If you're looking for the most talked-about restaurant in Tokyo with the highest social media buzz, most memorable experience, and that’s both delicious and photogenic, then 「Kumachan Onsen」 is definitely the top choice (must reserve!); It’s completely different from the Polar Bear Hot Pot in Taiwan. It features Q-elastic little bears made with collagen jelly technology, and the most eye-catching moment is when their heads and bodies still cutely wobble. Today we’re introducing this super cute restaurant from the Hokkaido main branch that has opened in Shibuya, Tokyo, with a complete Kumachan Onsen攻略/吃法 guide
Super cute Japanese style, so healing!~
The biggest feature of this popular specialty hot pot restaurant from Hokkaido, located in Shibuya, Tokyo, is the technique of turning collagen broth into cute bear shapes, making the bears look like they’re soaking in an onsen inside the pot. As they slowly melt into the hot pot base while heating, the bears will tilt and wobble adorably—it’s incredibly cute! Not only is it adorable, the dipping sauces are rich, and there are many choices for the collagen soup base flavors. It tastes fresh and refreshing, and the combination of ingredients with the collagen soup gives a contrasting layered texture; Plus the entire dining process feels like a “story experience of bears soaking in an onsen,” so it’s very popular in Tokyo, not just with locals but also many Western tourists
Many first-timers feel “confused and don’t know how to order,” especially with the super cute scene that’s hard to focus on. Knowing about this restaurant through my cat who studied in Japan (photo below), if you’re planning to enjoy Kumachan Onsen in Tokyo, this post has compiled the most complete dining guide
Includes:
●What is Kumachan Hot Pot
●Bear Hot Pot Flavor Guide
●Ordering Process
●Set Menu Contents
●Actual Dining Experience
●Special Experience
Address：〒150-0042 東京都渋谷区宇田川町３２−12 Assorti Shibuya, ３Ｆ
(Japan 〒150-0042 Tokyo, Shibuya, Udagawacho, 32−12 Assorti Shibuya, ３Ｆ)
Business Hours：11:00-22:30
Phone:+81 3-6427-1613
Official Website：Click here
*Restaurant Online Reservation：Click here
Transportation: 4-minute walk from Shibuya Station
Kumachan Onsen is actually a one-person one-pot shabu-shabu restaurant. Their signature dish is called 「こぐま温泉（Little Bear Onsen Hot Pot）」, and each cute, jiggly, jelly-like bear is the source of the soup base. The bears are made from food fiber and collagen into broth jelly shapes (not like ice pops; you can even see shiny granules on the bear surface). After placing the bear in the pot and heating, it slowly melts into the full pot of flavorful soup base; meaning the bear itself is the soup base, and different colored bears represent different soup base flavors. This is the origin of the restaurant name 「Kumachan Onsen」
When the hot pot starts heating:
1️⃣ The little bear sits in the pot like soaking in a steaming onsen
2️⃣ As the temperature rises, the bear slowly melts while tilting adorably
3️⃣ Finally turns into a whole pot of delicious, beauty-enhancing soup base!
(The photo below shows the semi-transparent texture of the collagen ingredient on the bear’s ears—it’s not ice!)
(Each pot of Kumachan Onsen also comes with kombu for simmering the soup)
One-person one-pot Kumachan Onsen size proportion
Bear color = soup base flavor (most important guide)
Many first-timers get confused “why are there so many bear colors?” Actually each color represents a different soup base.
6 soup base flavors characteristics
White Bear: Soy Milk Chicken Broth (most popular, rich and mild)
Brown Bear: Japanese Bonito Broth (refreshing Japanese style)
Red Bear: Korean Spicy Soup (slightly spicy, appetizing)
Yellow Bear: Miso Soup (Japanese miso)
Green Bear: Herbal / Matcha / Seasonal flavor (occasionally limited)
Pink Bear: Cherry Blossom Season Limited (spring limited)
＊Recommended for first-timers: White Bear or Bonito broth are easiest to accept
(There’s also a large honeycomb on the counter for collecting nectar)
Kumachan Onsen (Kumachan Onsen) is located in the lively Udagawacho area of Shibuya. The restaurant is on the 3rd floor of the ASSORTI SHIBUYA commercial building. It’s not hard to find the first time—just use the very noticeable AVALANCHE GOLD & JEWELRY jewelry store on the first floor as a landmark. The restaurant entrance is at the building entrance next to the jewelry store. When approaching the building, remember to look up at the floor signage on the exterior wall, and you’ll clearly see 「くまちゃん温泉」 on the 3rd floor. Take the elevator up and you’ll arrive at this fairy-tale atmosphere bear hot pot restaurant
(You can see the 3rd floor Onsen Hot Pot signboard)
From the entrance below, enter the elevator to the 3rd floor
As soon as you walk into Kumachan Onsen, your eyes are immediately drawn to the forest-themed scene at the entrance. The ceiling is covered with artificial vines and flowers, like walking into a small fairy-tale garden. Next to the entrance, various cute bear merchandise is displayed, including keychains, pendants, and souvenirs. They even provide free bear ear headbands for photos—not just girls wear them, many guys also wear them with their girlfriends. The whole scene is really fun and healing
Before dining, don’t forget to take a classic photo XD (My dad is basically a big bear himself, so I covered him up XD)
The staff is happy to help everyone take photos!
Besides the bear onsen hot pot, they also have authentic Hokkaido soft serve ice cream, which also has a cute atmosphere! Wow! A dazzling array of merchandise!
Above the big white bear’s head, there’s also a large honeycomb XD
Passing through the ritualistic onsen noren curtain, further inside you’ll see the entire store has a long, cute space design
One side is the window seating area with views of Shibuya street scenes, while the other side has a row of seats paired with cute bear murals featuring honey, bees, and forest elements, giving the space a playful feel. The store also has many bear plush toys sitting with guests, creating a feeling of dining in a bear world. The atmosphere is very relaxed, no wonder many foreign tourists bring kids here to dine
The staff is friendly, and every corner is perfect for photos! Taking photos doesn’t feel weird at all XD because it’s just "kawaii~!!" (and you have to drag out the ending in Japanese! XD)
Xiaoka’s era was different; otherwise coming here for a date would be super great, because as soon as you enter the restaurant, all the cute atmosphere instantly ignites and melts away the awkwardness of a first date XD
Although it looks like there are many tables, in reality they only serve a few groups at a time. This place uses a reservation system, so you absolutely must reserve!!
*Restaurant Online Reservation:Click here
We sat at a cherry blossom-themed table, with Shibuya street view on the left. Another advantage of this seating area is you can place your phone on the ceiling grid facing down to take photos
The center of the restaurant also has a full row of self-service sauce stations designed in a cute bear kitchen style. Next to it even has honey displays symbolizing “bears’ favorite food,” including whole honeycombs and honey decorations—very eye-catching visually. From the fairy-tale forest at the entrance, to the bear world in the dining area, to the honey-themed design details, the entire store is like a complete bear story scene that makes you go crazy taking photos as soon as you walk in XD
Before introducing how to order, let’s first look at the self-service sauce area. Many people ask whether Kumachan Hot Pot is “cute or delicious?”
Actually this type of collagen hot pot belongs to the Japanese shabu-shabu system, with the soup base taking a refreshing route, unlike Taiwan’s spicy hot pot or sukiyaki which are heavy flavors (if the whole pot went heavy flavor, the soup would become very cloudy)
But refreshing doesn’t mean it’s not tasty. Just like Japanese shabu-shabu, the real soul is actually the dipping sauce pairing; Adding sesame paste, yuzu soy sauce, plus some green onions or chili oil, the overall flavor becomes super Japanese-style with layers. So rather than saying it’s light-tasting, it’s more like a hot pot that can be freely customized with seasonings, and this self-service sauce bar is an important part of enhancing the layered texture of the entire dining experience
There’s a cute Sauce & Spice self-service seasoning bar here, offering various Japanese dipping sauces and spices, like soy sauce, yuzu Ponzu, sesame paste, spicy sauce, and flavored oils like sesame oil and chili oil. There are also white sesame seeds, chili powder, minced garlic, minced ginger, grated radish, and plenty of green onions for free mixing, so everyone can create their own favorite hot pot dipping sauce!
If you don’t want to think, here are the TOP 5 must-add seasonings for Kumachan Onsen Hot Pot (the key to making the refreshing soup tasty) Many first-timers feel the soup base is on the light side, but actually the essence of Japanese shabu-shabu is in the seasoning pairing—pairing the right sauces makes a huge difference in flavor layers
Below are the 5 must-add seasonings I personally tested and recommend most:
① Sesame Paste (must-add) The top recommendation is definitely sesame paste. This is almost the soul of Japanese shabu-shabu. Adding it makes the meat slices rich and smooth, directly elevating the refreshing soup base to have more body. 👉Recommended pairing: Sesame paste + a little soy sauce + green onions
② Ponzu Yuzu Soy Sauce (grease-cutting magic) If you don’t like heavy flavors, choose Ponzu. It has a bit of yuzu citrus aroma, making the meat taste very refreshing—great with beef or pork. 👉Recommended pairing: Ponzu + white sesame + green onions ③ Chili Oil (boosts aroma) If you like bold flavors, definitely add a little chili oil. It’s not very spicy, but the aroma increases dramatically, especially paired with sesame paste—super delicious. 👉Recommended pairing: Sesame paste + chili oil + minced garlic
④ Minced Garlic (foodie must-add) Minced garlic is the key to adding depth. Especially added to soy sauce or sesame paste, it becomes a classic hot pot dipping sauce flavor. 👉Recommended pairing: Soy sauce + minced garlic + chili oil
⑤ Green Onions (free upgrade feel) Don’t underestimate green onions—adding lots of green onions to Japanese hot pot makes the overall flavor very complete. 👉Recommended pairing: Any sauce + lots of green onions
My most recommended golden ratio If you don’t know how to mix, try this: Sesame paste + Ponzu + minced garlic + chili oil + green onions. This combination almost never fails, and the meat slices become incredibly delicious
What confuses many people before going is how to order? Especially when you first enter the restaurant, you’re immediately attracted by the various cute bear-shaped plush toys and hanging tassel flowers at the entrance, plus the fluffy bear ear headbands to choose from—all super cute and photogenic. It’s really hard to focus on ordering XD
Actually the process is very simple. The menu features seasonal ingredients and flavors. The restaurant uses QR Code ordering—after selecting language and number of people, you order directly online, which is very convenient. After ordering, just wait at your seat for the bear hot pot to be served
The official website says: Recommend taking photos before turning on the heat. As it heats, the bears will slowly melt into the soup base. Then add meat slices and vegetables to cook, and enjoy with your chosen sauces—this completes the Kumachan Onsen Hot Pot experience
Regular set prices generally range from 3800 yen to 4700 yen, varying by meat type. If choosing premium wagyu sets, prices may be higher, around 7000–9000 yen
STEP1 Choose soup base bear: Choosing one bear means choosing the soup base flavor. Besides the 6 color flavors of onsen bears, you can also choose from seasonal menus launched by the restaurant
For example: • White Bear: Soy Milk Chicken Broth • Red Bear: Spicy Soup • Brown Bear: Japanese Broth
STEP2 Choose meat: The set lets you choose meat, with the following four options • Beef • Pork • Chicken • Lamb Beef is usually the most popular
STEP3 Vegetable set: Each set usually includes: • Cabbage • Mushrooms • Tofu • Vegetable platter, plus some side ingredients
STEP4 Choose staple: You can choose: • Ramen • Udon • Vermicelli • Rice cakes, which can finally be added to the pot to cook
STEP5 Sauce bar: The restaurant has a self-service sauce area, commonly including:
• Sesame paste • Soy sauce • Chili oil • Minced garlic • Green onions, so you can mix your own preferred sauce
STEP6 Watch the bear melt
This is the most fun moment. When the bear pot is served, the bear’s head will nod a few times. After heating, the little bear slowly melts and finally disappears into the onsen soup base, becoming the whole pot of soup base. This part is also the most classic highlight moment! Your phone really won’t stop taking photos~
The restaurant also offers bear-shaped shaved ice and other cute desserts, like Strawberry Bear Shaved Ice (about 2980 yen, suitable for 2–3 people to share) and single-person Bear Igloo Shaved Ice (1280 yen), both popular photo-worthy desserts that many people add
Dishes are almost all served at once so everyone can take good photos
First, the appetizer. That day 4 of us dined, ordering one pork set (3800 yen) and three beef Kumachan Hot Pot sets (4700 yen each). Drinks included 2 plum wines, one beer, and green tea. Green tea is free, beer is 380 yen per glass, plum wine is 100 yen per glass. This appetizer includes a mixed salad plus 3 creative dishes—pretty good~
Beer, green tea, and plum wine respectively, plus iced water for everyone
For the staple, all four of us chose udon
Kumachan Onsen Beef Set comes with 7 slices, and the beef comes with a bowl of broth jelly
The pork slice set also has 7 slices, with a bowl of special broth
While the bears are soaking (heating and boiling), the meat jelly can be added. We were so excited taking photos that we only noticed there was still a bowl of broth meat jelly waiting for us when it was time to cook the meat XD. Oh my~ even we became adorably confused!
The whole process was indescribably cute. The price of Onsen Kumachan Hot Pot isn’t exactly cheap, but the joy and satisfaction gained from the eating process is also indescribable. This is definitely worth experiencing
The bear-exclusive equipment for the onsen hot pot: a small towel on the collagen bear’s forehead, also holding a lemon slice. Especially the wobbling bear in the video—that was the ultimate cuteness explosion XD
The melted bear lying tilted is also quite healing!
Haha, no matter how it lies it makes me smile! The visual healing atmosphere adds extra points!
The onsen bear’s forehead towel is made from konjac rolled up
The little bear says: Hot collagen hot pot~ so comfortable! XD
The meat is quite fresh
The collagen-rich hot pot, you can see the soup base is super smooth
The official website states you don’t need to wait for the onsen bear to completely melt—as long as the soup is boiling you can start eating!
This is the bear pork slice hot pot, also quite fresh and delicious. They use Hokkaido-produced pork or San-gen pork here
I like bold flavors—this is the dipping sauce I mixed
Time to eat~
Many people think this type of cute-shaped hot pot is only photogenic but not tasty, but Kumachan Onsen is actually good-looking, delicious, and beauty-enhancing. The most charming part is the contrasting enjoyment of “bold dipping sauce + refreshing collagen soup”; After cooking the meat slices and coating them with special sauce, the flavor is rich and satisfying. Then taking a sip of the collagen-rich soup base—refreshing, smooth, with a moisturizing feel—makes you feel like you’re replenishing beauty energy while eating. This hot pot that combines cuteness with substance is the real reason people want to return
Finally add the vegetables too
Suddenly saw this notice—the restaurant’s same-day check-in event gives small gifts, including bear lollipops, merchandise, and Hokkaido milk soap!
All gifts—bear lollipops, merchandise, and Hokkaido milk soap—are placed in a bamboo basket for us to choose from
Although they’re small gifts, receiving them is quite happy, especially since it’s soap made with Hokkaido milk ingredients
Besides the signature Kumachan Onsen Hot Pot, the official website recently launched new bear steamed basket cuisine, extending this healing feeling to different cooking methods. Visitors can not only experience hot pot but also discover more cute and unique new dishes. Using steam to cook ingredients, it emphasizes a refreshing and healthy atmosphere
Steamed basket set menus include: • Yuzu Sakura Pork • Truffle Iberico Pork • Jasmine Chicken Breast
Besides hot pot and steamed basket cuisine, there are also drinks and Hokkaido soft serve ice cream all-you-can-eat!
●100 kinds of drinks all-you-can-drink The restaurant offers all-you-can-drink beverages for about 980 yen Including: • Cream soda • Various sodas • Alcoholic drinks • Cocktails, and many drinks also come with bear-shaped cookies.
●Hokkaido soft serve all-you-can-eat Dessert area has: Hokkaido soft serve You can add: • Cookies • Chocolate • Honey • Candy
●The restaurant also has some experience activities • Matcha experience • Strawberry daifuku DIY Allowing tourists to make Japanese desserts themselves. Sometimes Japanese cultural DIY experiences are free
《Dining Guide Summary》If it’s your first time, I recommend:
✔ Reserve in advance—this place is very popular ✔ Choose White Bear soup base to avoid mistakes; other soup bases are also good ✔ Order the beef set—best flavor ✔ Must film the bear melting video—super healing ✔ Leave time for photos—there are many cute corners in the store
Kumachan Onsen Hot Pot gives me the feeling of “starting from adorable cuteness and ending with great satisfaction”; At first you’ll be overwhelmed by the cuteness of the melting bear, but once you start eating you realize it’s not just about the appearance. After pairing the meat slices with garlic and sesame paste you mixed yourself, the flavor becomes very layered, while the collagen soup base is refreshing with a smooth feel. I couldn’t help but drink several sips myself. The whole meal was not only fun but also very healing! It’s a hot pot restaurant with strong memorability—highly recommended!
▍Kumachan Onsen 北海道めんこい くまちゃん温泉 渋谷店
Address：〒150-0042 東京都渋谷区宇田川町３２−12 Assorti Shibuya, ３Ｆ
(Japan 〒150-0042 Tokyo, Shibuya, Udagawacho, 32−12 Assorti Shibuya, ３Ｆ)
Business Hours：11:00-22:30
Phone:+81 3-6427-1613
Official Website：Click here
*Restaurant Online Reservation：Click here