Tengu Natto Sasanuma Goro Shoten and Natto Museum

Sasanuma Goro Shoten, home of Mito Tengu Natto, is a direct-sales shop from a natto maker founded in Mito in 1889. Its second floor houses the Natto Museum, known in Japanese as Natto Nandemo Tenjikan. Mito’s official visitor information says the displays cover natto history, how Mito natto became widely known, and ways to make and cook it at home. That makes the stop useful for understanding local food culture as well as shopping.

The shop carries signature straw-wrapped natto, packaged and dried varieties, and items such as natto seasoning and snacks. The straw package is more than a photogenic souvenir: it connects the product with an older way of making natto. Visitors often mention the firm beans, straw aroma, product range and welcoming service, while some say the selection did not include what they expected. Natto is a distinctive fermented food; first-time buyers may prefer a small-bean variety or a processed product that is easier to carry home.

The second-floor exhibition is free, and local tourism information estimates about 30 minutes for a visit. A separate explanation of the production process is available on weekday mornings and requires advance booking; it is not a walk-through of the factory interior. Ask in advance whether you want to see the exhibition alone or join the production explanation. Mito’s city page lists the museum as open daily, but official listings differ on closing time, giving either 5 pm or 5:30 pm.

The address is 3-4-30 Sannomaru, about a ten-minute walk from Mito Station’s north exit. Available information does not establish that the shop serves meals or offers a tasting counter. For natto as a prepared meal, go to The Natto & Bar MITO RUTSUBO inside the station building; for local history and packaged products, choose Sasanuma Goro Shoten. Allow time for the walk and confirm the museum’s closing time and New Year’s Day closure.