Cool, sweet, and cute in appearance, ice cream and soft serve are classic summer treats. Across Japan, there are many surprising local flavors that will make you think, “They made ice cream out of that?”
This article features a carefully selected list of unique ice creams and soft serves made with unexpected ingredients such as whitebait, fried oysters, and lavender. Enjoy discovering these surprising flavors found in different regions of Japan, along with some fun and interesting ice cream trivia.
*If you purchase or reserve any of the products introduced in this article, a portion of the sales may be returned to FUN! JAPAN.
13 Unique Local Ice Creams and Soft Serves from All Over Japan: Are There Flavors Like Fried Oyster and Wasabi Too?
1. Nemophila Soft Serve (Osaka)
The “Blue Eye” soft serve, available at the Nemophila Festival held at Osaka Maishima Seaside Park, is a photogenic treat with its striking sky-blue color inspired by nemophila flowers. The flavor is a refreshing blend of vanilla with a hint of citrus, making it perfect for warm days. As a festival-exclusive sweet, it has become a popular item among visitors.
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2. Shirasu Soft Serve (Kanagawa)
The "Shirasu Soft Serve", topped with boiled whitebait and available in the Shonan area, is a unique treat you can only find in a seaside town. The soft serve has a slightly grayish color but a gentle vanilla flavor. You can also choose a mix with matcha. The mild saltiness of the whitebait combines with the sweetness to create a surprisingly perfect sweet and salty taste. You can find this at souvenir shops and cafés in Enoshima, so be sure to try it when you visit.
3. Squid Ink Soft Serve (Hokkaido)
The "Squid Ink Soft Serve," inspired by the squid famous in Hakodate, Hokkaido, has a striking jet-black appearance! While it may surprise you at first glance, the distinctive aroma of squid ink is subtle, and it's characterized by a slightly sweet taste with an unexpectedly refreshing aftertaste. Since it's not overpowering and easy to eat, many people are surprised by the gap between its appearance and taste. When you visit Hakodate, be sure to give it a try.
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4. Lavender Soft Serve (Hokkaido)
The specialty of "Farm Tomita," located in Furano, famous for its lavender fields, is the "Lavender Soft Serve." This soft-serve ice cream made with lavender extract is characterized by its elegant aroma and refreshing sweetness. The pale purple color is also visually appealing, making it perfect for social media posts! While it can be enjoyed year-round, if you take a photo with the lavender fields in the background during the blooming season, it will make for an even more stunning picture.
5. Gold Leaf Soft Serve (Ishikawa)
Kanazawa's specialty "Gold Leaf Soft Serve" is a luxurious dessert that tops rich vanilla or milk soft-serve ice cream with a whole sheet of gold leaf, a specialty product of Kanazawa. The visual impact is outstanding, making it perfect for social media posts. Kanazawa boasts about 98% of Japan's gold leaf production, and experiencing this traditional craft is part of its appeal. Some shops allow you to watch the gold leaf being placed on the ice cream up close, making it a perfect memory for your trip. It's sold in places like Higashi Chaya District.
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6. Wasabi Soft Serve (Shizuoka)
The "Wasabi Soft Serve," popular in Izu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, and Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture, is a surprisingly unique local dessert that tops sweet soft-serve ice cream with freshly grated wasabi. The vivid green on top of the white soft serve looks refreshing and unique. The cool sweetness perfectly matches the fresh spiciness of wasabi that tingles in your nose, creating a flavor that's particularly appealing to adults. It's typically served at local wasabi farms and roadside stations. It's recommended to gradually mix it while enjoying the changing flavors.
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7. Wisteria Soft Serve (Tochigi)
The "Wisteria Soft Serve" can be enjoyed at "Ashikaga Flower Park" in Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture. This soft-serve ice cream has a gentle pale purple color reminiscent of wisteria flowers and spreads a subtle wisteria flavor. The delicate flavor is like tasting a flower itself. With its charming appearance, it's very popular among park visitors. Why not try taking a commemorative photo with the soft serve against the backdrop of fully bloomed wisteria?
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8. Mentaiko Soft Serve(Aichi)
The unique "Mentaiko Soft Serve" can be enjoyed at "Mentai Park"* locations across Japan, including in Aichi and Hyogo Prefectures. It features sweet milk soft-serve ice cream topped with spicy mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and is also served with a mentaiko rice cracker. The gentle sweetness of the milk perfectly matches the saltiness of the mentaiko, while the grainy texture adds a fun accent. While it might not be to everyone's taste, it's certainly a conversation starter!
* Mentai Park is Japan's first and only mentaiko-themed park, operated by "Kanefuku," a long-established mentaiko company.
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9. Fried Oyster Soft Serve (Okayama)
A surprising sweet treat that’s been gaining attention at “Gomi no Ichi,” a seafood market in Hinase, Okayama Prefecture, is the "Fried Oyster Soft Serve". This eye-catching dessert features two crispy fried oysters placed on top of creamy milk soft serve. The rich, creamy flavor of the oysters blends unexpectedly well with the soft serve’s smooth sweetness, creating a taste that’s surprisingly addictive. The fried oysters are fully cooled before being added, so the soft serve doesn’t melt easily and stays delicious until the last bite. Don’t miss the chance to try this one-of-a-kind flavor when you visit the area.
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10. Tsukudani Soft Serve (Kagawa)
The "Tsukudani Soft Serve" combines Shodoshima Island's specialty "tsukudani" (simmered seaweed) with soft-serve ice cream. The soft-serve is made by kneading in the cooking broth of shiso (perilla) kombu (kelp), and is topped with heart-shaped tsukudani. The subtle soy sauce flavor overlaps with the richness of the milk, creating an addictive taste where you can sense a hint of saltiness within the sweetness.
11. Olive Soft Serve (Kagawa)
The "Olive Soft Serve" is a local specialty dessert unique to Shodoshima Island, famous for its olive production. This soft-serve ice cream, made with powdered olive leaves, has a pale green color that looks refreshing and has an elegant taste. Its charm lies in the subtle olive flavor and the light, refreshing texture, making it popular among health-conscious individuals. It's definitely a must-try item when visiting Shodoshima Island.
12. Soy Sauce Soft Serve (Kagawa)
The "Soy Sauce Soft Serve" can be enjoyed in Kagawa, a region famous for its soy sauce production. This Japanese-style ice cream combines a rich milk flavor with a subtle savory aroma of soy sauce. With a taste reminiscent of caramel, it offers a gentle deliciousness that can be enjoyed by both children and adults alike. When visiting Kagawa, be sure to give it a try.
13. Babahera Ice Cream (Akita)
Akita's summer tradition, "Babahera Ice Cream," is famous for its street stall style where middle-aged and older women (called "Baba" in Akita dialect) scoop ice cream with a "Hera" (spatula). The contrast of pink and yellow colors is cute, and the taste is a simple, old-fashioned sherbet-like flavor. These stalls are often seen along main roads or near event venues. If you happen to come across a stall during your travels, be sure to stop by and try it.
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What’s the Difference Between Ice Cream, Gelato, and Soft Serve? Basic Ice Cream Knowledge You Should Know
When the weather gets hot, there’s nothing more tempting than a cold, refreshing ice cream treat. But did you know that “ice cream” comes in many different types, such as ice cream, gelato, and soft serve? In this section, we’ll introduce the basic knowledge you should know about ice cream, including the different types, ingredients, and storage methods.
What Is Ice Milk? Types and Ingredients of Ice Cream
Have you ever noticed labels like “ice milk” or “lacto ice” on packages at supermarkets or convenience stores in Japan? These terms indicate different categories of frozen desserts, classified based on the amount of milk solids and milk fat they contain.
Ice Cream: Contains at least 15.0% milk solids and 8.0% milk fat
- Ice Milk: Contains at least 10.0% milk solids and 3.0% milk fat
- Lacto Ice: Contains at least 3.0% milk solids (milk fat not specified)
Generally, the higher the milk fat content, the richer and creamier the flavor. On the other hand, lacto ice often uses vegetable fats, giving it a lighter, more refreshing taste.
What’s the Difference Between Ice Cream, Gelato, and Soft Serve?
Differences in Milk Fat Content
Ice cream in Japan is classified into three categories based on the amount of milk solids and milk fat it contains.
- Gelato typically contains about 4–8% milk fat, giving it a lighter and smoother texture compared to standard ice cream.
- Soft serve falls under the same classification as ice cream in terms of ingredients.
Differences in Air Content (Overrun)
The fluffy texture of frozen desserts comes from the amount of air mixed in during production, known as “overrun.”
Ice Cream: Approximately 60–100% air content (light and airy)
- Gelato: Approximately 30–35% air content (denser and richer)
- Soft Serve: Around 40% air content (soft and fluffy)
Differences in Serving Temperature
Ice Cream: –8°C to –14°C
- Gelato: –8°C to –10°C
- Soft Serve: –5°C to –7°C
Why Doesn’t Ice Cream Have an Expiration Date?
Ice cream is stored in a frozen state, which helps maintain its quality over time with minimal deterioration. Because of this, expiration dates are generally not required.
However, when stored at home, temperature fluctuations from opening and closing the freezer can affect the flavor and texture. For the best taste, it’s recommended to consume the ice cream as soon as possible after opening.
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How to Store Ice Cream and Things to Keep in Mind About Overeating
To keep ice cream tasting its best, it’s important to maintain a consistent freezer temperature of –18°C or lower. Since frequent opening and closing of the freezer can raise the temperature, it’s recommended to store ice cream toward the back of the freezer where it’s more stable.
Ice cream also contains high amounts of sugar and fat, so be careful not to overeat. Eating it right before bed can cause a rapid rise in blood sugar and may put stress on your stomach due to the cold. Enjoy it in moderation and in a way that suits your body’s condition.
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