This product is described on its product page as a sweet-style (甘口) barley miso (麦味噌, mugi miso), so questions such as “what is it made from?” and “how should the 500g × 5 bags be stored?” tend to come up. This article organizes the information on the Rakuten Ichiba product page and in its reviews for the sweet-style barley miso 500g×5 from 味噌の通販 麦みそや (マルマサ醤油株式会社) into five points: quantity, storage and shelf life, ingredient labeling, suitability as a gift, and reviews.
What We Confirmed
- Quantity and number of servings
- Storage method and shelf life
- Ingredients and allergen labeling
- Whether it works as a gift
- Trends in public reviews
Basic Information
This table transcribes what is stated on the product page. However, the “not confirmed” labels and any notes we add are our own.
| Product Name | Barley miso, 100% domestic ingredients, hokkori (comforting), sweet-style miso, 500g×5 (麦味噌 国産原料 100%使用 ほっこり 甘口 みそ 500g×5)Source: Rakuten Ichiba product page (viewed October 14, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Name | not confirmedSource: no name field was found on the Rakuten Ichiba product page |
| Amount | 500g × 5 bags (total weight 2,500g). No other sizes are listed in the capacity selection fieldSource: same as above |
| Storage Method | Store at room temperature, out of direct sunlight. Refrigeration guidance and a guideline for use after opening are not confirmedSource: product information section of the Rakuten Ichiba product page |
| Best-Before Date | 12 months from manufactureSource: same as above |
| Ingredients | Hulless barley, soybeans, saltSource: same as above |
| Raw Material Origin | Hulless barley (Kagawa Prefecture, Shikoku), soybeans (Toyama Prefecture), salt (Naruto, Tokushima, Shikoku)Source: same as above |
| Place of Processing | Ehime Prefecture (as given in the origin field of the product information section). The address of the manufacturing site is not confirmedSource: same as above |
| State / How to Eat (Whether Heating Is Required) | The product description says the miso is shipped directly from the brewery in a raw state, without heat treatment. An image on the product page includes an explanation recommending a miso strainer (味噌こし) when making miso soup. No guidance on whether heating is required was foundSource: product description and images on the Rakuten Ichiba product page |
| Shipping | The shipping method and temperature zone are not confirmed (the storage method is room temperature)Source: Rakuten Ichiba product page |
| Manufacturer | マルマサ醤油株式会社 (address: not confirmed). The seller is 味噌の通販 麦みそや マルマサ醤油株式会社Source: product information section of the Rakuten Ichiba product page |
| Shop | 味噌の通販 麦みそや (Rakuten Ichiba) |
Prices are not listed here because they change. Please check the current price and stock availability at the link above.
Ingredients and Allergen Labeling
The ingredients are listed as “はだか麦、大豆、食塩” (hulless barley, soybeans, salt), three items. The allergen field lists soybeans (source: Rakuten Ichiba product page, viewed October 14, 2026).
The product information section states a salt equivalent of 8.8g per 100g of miso, with the note “（社）中央味噌研究所調べ” (a survey by the 中央味噌研究所). This is the shop’s own statement, and the product page does not show whether it is a labeling based on Japan’s Food Labeling Standards (source: same as above).
In the same miso category, we have articles on カクキュー 八丁味噌 業務用 500g×2袋 (Hatcho miso, commercial use, 500g × 2 bags, 1,000g), a mame miso (豆味噌, soybean miso) whose ingredients are soybeans and salt, and やまさ味噌こうじ店 蔵出し生味噌 800g (Kuradashi raw miso, 800g), a raw koji miso whose ingredients are soybeans, rice koji and salt. This product is a barley miso (麦味噌) made with hulless barley, so the type of miso is different.
If you have an allergy, please contact the seller before purchasing, or be sure to check the collective food labeling on the product when it arrives.
Reference: Consumer Affairs Agency, Japan, “About Allergen Labeling” (accessed October 14, 2026)
Five Things to Check Before Buying
| What to Check | For This Product | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Amount and Number of Servings | 500g × 5 bags (total weight 2,500g). The number of servings is not stated | Rakuten Ichiba product page |
| 2. Storage Method and Shelf Life | Store at room temperature out of direct sunlight; best-before date: 12 months from manufacture. Refrigeration guidance and a guideline for use after opening are not confirmed | Product information section of the Rakuten Ichiba product page |
| 3. Ingredients and Allergen Labeling | Ingredients: hulless barley, soybeans, salt. The allergen field lists soybeans | Product information section of the Rakuten Ichiba product page |
| 4. Suitable as a Gift | No statement that noshi (gift wrapping label) is supported. We also found no statement on packaging or message cards (not confirmed) | Rakuten Ichiba product page (gift options field) |
| 5. Review Trends | Rakuten Ichiba’s rating is 4.69 out of 5 (1,447 reviews). We read the first 60 reviews in Rakuten’s default order (posted May 2008 to June 2026; latest June 2026), all 5 of the 1★ reviews, and all 10 of the 2★ reviews. Most of what we read is older posts: 46 of the 60 default-order reviews were posted in 2020 or earlier. The following are trends within what we read and may not reflect the product’s current state. Many comments mention sweetness, a gentle flavor, and repeat purchases, while the 1★ and 2★ reviews point to it being too sweet and to the smell or taste not suiting them | Rakuten customer reviews (viewed October 14, 2026) |
Suitable as a Gift?
In the gift options field of the product page, there was no statement that noshi (gift wrapping label) is supported. We also found no statement on packaging or message cards. The inscription types for noshi and whether a decorative gift box is available are not confirmed (source: Rakuten Ichiba product page, viewed October 14, 2026).
- Noshi: no statement of support. The inscription types are not confirmed
- Packaging / decorative gift box: not confirmed
- Message cards / name printing: not confirmed
- Delivery: the shipping method and temperature zone are not confirmed (the storage method is stated as room temperature)
If you are considering it as a gift, checking with the seller before purchasing whether these are supported can help avoid misunderstandings. In the reviews, about 15 of the 60 in the default order said they shared it with family or acquaintances or gave it as a present. However, none were posted in the last two years, and the latest is from November 2020. These are individuals’ uses, not the shop’s guidance (source: Rakuten customer reviews, viewed October 14, 2026). The following are trends within what we read and may not reflect the product’s current state.
What Public Reviews Say
We organized the product reviews on Rakuten Ichiba by theme. The rating figures are as of the time we viewed them and may change afterward. These are trends within what we read and may not reflect the product’s current state.
| Site | Rating | Reviews | Viewed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rakuten customer reviews (product page) | 4.69 / 5 | 1,447 | October 14, 2026 |
Rating breakdown: 5★ 1,084 / 4★ 300 / 3★ 48 / 2★ 10 / 1★ 5 (as shown on Rakuten Ichiba, viewed October 14, 2026)
What we read: the first 60 reviews in Rakuten’s default order (posted May 2008 to June 2026; latest June 2026; 46 posted in 2020 or earlier and 9 in the last two years), all 5 of the 1★ reviews (posted January 2012 to December 2018), and all 10 of the 2★ reviews (posted April 2011 to November 2014), 75 in total. Most of what we read is older posts. These are trends within what we read and may not reflect the product’s current state.
What Reviewers Praise
Sweet taste
About 27 of the 60 reviews in the default order mention sweetness or a gentle flavor (4 of them posted in the last two years). Some wrote that they chose it because they like sweet-style miso.
Long-term repeat purchases
About 25 of the 60 reviews said they buy it repeatedly or have kept using it for a long time (5 of them in the last two years). Some say they have used it for anywhere from several years to about 30 years.
Reminds them of childhood or home cooking
About 13 of the 60 reviews said it reminds them of the miso their grandmother or family home used, or that it is close to the taste of their home region (1 of them in the last two years).
Easy to use in 500g bags
About 11 of the 60 reviews said that being divided into 500g bags makes it easy to use or store (1 of them in the last two years).
Source: Rakuten customer reviews (viewed October 14, 2026)
What Reviewers Note
Sweetness
Of the 15 1★ and 2★ reviews, about 5 said it was too sweet for miso soup or much sweeter than the miso they usually use. These were posted between 2011 and 2014, and none were posted in the last two years. The 60 reviews in the default order also include about 3 posts (2008 to 2016) saying that because it is sweet, they blended it with other miso or used it as awase miso (mixed miso).
Taste or smell did not suit them
Of the 15 1★ and 2★ reviews, about 6 said the taste did not suit them, and 2 mentioned the smell (both 1★, 2012). These were posted between 2011 and 2018, and none were posted in the last two years. The 60 reviews in the default order include one 2013 post saying that it was not to their liking when made without a miso strainer (味噌こし), but was mellow when made as the instructions describe.
How to check: the product page explanation that recommends a miso strainer (味噌こし) is summarized in the “State / How to Eat (Whether Heating Is Required)” row of “Basic Information” in this article.
Source: Rakuten customer reviews (viewed October 14, 2026)
Who It Suits / Who Should Be Careful
Who It Suits
- Want to try a barley miso described as sweet-style
- Want to use miso divided into five 500g bags
- Looking for a miso whose storage is described as room temperature
Who Should Be Careful
- Have a soybean allergy (contact the seller before purchasing, or check the label on the product when it arrives)
- Looking for a less sweet miso for miso soup (some posts say it was too sweet)
- Want to use it as a gift with noshi or wrapping (no statement of noshi support)
- Want to confirm in advance whether refrigeration is needed and how to store it after opening (the shop’s guidance is not confirmed)
Prices, stock, shipping fees, and delivery dates are subject to change. This article’s information-as-of date is October 14, 2026. Please be sure to check the listing at the link before purchasing.
This article contains affiliate links (advertising). Editorial Policy
Summary
- The amount is 500g × 5 bags (total weight 2,500g), with a single size option. The storage method is stated as room temperature out of direct sunlight and the best-before date as 12 months from manufacture
- The ingredients are three items, hulless barley, soybeans, and salt, and the allergen field lists soybeans. There was no statement of noshi support, and we could not confirm packaging or message cards
- Reviews often mention sweetness, a gentle flavor, and repeat purchases. Some also say it was too sweet or that the smell or taste did not suit them, and most of the posts we read are older ones
Related Pages
This article organizes information published on various retail and review sites. Product details such as quantity, storage method, and ingredients are subject to change. Please check the seller’s listing for the latest information.
Comments on taste or quality are summarized from third-party posts cited with their source, and are not Ochinity’s own evaluation. Our approach to writing articles is described in our Editorial Policy.
Information as of: October 14, 2026 / Sources: Rakuten Ichiba “味噌の通販 麦みそや” product page, Rakuten customer reviews, Consumer Affairs Agency, Japan, “About Allergen Labeling”
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