Summer is at its hottest right now with temperatures hitting mid to high 30′s for days on end. With Japan trying hard to cut down on electricity usage it has been for many, one of the toughest summers so far… and it’s not over yet. The challenge is to try to cool down without having to blast the AC on full throttle all day….not easy I know but, there is always ice cream to ease the pain for a few minutes. We have been out and about chilling out with some of Japan’s favourite icy treats. This is what we think of some of them. Feel free to comment and add some more to the list!
(*Ices listed in no particular order)
Coolish
Coolish is an ice cream drink that comes in a variety of flavours, the most popular being vanilla but summer versions like yogurt and soda have also hit the shelves. The convenient drink pack is about the same size as the energy and protein drinks you buy from the drugstore which is just enough to give you a cooooool, refreshing hit just when you need it. It sometimes takes a minute or two to warm up the ice enough to suck through the nozzle, frustrating if you’re dying to get at it. Worth the wait though.
Refreshment Score: 7 – A cool cool hit but a little too sweet and definitely too small!
Gari Gari-kun
GariGari -kun is the summers all time favourite ice and at 62yen, a refreshing bargain. The soda flavour remains its flagship ice but recently Japanese pear, grape, mango, apple, yuzu and orange flavours have been spotted! Last year it was so popular it was sold out all over Japan for a week until they could get restock stores.
Refreshment Score: 10 – Unbeatable! Ultimately refreshing and the cheapest of the lot.
Papico
Papico is a fun little ice-cream drink sold in a pack of 2 small squeezable bottles. You’ll probably see the choco-coffee flavour around more often due to the fact the white sour flavour (pictured left) is so very popular in summer and often sold out. A long seller in Japan, Papico remains more popular with kids but still hard to dislike.
Refreshment Score: 7 – The White sour flavour hits the spot but its often difficult to squeeze the last bits out of the bottle shaped container. Comes in packs of 2 and you definitely need both!
Ice no mi (アイスの実）
If you’re looking for a truly fruity experience then this one is for you. Over 50% real fruit juice is used to make these marble sized ice candies and you certainly tell. The pack contains 12 ice candies, 3 of each of the 4 flavours – Grape, Apple, Orange and Pineapple and Peach.
Refreshment Score: 9 – Fact is, they taste really good. 12 is just about enough for 1 person but be quick to eat them, they’re small and melt pretty quick!
Gatsun to Mikan (ガツンとみかん)
Gatsun to Mikan is the juiciest, fruitiest ice bar you could hope to find in Japan. There is the juice and pulp of one whole orange in every bar, of which 10million are sold each year. In addition to orange you can find another 13 flavours….better get started soon!
Refreshing Score: 9.5 – This fruity ice is without a doubt, one of the most refreshing you can find in the shops. The sweet, real fruit flavour with whole fruit pieces hits the spot perfectly on the way home from work or play. Only the price means it can’t quite topple Mr Gari Gari for the number 1 spot.
Vanilla Bar (バニラバー)
As simple as you can have it, a vanilla ice cream bar…not much more to say. Actually there is alittle more to them. This is a sweet, smooth ice made with Hokkaido milk making it extra creamy. For the vanilla lovers and I know there are a lot out there, this is a must have this summer.
Refreshing Score: 6 – It doesn’t matter how much you love vanilla ice cream, it just can’t quite hit the spot when you need a cold, sharp, refreshing hit. Still, likely to be more popular outside the summer months and again, who doesn’t like vanilla?!
Shirokuma (白くま)
Shirokuma is a like-able and interesting ice bar originating from Kyuushuu with peach, pineapple and sweet beans set in milk ice. A little more wholesome than say garigari-kun, if you’re a little peckish as well as in need of a cool down its perfect.
Refreshing Score: 7 – Surprising refreshing, the light milk base goes down a treat and isn’t too sweet at all. Due to it not having a coating of any kind, it melts extremely fast so you find yourself doing all manner of arm acrobatics to keep it on the stick.
Pino
Pino is fun pack of six bite-size chocolate covered ices. Pino has been around since 1976 and is popular all year round, not just in the summer like some of the more refreshing ices. You’ll find Pino in vanilla, rum and raisin, raw caramel, strawberry, green-tea, bitter chocolate and even sweet potato flavor.
Refreshing Score: 5 – Not exactly the answer when you’re screaming for a thirst quencher, but make no mistake, Pino is an all year round favourite. Expect this baby to be selling strongly 20 years from now.
Supercup (スパーカップ)
One of Japan’s very favourite ice-creams, supercup is what you might consider the ice cream that nobody can hate and everyboy has tried. Supercup comes in individual cups for about 100yen with the basic ‘vanilla’ flavour, the most popular. If you’re lucky you may find mint choc-chip, choco-cookie, caramel-choco, strawberry, mango, apple, yogurt or green-tea but never will you find all flavours sold at the same store at one time.
Refreshing Score: 7.5 – The fact its a cup means you can woof the whole lot down in less than a minute if you need to. Again, supercup is extremely popular all year round.
Halo Halo (From Ministop)
We couldn’t finish the artcile without mentioning one of the convenience store ices, basically because it tastes so good and is one my personal favourites. ‘Halo Halo’ is a range of cup ices on sale at Mini-stop convenience stores during the summer months. At about 280Yen they are not that cheap, but really are the ultimate cup dessert for the summer. A little ice cream on top of shaved ice and fruits with a cool sweet sauce. It’s not fair to compare to the other cheaper ices but we shall rate it anyhow.
Refreshing Score: 10 – Ultimate taste, ultimate refreshment! My personal favourite is the ラムネ / ramune, give it a go!
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