Miso is a traditional Japanese seasoning made from fermented soybeans and rice, with over 1,000 years of history. It’s a staple in Japanese cuisine—found in miso soup, stews, hot pots, and grilled dishes—and deeply rooted in Japanese food culture.
If you’re looking to see, taste, and truly experience Japan’s miso culture, “Miso Soup Cafe Ajien” is the place to go.
Located inside the long-standing miso specialty store “Sano Miso,” which houses Miso Soup Cafe Ajien
About 10 minutes by train from Tokyo Station, Miso Soup Cafe Ajien is located in Kameido, near Tokyo Skytree. This one-of-a-kind cafe places miso at the heart of its dining experience.
It’s nestled inside “Sano Miso,” a specialty shop founded in 1934, where you can enjoy miso soup crafted to bring out the full depth of miso’s flavor.
Exceptional freshness and flavor: a blissful miso soup experience
The signature dish at Miso Soup Cafe Ajien is a set of rice and miso soup, which you can customize to your liking—one of the biggest draws for visitors.
You start by choosing the type of miso soup you want.
There are two options: the simple “Plain Miso Soup Set,” which comes with just garnishes, or the more indulgent “Loaded Miso Soup Set,” featuring seven ingredients and your choice of meat or fish.
Next, you choose between a bowl of rice or a grilled rice ball as your main staple.
Seven kinds of ingredients and side dishes are laid out behind the counter
You then select from six types of miso, either one or a blend of two.
Miso is categorized by ingredients, fermentation length, and color—generally, the lighter the color, the sweeter the taste; the darker, the saltier and richer it is.
When blending, it’s best to mix miso types with contrasting colors.
Some examples of miso include sweet white miso, deeply fermented red miso, their blend awase miso, rich and full-bodied mame miso (made from soybeans and salt, without added rice or barley), and aromatic mugi miso (made from fermented soybeans and barley).
If you’re unsure, the staff will be happy to recommend a blend.
Sample of miso types available at Miso Soup Cafe Ajien
Miso soup is a balance of miso and dashi broth. At Miso Soup Cafe Ajien, the broth is freshly made each morning from kombu and bonito flakes, and each bowl is prepared to order.
Since nothing is pre-made, the flavor is exceptionally fresh, highlighting the complex aroma of the miso itself.
“素おみそ汁 い セット,” Plain Miso Soup ‘I’ Set 900 JPY (tax included)
There are four set meals to enjoy the miso soup: “Plain Miso Soup ‘I’ Set” (pronounced “ee”), “Plain Miso Soup ‘Ro’ Set,” “Loaded Miso Soup ‘Ha’ Set,” and “Loaded Miso Soup ‘Ni’ Set.”
The labels ‘I’, ‘Ro’, ‘Ha’, and ‘Ni’ come from the traditional Japanese “Iroha” ordering system, similar to the ABCs in English.
The Plain Miso Soup ‘I’ Set includes a simple miso soup and a grilled rice ball.
With just one sip of the miso soup, the mellow aroma of kōji (steamed grains or legumes fermented with a special mold to develop deep flavor) fills your senses, and the richness and umami gently seep into every part of your body.
It’s a simple dish, but one that allows you to deeply savor the layers of miso’s flavor—perfect for purists.
“具おみそ汁 に セット,” Loaded Miso Soup ‘Ni’ Set 1,280 JPY (tax included)
The Loaded Miso Soup ‘Ni’ Set comes with rice and a generous helping of miso soup filled with colorful seasonal veggies and mushrooms—visually delightful and hearty.
If you’re after something more filling, this is the set to go for.
Both soup types can be made vegan or vegetarian by swapping the bonito-based dashi with shiitake mushroom broth.
Two types of pickles and three kinds of Okazu Miso
All sets also include two kinds of pickles, three varieties of “Okazu Miso” (miso as a side dish), and a small dessert.
These include options like mackerel-infused miso or miso with perilla leaf—perfect to pair with rice or grilled rice balls.
(left) Parsley (center) Grated Cheese (right) Arare Rice Crackers
At your table, you’ll also find a selection of suikuchi (condiments) to add texture and flavor twists to your miso soup.
These include crispy rice crackers, grated cheese that pairs surprisingly well with miso, black pepper for a bit of spice, parsley, and more.
Add a little at a time and enjoy the evolving taste.
A bold fusion: Japanese-French “Miso French Toast”
Miso Soup Cafe Ajien offers more than just miso soup sets.
One of the standout items is the inventive “Miso French Toast,” a fusion of bread and miso.
“みそフレンチトースト,” Miso French Toast 900 JPY (tax included)
This dessert features miso-infused bread turned into fluffy French toast, served with vanilla ice cream and a rich miso caramel sauce.
Light and tender in texture, it balances sweetness with a touch of bitterness—an unexpectedly harmonious combination.
Take home regional miso from around Japan
Before or after dining at Miso Soup Cafe Ajien, be sure to check out Sano Miso’s famous miso counter.
They offer miso that’s unpasteurized, preserving the live yeast and bacteria from fermentation for maximum flavor.
Inside Sano Miso
About 70 types of regional miso from across Japan—from Hokkaido to Okinawa—are displayed in large barrels lining the shop.
Many of the miso types are available for sampling—just ask a staff member for help.
You can purchase miso starting from 300 grams (10.6 ounces).
It keeps for six months in the fridge or about a year in the freezer, making it a popular souvenir for international visitors—though it’s best to check your country’s customs rules before bringing unpasteurized miso home.
Try before you buy with “Kurabetemiso”
You can also sample miso through a self-serve tasting experience called “Kurabetemiso,” where you dissolve your choice of miso into broth and taste the difference. The name appears to play on the Japanese phrase kurabete mite (“try comparing”), cleverly blending it with the word miso — inviting visitors to compare flavors firsthand.
Choose from three or six types to compare easily.
“くらべてみ噌,” Kurabetemiso 3 types: 150 JPY, 6 types: 300 JPY (tax included)
Start by scooping your miso into a small paper cup.
Add the dashi broth from a pot and stir with your spoon—it’s ready to drink! Now try another one and compare!
From sweet white miso to powerfully rich red miso, this is a fun way to explore the incredible diversity of miso’s flavor profile.
Kurabetemiso 3 types
You’ll also find a curated selection of miso-based products, fermented pickles, and artisanal condiments from all over Japan in the shop.
Why not take this opportunity to experience the deep and distinctive world of Japanese fermentation culture?
Information
| Store name | みそ汁カフェ味苑 Miso Soup Cafe Ajien |
|---|---|
| Address | Inside Sano Miso Kameido Main Store, 1-35-8 Kameido, Koto-ku, Tokyo
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| Access |
Kameido Station 3-minute walk from Kameido Station North Exit
|
| Phone number | 03-3685-6111 |
| Reservations | Not accepted |
| Payment |
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| Service charge/Table charge | None |
| Hours | 11:00-15:00 |
| Closed | No holidays |
| Seating | 14 table seats |
| Smoking | All seats are non-smoking |
| Official website | https://sanomiso.com/store/kameido-main-store/ |
| Other information |
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※Menu contents, prices, store information, etc. are current as of July 2025.
