Musubi breakfast @ Tabimusubi, Yufuin, Oita

 

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and there is nothing more Japanese than having rice for breakfast. Definitely a good break to my usual boiled eggs and oats. 

Good morning Mount Yufu!

During the New Year's break, my parents came by to Kyushu for the first time, which is also the first time in Japan since the pandemic has ended. Seeing that this would be a good opportunity to visit an onsen town, Yufuin seems to be the perfect spot to hit up and stay the night. And in front of Yufuin station is the onigiri shop Tabimusubi. 

Such a zen interior

Before going any further, lets answer what is a musubi. Well, hand packed rice balls are usually called "onigiri" by the English speaking part of the world. However, it is also called "musubi" in Japan and it has the exact same meaning. In Japanese, it means "to bind", like to bind the rice together. Well, think of it like synonyms and you get the idea. 

Extensive...

Unlike the regular rice balls you get from the combini or your local supermarket, the humble rice balls were given special treatment here. Firstly, the menu is pretty extensive. From classics like tuna and seaweed, to fried chicken and cream cheese, the variety is pretty good. There will be something for everyone. In the end, my mom selected the tuna and mayo, which is a classic, and my father got chicken tempura. I myself had mentaiko with cream cheese. I think I lived in Fukuoka for too long, but who am I kidding. 

Such an inviting plate, with seaweed sheets by the yonder. 

The plate of musubi came not long after with the nori sheets on the side so you can wrap it yourself. The seaweed actually is meant to be used as a sheet to help clasp the rice ball for a cleaner and easier bite. And speaking of bite, I really liked our breakfast. 

Hand held flavourbomb

Although it may be just plain rice, the quality of the rice itself was pretty good. The grains were fluffy but still kept its shape. The overall package was not too sticky, but at the same time was pliable enough. This was literally high grade sushi rice. The only difference is that it was not seasoned with vinegar and salt. Still, it was pretty good and served as a good base to transport the flavours of your toppings. The mentaiko and cheese melded perfectly with those pearly grains and gave a pretty good mouthfeel. With regards to the other flavours, my folks say they were pretty good. Then again, it will be tough to mess about with tuna and chicken tempura. 

Morning medicine. Hits the spot. 

Since it was pretty early in the morning, a good cuppa joe came along with my order. The deep and earthy aroma accompanied with the caffeine kick was the jolt I needed to start the day. This was actually pretty good. The low acidity was also something I appreciated. 

Front of the house. 

It should be noted that Tabimusubi is located below a hostel. This means it will be loaded with tourists for most of the day. But with that out of the way, it was a good pitstop to get the day rolling. The prices were pretty decent too. The rice balls hover around the 200-250 yen mark, and the coffee stood at 500 yen. So if you are looking for something quick, tasty, and reliable when you are in Yufuin, this place takes the cake. And its literally directly in front of the station. But if you really need to know where it is specifically located, then the address is as follows:

6-6 Yufuincho Kawakita, Yufu, Oita 879-5114

PS: as this was a weekend trip with my family, I was able to eat a lot of tasty treats. As such, please be on the lookout for more articles from Yufuin. Hopefully, I can showcase the rest of Oita in the near future.