All About Japan's Iced Desserts and Trendy Places to Try Them! Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Guide-

Update-date: Nov 15 2023

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

Categories: Sweets

All About Japan's Iced Desserts and Trendy Places to Try Them!

Japan is a country with an infinite amount of creativity when it comes to desserts. With its hot summers and wealth of unique flavors to play with, it's no wonder there are so many delicious types of iced desserts to choose from. In this article, we'll introduce some of Japan’s best iced desserts, and help you find your way to some of the most trendy places to try them yourself!

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Types of Japanese Iced Desserts

When you think of Japanese desserts, you might think of traditional flavors like red bean paste and matcha, but the chefs here also excel at putting a unique spin on imports from on all over the world. Here are some of the most popular iced desserts in Japan!

Parfait

Gorgeous parfaits piled high with toppings are a ubiquitous sight in Japanese cafes. The Japanese interpretation of this dessert is probably closer to an ice-cream sundae than a true French parfait, relying more on ice cream and whipped cream than custard or parfait cream. Japanese parfaits are known for their gorgeous presentation and generous, varied toppings.

When you’re in Japan, we recommend trying a Japanese-style parfait like the ones pictured here. They are a delicious fusion dessert, with classic Japanese sweets like matcha ice cream, red bean paste, and sweet rice dumplings as toppings. Some travelers are also surprised to find that Japanese parfaits commonly include cornflakes. Don't knock it until you try it! Their crunchy texture makes them a delicious addition.

Kakigori

For many people in Japan, summer wouldn’t be summer without the shaved ice dessert called "kakigori". Kakigori in Japan can range from the common type made with crunchy shaved ice and a colorful syrup to more elaborate desserts like the one pictured below. To make this more voluminous type, the block of ice is allowed to warm up slightly before being shaved in long strips. This technique creates thin ice flakes with a surprisingly fluffy texture that quickly melts in the mouth. Kakigori topped with fruit or traditional toppings like matcha, condensed milk, and red bean paste are very popular.

The kakigori above looks like it was plucked straight from a cartoon! It is made from strawberry milk-flavored ice topped with pink whipped cream and berries.

Japanese Ice Cream

In Japanese, typical ice cream is commonly shortened to "aisu" (ice), while soft serve is referred to as "sofuto-kurimu" (soft cream). You won’t be surprised to learn that both are very popular all over the country. In fact, you’ll find many Japanese desserts, including the parfaits mentioned above, made with a combination of both. Soft serve ice cream, in particular, is a staple at almost every sightseeing spot in Japan, and many businesses strive to produce a soft serve variant of their local specialty, be it local milk, fruit, or even unusual ingredients like local miso or soy sauce!

Pictured here is one example: the popular whale shark soft serve from Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN. Don’t worry, no animals were harmed in its making! The blue and white ice cream and white sprinkles were inspired by the markings on the whale shark, the beloved mascot of this aquarium.

Crepes

Rolled crepes are a popular takeaway treat in Japan, and because they usually come with ice cream, you can think of them as a kind of portable sundae. They’re particularly associated with Tokyo’s Harajuku neighborhood, an area famous for its influential street fashion scene. If you stroll along Harajuku’s iconic Takeshita Street, you’ll find shop after shop lined with colorful displays of crepe samples like the ones pictured below. Japanese-style crepes are typically less rich than a French-style crepe, but they're made larger to accommodate a generous portion of fillings.

Once the crepe is cooked on a flat, circular skillet, it’s typically filled with ingredients like ice cream, whipped cream, and fruits, and then rolled so that you can eat it one-handed, a bit like a soft ice cream cone. In areas like Harajuku, crepe shops often compete to come up with cute and over-the-top recipes, with everything from cookies to pudding and even full slices of cake making an appearance!

Pancakes

Another dessert typically served with ice cream is pancakes. As pictured below, Japanese pancakes are often much fluffier than their American counterparts! While you can make them at home, it’s not as easy as the Internet might lead you to believe! Luckily, there’s plenty of places to try them in Japan. The mix of creamy ice cream and light and fluffy pancakes really is a fantastic combination, and a picture is sure to net you a few Instagram likes. You’ll also commonly find regular pancakes topped with self-serve ice cream and other toppings in Japanese cafes and restaurants, too.

Where to Eat Japanese Iced Desserts?

Convenience Stores and Supermarkets

One great thing about Japan is that ice creams are constantly relaunched in new, limited edition flavors, so there’s always something new to try. That's why we recommend checking out the ice cream cabinet of any Japanese convenience store and supermarket you visit! If you look on the top left hand side of the picture below, you’ll see some triangular ice creams. These are actually an ice cream version of the crepes we mentioned above!

Street Food and Festivals

Food stalls, or "yatai" in Japanese, are a delicious part of Japan’s culinary culture. Set up at events like summer festivals or fireworks displays, these stalls serve everything from savory dishes like yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) and takoyaki (octopus-filled dough balls) to iced treats like frozen bananas and soft serve ice cream. Kakigori, in particular, is synonymous with summer festivals in Japan. The type served from these types of food stalls are often on the simpler side, typically made with coarser ice and a simple syrup topping, which is perfect as a refresher on a hot summer night!

Cafes and Restaurants

Japan’s vibrant cafe culture is famous around the world. In Japan’s big cities, cafes have to constantly innovate to attract the attention of their sophisticated, style-conscious clientele. This means that a visit to Japan offers a chance to enjoy desserts that aren’t just delicious, but crying out to be shown off on Instagram. You’ll find creative examples of all the desserts mentioned above and many more in cafes and restaurants throughout Japan.

Tips for Enjoying Iced Desserts in Japan

Tips for Finding Iced Treats in Japan

One well-known tip is that if you’re looking for soft serve ice cream, keep your eyes peeled for large plastic ice cream cones located outside shops. Many souvenir shops also sell soft serves, so even if the shop exterior doesn’t seem like an ice cream parlor, these are a good hint that there’s something delicious inside! A similar convention is a flag outside cafes and shops selling kakigori, pictured below. The Japanese character on the flag, 氷, means "ice". On kakigori flags, it's often written in thick brushstrokes that looks a bit like a snowflake!

What to Try and When?

Locality and seasonality are both very important elements of Japanese cuisine, and its desserts are no exception. If you're not sure what to try, take a look around you! Wherever you go in Japan, you'll find establishments advertising their limited-time snacks and desserts made with the season's offerings or local products. Try some Tochigi strawberry ice cream in the spring, Okinawan mango in the summer, or refreshing yuzu soft serve from Kochi in the cooler months.

Recommended Cafes for Iced Desserts in Japan

Fans of dessert from all over the world flock to Japan's stylish cafes for their gorgeous offerings. Here are our picks for some super Instagram-worthy cafes serving iced desserts like parfaits, crepes, and kakigori in Japan.

Yuki-no-Hana Naha Kokusai-dori Street Branch (Okinawa)

Yuki-no-Hana is an airy cafe located in the Okinawan capital, Naha. Their signature dish, [Okinawan Senzai] (500 JPY), is a local dish made by topping senzai, a sweet soup made with sugar-stewed kidney beans, with shaved ice and brown sugar syrup. Other options served here include kakigori topped with local ingredients like purple yam and mango. This casual and welcoming cafe is the perfect place to stop by for a refreshing dessert while exploring the sunny city of Naha.

Yuki-no-Hana Naha Kokusai-dori Street branch

Open: 10:00 am - 7:00 pm
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 1,000 JPY
Access: 10 minutes walk from [Makishi Station] on Yui Rail. On the road between McDonald's Kokusai-dori Street branch and the Ryukyu Kingdom Market
Address: 2-2-20, Makishi, Naha city, Okinawa

Tapioca Belize (Kyoto)

Tapioca Belize serves delicious Japanese-style crepes right by Kyoto Station. Kyoto is a renowned tea growing area of Japan, and Tapioca Belize uses this high-quality local green tea to make delicious crepes. The slight bitterness of the tea and refreshing ice cream and fruit filling is just the thing on a warm summer day in Kyoto! Tapioca Belize, as its name suggests, also specializes in icy tapioca tea, including matcha latte iced tea made with Kyoto green tea.

Tapioca Belize

Open: 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Closed: -
Average price: [Dinner] 320 JPY
Access: 2 minutes walk from the central exit of JR Kyoto Station, in Kyoto Tower
Address: 721-1, Higashishiokoji-cho, Karasuma-dori, Shichijo-sagaru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
More Details Reservation

Kyoto Shijo Miyako (Kyoto)

If you’re interested in trying the gorgeous Japanese parfaits we mentioned earlier, look no further than Miyako, located in the Kyoto city center. This cafe specializes in gelato parfaits made with a generous serving of fresh seasonal fruit, including their [Adeyaka Parfait], which comes with eight types of seasonal fruits. Their impressive [Miyabiyaka Parfait], pictured here, contains 10 types of fresh fruits, two types of gelato, and even gold leaf! Classics like chocolate and banana parfaits and waffles served with ice cream are also available here.

Kyoto Shijo Miyako

Open: [Weekdays, Saturday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

[Sunday] 11:00 am - 7:00 pm

Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 1,000 JPY
Access: 181m from Karasuma Station
Address: 640, Mototakeda-cho, Higashinotoin, Nishiki-agaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto

Malebranch Kyoto Tower Sando Branch (Kyoto)

Malebranche is a very popular brand of Kyoto sweets. For many, their green tea-flavored [Cha no Ka] cookies are a must-buy souvenir during any visit. At the Kyoto Tower branch, located in front of Kyoto Station, you can try their [Fresh Cha No Ka Ice Cream Bar] (270 JPY). With a cute Kyoto Tower design and the same high-quality green tea the Malebranche brand is known for, this is a great local treat to grab before your train. Don’t forget to pick up some [Cha no Ka] cookies for your friends back home, too!

Malebranch Kyoto Tower Sando branch

Open: 9:00 am - 9:00 pm
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 2,500 JPY
Access: 2 minutes walk from the central exit of JR Kyoto Station, in Kyoto Tower
Address: 721-1, Higashishiokoji-cho, Karasuma-dori, Shichijo-sagaru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
More Details Reservation

Creative Japanese Confectionery Studio BASHOAN (Osaka)

For traditional Japanese sweets, visit BASHOAN in Osaka to try their long-selling [Macha Parfait] (800 JPY). This popular parfait comes with a classic Japanese flavor profile, including red beans from Hokkaido, green tea ice cream, chestnuts, and BASHOAN’s specialty warabi mochi. Warabi mochi is a jelly-like treat made with bracken starch that adds a delicious chewy texture to this ice cream parfait. BASHOAN has been making warabi mochi since 1868. Today, this treat is still cooked the old-fashioned way in an iron pot, and is topped with stone-ground kinako (roasted soybean powder). This parfait tastes just as luxurious as it looks!

Creative Japanese Confectionery Studio BASHOAN

Open: 11:00 am - 9:00 pm (L.O. 8:30 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 1,000 JPY / [Lunch] 600 JPY
Access: 10 minutes walk from JR [Osaka] Station / 10 minutes walk from [Umeda] Station on Subway Midosuji Line or Hankyu Main Line
Address: Takimi-koji, B1F, Umeda Sky Bldg., 1-1-90, Oyodonaka, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Map
More Details Reservation

With so many delicious iced treats to try in Japan, you might not know where to start. We hope our introductions to some of Japan's most delicious cafes serving iced desserts comes in handy during your travels!

Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.