Shaved ice, kakigori is Japan’s favourite summer sweet! Whether you enjoy it at home, at summer festivals with syrup, or in a cafe with fruit sauce, there’s a shaved ice out there for everyone. And now there are many delicious variations available at stalls, cafes and restaurants around Japan.
Top 10 Shaved Ice Recommendations in Tokyo
Here are some of our favourite recommendations around Tokyo.
10. KAKIGORI CAFE & BAR yelo, fluffy shaved ice in Roppongi
KAKIGORI CAFE & BAR yelo, in Roppongi serves kakigori all year round, until the early hours of the morning (outside of the State of Emergency, currently it closes at 20:00).
One of the most popular flavours, the “Tiramisu” has a mellow mascarpone flavor, perfect for those who like a mature taste. Other favourite menus include include “Pastels”, a shaved ice with rose and vanilla sauce only available on even months.
Location: 3 minutes from Roppongi Station
Hours: 11:00-20:00
9. Shimura, shaved ice with a generous helping of fruit syrup
Shimura is a Japanese sweet shop in Mejiro famous for its unique, Instagram-worthy shaved ice. The kakigori here is a huge mountain of shaved ice covered by syrup so it fills the entire plate. Topping with condensed milk is also recommended!
Location: It is located about a four-minute walk from Mejiro Station
Hours: 10:00-19:00
8. Kuriya Kashi Kurogi, delicious kinako kakigori
Kuriya Kashi Kurogi is a cafe in Yushima, Bunkyo-ku. The shop’s interior is decorated in a a cool, Japanese-style, very stylish. Be sure you try the “Kuromitsu Kinako Shaved Ice,” which is very satisfying in volume! Make sure you arrive here hungry. They change their seasonal flavours regularly so you will need several visits. Visit before 31st August to catch the Edamame Milk flavour shaved ice.
Location: a minute walk from Yushima Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line.
Hours: 11:00 to 20:00 (L.O. 19:00)
7. nice&warm, one of Instagram’s favourite kakigori
Credits: nanairomush on Instagram
nice&warm cafe, located in Setagaya is increasingly popular on Instagram, serves curry and shaved ice in the summer. They are frequently adding new and exciting flavours so be sure to check their Instagram or Facebook for the latest flavours!
Their latest edition is the “Peach Blue Cheese” kakigori. While this may sound like an odd mix at first, picture a blue cheese base with peach compote and white chocolate whip. This topped with pink pepper, dill and honey for an elegant taste like no other!
Location: 2 minutes from Hachiman-yama Station
Hours: 11:30-19:00
6. Sakanoue Cafe, cake-like shaved ice
Credits: nanairomush on Instagram
You’re spoilt for choice at Yushima with another option, Sakanoue Cafe. Recently a hit on Instagram, this cafe is popular for its seasonal peach shaved ice and the year-round “Koori no Shortcake” made in the image of a strawberry shortcake, with a base of condensed milk syrup and a topping of homemade strawberry syrup, fresh cream and strawberries. The fresh cream is made with a foamer, which mixes air into the ingredients to make a mousse-like consistency. The inside of the shaved ice is also filled with strawberry syrup, fresh cream, and chopped fresh strawberries, making it a very satisfying dessert.
Location: 6 minutes from Yushima station
Hours: 11:00～18:00, closed on Monday
5. Wa Kitchen Kanna, kakigori with special syrup and natural ice
Credits: _nana.log_ on Instagram
The next recommended shaved ice store in Tokyo is Wa Kitchen Kanna where you can enjoy shaved ice made with handmade syrup and natural ice. The menu includes fruit shaved ice such as “strawberry milk” and “strawberry yogurt,” as well as Japanese shaved ice such as “green tea” and “mitarashi” milk. Don’t forget to try their special tiramisu flavour!
Location: 12-minutes walk from Sangenjaya Station
Hours: 11:00～19:00 (L.O.18:30)
4. Himitsu-do, fluffy ice shop and natural fruit sauce
Credits: fuka2_24 on Instagram
Himitsu-do is famous for its fluffy shaved ice, and handmade, additive-free flavourings or “honey”. It’s located about a 4-minute walk from the west exit of JR Nippori Station.
At Himitsu-Do, the shaved ice is made from natural ice, shaved by hand manually with a special process that makes the kakigori extra fluffy. The flavourings used are completely natural, handmade pure fruit sauces without any syrup! One of the most popular is the strawberry, made with ripe strawberries from Shizuoka and Akita prefectures. Updated information on the menu can be found on their Twitter.
Location: 4-minute walk from JR Nippori Station West Exit
Hours: In summer it’s open 8:00-19:00. It is usually closed on Mondays but will be open every day until August 30.
3. Kooriya Pisu, sparkly and photogenic
At Hiyaya Pisu in Kichijoji, marvel at this special shaved ice topped with sparkling fruits and jellies, a beautiful sight. The store is popular not only in summer but all year round, especially for sparkly jewel lovers.
One of the popular menu items, “Strawberry Field with Rare Cheese,” is a luxurious shaved ice with homemade strawberry syrup, rare cheese sauce, and condensed milk, topped with a generous amount of Tochiotome “jellied” strawberries, arranged in a row like a sparkling jewel.
Location: 5 minutes from JR Kichijoji Station
Hours: 10am – 8pm (7:30pm LO) *Sundays and Mondays: 6pm (5:30pm LO)
2. Kakigori Kobo Sekka, kakigori with natural ice
Credits: atya.mikeneko on Instagram
Kakigori Kobo Sekka is an all-year-round shaved ice store, that gets extra busy in the summer as you would imagine. Reservations are not accepted but you can write down your name and come back after a wander. It’s located in Sugamo, around a five-minutes walk from the station.
You will be find shaved ice with fruit syrup, such as “fresh melon” and “thick mandarin yogurt”, and other sweet flavours such as “salt vanilla caramel” on the menu! The most interesting item on the menu is definitely the unusual “Natto Kinako (Natto Kinako with Black Honey)”, a shaved ice with a stringy consistency. It tastes like Kinako so don’t worry, but the constancy is very much natto, it gets even sticker after adding the black molasses.
Location: 5 minutes from JR Sugamo station
Hours: 11:00-17:00 on weekdays and 10:00-17:00 on weekends and holidays.
1. Cafe Lumiere, flambe shaved ice
Credits: 037__swt on Instagram
You’ve never tried shaved ice like this! Cafe Lumiere in Kichijyoji is famous for its flaming shaved ice! The shaved ice is topped with meringue which is set on fire, flambe style!
The current favourite is the Pistachio Flambe Kakigori: shaved ice covered with meringue filled with pistachio powder, and diced pistachio sprinkled on top. The sweet and sour blackcurrant syrup accentuates the flavour.
Location: 2 minutes from Kichijyoji
Hour: 11:30-17:00
Get Your Shaved Ice in Tokyo While it’s Still Hot
Where are your favourite places to eat shaved ice in Tokyo? Have you tried to make it at home, we would love to know what your favourite flavours are.
