Tofu Wonderland

It is hard to miss Tofubou (豆腐厨房). Located along the busy Highway 15, Tofubou has numerous banners advertising their tofu soft cream, tofu donuts, and tofu buffet. As I've never tasted tofu donuts nor tofu ice cream before, curiosity led me to visit the shop.

Upon entering, I was greeted by a wide array of tofu products. The glass counters have ready-to-eat snacks, great for a quick lunch or as a side dish to supplement dinner. These include inarizushi (稲荷寿司,  a pouch of fried tofu filled with sushi rice), tofu karaage (a deep fried dish that tastes as good as its chicken counterpart), okara (soy pulp with assorted vegetables), agedashi tofu (揚げ出し豆腐, fried tofu served with garnish), kinchakuni (巾着煮, another kind of fried tofu pouch tied on one end, which goes nicely with soup), and the shop's bestseller: tofu hamburgers. Two open refrigerators hold the various kinds of tofu. Some can be consumed as is, while others are used for cooking or baking. Examples include soy milk or soy cream, fresh tubs of tofu, fried tofu of various cuts and sizes, and trays of yuba (tofu skin, a delicacy in its own right). These are fresh made everyday at the shop. If you ever tire of plain tofu, Tofubou offers tomato tofu, yuzu tofu, edamame tofu, and black sesame tofu. 

Then there are the tofu-themed sweets. The tofu donuts are chewy, springy, with the perfect amount of sweetness, and not at all oily. They come in packs of five for 350円. If you prefer a cold and creamy dessert, the tofu soft cream is unbelievably light and refreshing, with a delicate tofu taste, and one that does not leave you with a heavy feeling. There's also tofu pudding which comes in a variety of flavors such as strawberry, blueberry, chocolate, and mango. Tofu breads are available and they are moist, almost cake-like. The shop offers free tasting of their tofu donuts and tofu karaage, but if you really wish to sample all the tofu products they offer, then you have to try their lunch buffet. 

The tofu lunch buffet is available from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. everyday, and the price is unbelievably affordable at 980円 for adults, 700円 for elementary students, 400円 for children, 200円 for toddlers 2-3 years old, and free for infants. Buffet guests are seated at the shop's bright and open deck where they can leisurely enjoy the spread of tofu goodness.