true meaning is derived from the fact that these dumplings are easily prepared. The dango contain a total sum of about three ingredients, making them simple to put together for sudden and unexpected houseguests (barring you know how to handle mochi flour).

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Kumamoo traditional specialty Ikinari dango come in different varieties such as sweet potatoThe rice flour Ikinari dango may come in several different varieties, although typically these do not vary much in terms of contents. By definition, they contain a wedge of steamed satsumaimo (yellow sweet potato), as well the occasional dollop of anko (read bean paste) to enrich the sweetness even further, which is then wrapped inside the mochi rice dumpling. You will likely see several different and colorful varieties of Ikinari dango. However, this correlates to the flavoring of the mochi, rather than the filling. Some popular flavors include purple yam, sakura, matcha, and chestnut. Dango are a staple of  Kumamoto’s festivals, whether during the moon-viewing, cherry blossom season, or Mizu Akari.

Those intent on having the most authentic Ikinari dango experience would be best advised to visit Suizenji Park – the stalls outside this park and zen garden are where the sweets were said to have first been invented. You can purchase the dango without admission to the park, in the shopping area just before the garden. The second most popular purveyor of Ikinari dango is among the stalls upon entering Kumamoto Castle. The clerks here are always happy to teach you about the dumplings as they welcome you to the castle. In summer, this location also sells them iced.

to have the most authentic traditional Ikinari dango experience in Kumamoto, visit Suizenji ParkFor fans of Ikinari dango who are looking to buy them in bulk, off the beaten trail lays one of the best locations for buying takeaway dango. Ki Ki Ya is a Japanese sweets store and café located just southwest of downtown Kumamoto’s historic Kawaramachi district. Recognizable from their outdoor steamer, they offer a variety of Ikinari Dango, as well as other artisan, traditional Japanese sweets. They come in five flavors, and are available freshly steamed or packaged for home preparation. you can also make your own Ikinari dango, Kumamoto traditional specialtyThose who have access to a kitchen and are feeling particularly ambitious may also wish to make their own Ikinari dango. In this case, the Kokai Bashi fruit market just north of Fujisaki Shrine offers some of the cheapest produce in the city. Satsumaimo and rice flour for mochi are found year-round at this market. If you find yourself losing resolve halfway through, merchants often sell their own home made sweets such as Ikinari dango here as well. Regardless of where and how suddenly you decide to eat it, Ikinari dango is a culinary experience not to be overlooked in Kumamoto.
Kumamoo traditional specialty Ikinari dango is a wonderful treat made out of mochi and sweet potato

 

Suizenji Park

Access: Thirty minutes by tram from JR Kumamoto station.  Get off at Suizenji Koen stop and walk. Alternatively, take a train on HR Hohi line to Shin-Suizenji station.  Walk ten minutes from the tation

Address: Suizenji Koen 8-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto-shi

Hours: 7:30-18:00 (March to October); 8:30-17:00 (November-February); last admission 30 minutes before closing.  No closing days.

Price Range:  400 Yen (Entry not needed for purchasing Ikinari Dango)

Website: http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/spot/gardens/suizenjijojuen.html

 

 

Kikiya

Access: Take tram from Kumamoto eki-mae to Kawaramachi. Walk five minutes.

Address: 10 Nishitojinmachi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto-ken 860-0027

Hours: 10:00-18:00. Closed Sunday.

 

Kokai Bashi Fruit Market

Access: Bus: Take a bus from the Kotsu Center that is headed towards Kokai, get off at the Kokai Honmachi stop.

Address: Nishi Kokai-machi/Higashi Kokai-machi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto-shi

 

 

Liam Duffy

Liam Duffy

Liam Duffy is a student and English teacher, living in Kumamoto City, Japan, originally from Toronto, Canada. He is a curator of secondhand sweaters, and the father of three beautiful houseplants. His goal is to explore as much of Kumamoto as possible, and to help make Kumamoto other Kyushu prefectures more accessible to international travellers. When he’s not travelling or studying, chances are you can find him stooging around a local coffee shop, or binge-watching 1990s paranormal dramas on Netflix.

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