Taiyaki shop “Ruann” sells “Okonomiyaki Taiyaki,” I tried & tested to grab one by walking from Nasushiobara Station

Just a 5-minute walk from the west exit of Nasushiobara Station, there’s a specialty shop called Ruann that sells taiyaki, which are fish-shaped cakes usually filled with sweet red bean paste.

I’d heard from a friend that their “Okonomiyaki Taiyaki” is especially popular, so I decided to grab one while waiting for my bus.

Basic infomation on the shop

• Name：Ruann
• Category：Taiyaki
• Address：2-3-15 Kutsukake, Nasushiobara-shi, Tochigi-ken
• Access：5-minute walk from the west exit of Station Nasushiobara
• Business Hours: 10:00 ~ 18:00*
• Regular Holiday: Irregular holidays (Please confirm before visiting)
• Phone Number: 0287-79-8089
• Official Website/SNS：(Instagram) https://www.instagram.com/taiyakiruann/

*The hours listed vary depending on the source. The receipt shows 10:00 to 18:00, but the flyer inside the store lists weekdays as 9:00 to 18:00 & weekends as 10:00 to 17:00. I’ll check which is correct next time.

Review of my actual experience visiting

Menu in the shop is described below.

Ordered Menu and Price

• Okonomiyaki Taiyaki (¥250)
• Shiratama Ogura Taiyaki (¥220)

About taste & Size

Okonomiyaki Taiyaki is a fun twist on taiyaki — the fish-shaped cake filled not with beans, but with shredded cabbage, bacon, mayo, and a drizzle of okonomiyaki sauce.

The cabbage even sticks out a little, making it look like a mini okonomiyaki in taiyaki form.

It was a bit tricky to eat, but the flavor was spot-on!

Shiratama Ogura Taiyaki comes with sweet red bean paste and two chewy shiratama (rice flour dumplings) inside.

The beans aren’t overly sweet, and the chewy texture of the shiratama adds a nice contrast to the fluffy taiyaki batter.

The size is the same as a regular taiyaki.

The price is a bit on the high side, but it’s unique and delicious, so it’s definitely worth eating!

The atmosphere inside & Service

When I walked inside, there was a sofa, and the place had the vibe of a bar or snack bar that had been converted into a taiyaki shop.

写真

The staff told me, “We can serve some items right away, but if you don’t mind waiting about 20 minutes, we can make them fresh for you.”

Of course, I went for the freshly baked option!

After about 15 minutes, my Okonomiyaki Taiyaki and Shiratama Anko Taiyaki were ready.

They even put little labels on the wrappers so I can tell which one is which — such a thoughtful touch.

The shop also takes reservations by phone or Instagram DM, and they do delivery and pop-up sales, so if you want to minimize waiting time, that’s a great option.

Features & Usability of Ruann

Here’s a quick look at the dining scenes and facilities at Ruann.

Recommended for different occasions

It’s takeout only, so anyone can casually drop by.

If you’re planning to order a lot, definitely reserve ahead.

Or, you can do what I did and swing by during bus wait time.

They even have seasonal flavors like beef curry, cream cheese, and strawberry cream, so there’s always something new to try.

Facilities

• Wi-Fi & Power supply：N/A
• Smoking：Probably Smoke-free shop
• Payment method: Cash
• Eat-in area: N/A (To Go only)

Access & map

Exit Nasushiobara Station from the west exit and turn left.

Go down the stairs (there’s also an escalator on the left).

Turn right and walk straight toward the crosswalk.

Cross the street and keep walking straight on the sidewalk.

Cross the next crosswalk and turn right.

Cross one more crosswalk.

Keep going straight for about 2 minutes, and you’ll see Ruann on your left.

Summary｜Who I recommend Ruann for

• Anyone curious about trying the famous Okonomiyaki Taiyaki
• For those who want to try seasonal taiyaki
• People who get a little hungry while waiting for a train or bus

👉 If you ever get a snack craving around Nasushiobara Station, grab a taiyaki from Ruann!