Yufuin Cucuchi
Table of Contents
由布院 鞠智: A Hidden Old House of Dessert Paradise in Yufuin
On Yunotsubo Street in Yufuin, Oita Prefecture, there is a shop that will definitely make you stop in your tracks, and that is ‘由布院 鞠智’ (Cucuchi). This shop is a combination of a café and a Western-style confectionery store, specializing in handmade desserts and local delicacies, such as freshly baked dorayaki, Japanese Black Wagyu croquettes, and high-quality jams and dessert gift boxes.
The shop’s name is derived from an ancient castle near the owner’s hometown of Kumamoto Yamaga, ‘鞠智城’, turning the feeling of ‘homesickness’ into a taste that can be taken away. The store features beams and pillars from an old house relocated from Hida Takayama, with the wood’s texture still showing the passage of time, making you unconsciously lighten your steps as you enter.
This shop is renovated from an old house in Hida Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, with a wooden structure exuding a strong Japanese sentiment, paired with modern interior design, creating a nostalgic yet stylish atmosphere. The space inside is not large, but every corner is filled with details, and there is a small courtyard outside with lush green grass. Sitting on the terrace, you can enjoy a distant view of Yufu Mountain, whether you want to leisurely sip coffee or enjoy dessert while admiring the scenery, this place allows you to feel the slow-living charm of Yufuin.
Signature Must-Try: Thick Dorayaki and Japanese Black Wagyu Croquette
Speaking of 由布院 鞠智’s signature dishes, you absolutely cannot miss their Dorayaki (dorayaki)! This is not your ordinary dorayaki; the pancake-like outer layer is thick, about three times the thickness of a regular dorayaki, with a fluffy texture and a slight chewiness, filled with a finely textured red bean paste that is sweet but not overwhelming! These dorayaki are all handmade by the chef on-site, and when they come out hot, the aroma is irresistible, making it hard for passing tourists not to buy one to try. The price is around 390 yen (for takeout), and it is praised as the No. 1 souvenir from Yufuin!
Another favorite is Japanese Black Wagyu Croquette (Japanese Black Wagyu croquette). This croquette uses Japanese Black Wagyu, which is tender and flavorful, paired with soft mashed potatoes, and the outer layer is fried to a golden crisp. Biting into it fills your mouth with the rich aroma of beef, making it the perfect choice for eating on the go.
When the season arrives, the Mont Blanc dorayaki becomes another star. It features seasonal ingredients like chestnuts, strawberries, yuzu, or chocolate, with the dorayaki skin still handmade, filled with chestnut cream or seasonal fruits, topped with a whole piece of chestnut simmered in syrup with its inner skin. The portion is substantial, but the sweetness of the filling is well-controlled, leaving you wanting to take another look at that mountain after finishing. You can also sit down in the shop to enjoy it with a cup of single-origin coffee; the hot dorayaki pairs perfectly with the hot coffee.
More dessert and drink options to satisfy your taste buds.
Yuzu monaka（Yuzu monaka）. The outer layer is a crispy wafer, and the filling is a rich red bean paste made from domestically produced adzuki beans, with a hint of yuzu fragrance. The texture is incredibly rich, and the official online store sells a pack of six for 1,600 yen, with in-store packaging and prices depending on availability, making it suitable for both gifts and personal use. There is also sweet potato confection(sweet potato confection), made with local Kyushu ingredients, with a delicate texture and just the right sweetness, and the packaging is very high quality!
For drinks, try their homemade ginger ale(Ginger Ale), with a mildly spicy ginger flavor paired with refreshing bubbles, it’s super refreshing in summer! Additionally, the cold brew coffee is rich yet not bitter, perfectly complementing the desserts. If you’re a dessert lover, don’t forget to try the limited-time strawberry daifuku(Amaou daifuku), although some tourists find the white bean filling’s texture a bit strange, the sweetness of the strawberry still leaves a strong impression, with prices depending on the day’s offerings.
At the back of the shop is a wide expanse of grass, where you can sit and see the outline of Yufu Mountain. When the wind blows down from the mountain, the sounds of the street are somewhat muffled, leaving only the sound of cooking on the copper griddle and the occasional bird calls. The color of the old wood appears deeper in the afternoon light, and the sweetness of the filling becomes softer. Here, they sell not only dorayaki but also jams made from Kyushu fruits, yuzu monaka, kintsuba, and various small items that can be taken back to your hotel. Each item is labeled with its place of origin, letting you know where the flavor comes from.
The shop owner, Mr. 菊池武久, graduated from the Faculty of Literature at Aoyama Gakuin University in 2005. He chose to open a shop in Yufuin not only because of the area’s tourist appeal but also to allow visitors to feel the warmth of local culture through food. This commitment to quality has made 鞠智 stand out among the many culinary offerings in Yufuin, becoming a ‘must-visit’ on many tourists’ lists.
Sitting down, looking at the dorayaki still steaming, the filling’s particles glimmering slightly in the light, is the most direct representation of this shop.
由布院 鞠智 video introduction
Practical Japanese for restaurants
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Excuse me
Menu, please!
Order, please
This one, please
Thank you for the meal
Water, please
How do I eat this?
A small plate, please
May I take a photo?
Excuse me, please change the grill net.
Check, please
Where do I pay?
How much is it?
Can I use a credit card?
I will pay in cash
May I have the receipt, please?
The takeout counter and dine-in coffee area have separate ordering, with different prices. The amounts are in yen, including tax; for seasonal desserts, soba noodles, and daily offerings, please check the in-store menu.Official Website
Reminder: Clicking on Japanese text will play audio!
Ginger Ale
ジンジャーエール
Black Wagyu Croquette
黒毛和牛コロッケ
Oita Specialty Chicken Tempura
大分名物とり天
Takeout
テイクアウト
Dorayaki
どら焼き
Black Wagyu Croquette
黒毛和牛コロッケ
Oita Specialty Chicken Tempura
大分名物とり天
Yufuin Milk Soft Cream
ゆふいんミルクソフトクリーム
Drink
ドリンク
Ginger Ale
ジンジャーエール
Ginger Ale Smoothie
ジンジャーエールスムージー
Gingerbread Milk
ジンジャーブレッドミルク
Craft Cola
クラフトコーラ
Ginger Syrup
ジンジャーシロップ
Craft Cola Syrup
クラフトコーラシロップ
How to Drink
飲み方
Soda
ソーダ
Hot
ホット
Cold
コールド
Takeout ginger drinks can be selected as sparkling, hot, or iced, and there are also milk-based drinks; spice concentration can be confirmed with staff when ordering.
Set Menu
セットメニュー
Dorayaki Set
どら焼きセット
Add Milk Soft Serve
ミルクソフトクリーム追加
Dorayaki Set
- Freshly baked dorayaki paired with a selected drink, basic combination ¥1,140.
- Drink options and additional charges, please refer to the in-store set menu.
- Add ¥300 to pair with milk soft serve.
Cafe Drink
カフェドリンク
Coffee
コーヒー
Cold Brew Coffee
水出しアイスコーヒー
Cafe au Lait
カフェオレ
Hojicha
焙じ茶
Ginger Ale
ジンジャーエール
Ginger Smoothie
ジンジャースムージー
Craft Cola
クラフトコーラ
Souvenir
お土産
Yuzu Monaka
柚子最中
Sweet Potato
スイートポテト
Baked Mont Blanc
ベイクドモンブラン
Fruit Preserve
コンフィチュール
Gift-box sizes and prices refer to the official online store; in-store selection, flavors and packaging depend on availability.
由布院 鞠智 Store Location
由布院 鞠智 | Store Information
- Type：Café, dorayaki and Japanese-Western confections, with a takeout counter and soba light meal area.
- Budget: Tabelog lists spending of up to 999 yen per person; the dine-in dorayaki set is 1,140 yen, with seasonal desserts and drinks priced separately.
- Phone：0977-85-4555。
- Reservation：No reservations accepted.
- Business Hours：Weekdays 10:00～17:00; Saturdays, Sundays, and Japanese national holidays 10:00～17:30. Generally open year-round, but may have a few days off each year; please check official announcements before visiting.
- Address：大分県由布市湯布院町川上3001-1。
- Transportation：About 12 minutes walk from JR Yufuin Station, Tabelog lists about 753 meters; approximately 5 minutes by taxi. Located along Yunotsubo Street.
- Seating：36 seats (20 indoor seats, 16 terrace seats), no private rooms, cannot be reserved for exclusive use.
- Parking：No dedicated parking lot, paid parking available nearby.
- Children and Pets：Pets allowed; please confirm with the shop regarding seating for companions, strollers, or children’s meal requests.
- Payment：VISA, Master, JCB, AMEX, Diners credit cards; transportation electronic tickets, iD, and PayPay.
- Smoking: Tabelog indicates designated smoking areas; please confirm the actual smoking area before visiting the shop.
- Opening: 2008-12-24.
Official Website｜Official business and transportation information｜Official Instagram｜Tabelog. Information checked: 2026-10-21
