Hello everyone, I’m Jessica, an intern at Michinoeki.
Today’s activity was especially fun—we got to try making Ikinari Dango, a traditional sweet from Kumamoto.If you love desserts, this is definitely something you shouldn’t miss! And honestly, food made with your own hands always tastes a little more special. 🍡
Experience available at Aono Travel Agency (IKINARI Dango Workshop)
What is Ikinari Dango? 👀
Ikinari Dango is a traditional confection made from sweet potato, red bean paste, and dough.
It’s simple, quick, and delicious—once a popular treat served to unexpected guests, and still a local favorite today.
The hands-on workshop lasts about 1.5 hours in a cozy and welcoming environment, perfect even for beginners.It starts with a demonstration video, followed by step-by-step guidance from the instructor.
⭐️Let’s start！
1️⃣First, we ground rice into flour and sifted it, then mixed it with starch, flour, sugar, and salt.
2️⃣Add vegetable powders like purple sweet potato, spinach, and carrot. Mix with water, knead into dough, and roll it into small wrappers. Place a slice of sweet potato on top, then add a filling of red bean paste or cream cheese.
3️⃣Wrap it all up to form colorful little dumplings.
4️⃣ Steam them until soft and fragrant—your homemade Ikinari Dango is ready!
As the dumplings steamed, everyone took photos, laughed, and enjoyed the moment. Paired with a cup of Minami Aso green tea, the experience felt both cozy and fulfilling.
✦ My Thoughts
This Ikinari Dango workshop is great for friends, couples, or families. The host speaks both Japanese and English, explains each step clearly, and even jumps in to help if you get stuck (which I definitely needed a couple of times, haha!). Another highlight is that they take photos and videos for you throughout the process, so you can simply relax, have fun, and keep wonderful memories of the day.
IKINARI Dango Workshop
📍地址：熊本県阿蘇郡南阿蘇村河陽4732-8
