Humid weather throughout most of the country is the perfect breeding ground for creative twists on a classic frozen treat. Japanese companies and independent producers take their ice cream game very seriously — if you’re visiting Japan, you can expect to be spoiled for choice when it comes to flavors.
It goes without saying that you’ll easily find classic ice cream flavors like vanilla, chocolate, and the extremely controversial chocolate mint. But if the opportunity presents itself, traveling foodies should give one of these 35 unique twists, ranging from fruity varieties to there’s-no-way-that’s-good flavors.
What are some unique ice cream flavors you can try in Japan?
- Ramune (Japanese soda)
- Milk
- Shirasu
- Gyoza
- Adzuki (Japanese red beans)
- Shine Muscat grape
- Lavender
- Yubari melon
- Kyoho grape
- Sakura (cherry blossom)
- Chestnut
- Miyazaki mango
- Amaou (Japanese strawberries)
- Corn
- Rice
- Squid ink
- Olive
- Soy sauce
- Amazake
- Onion
- Salt
- Soba (buckwheat)
- Tofu
- Unagi
- Wasabi
- Mountain yam (Tororo)
- Sea grapes
- Wakame
- Hibiscus
- Okinawa salt cookies
- Ube
- Ryukyu tea warabi mochi
- Royal milk tea
- Yuzu
- Chocobanana (frozen chocolate banana)
1. Ramune (Japanese soda)
Let’s start with one you probably already know about: ramune. This Japanese soda, one of Japan’s must-try drinks, is a popular flavor for all types of sweet treats, but it is especially popular among children and adults alike when it comes in ice cream form.
2. Milk
Milk-flavored ice cream may not be exclusive to Japan, but it can be hard to find outside of Asia. Milk ice cream is creamy (duh), rich and filling. It’s also a perfect flavor to pair with almost any other ice cream flavor, including ramune and fruit sorbets. It’s best used as a mixer if you’re ordering a double or triple cone.
3. Shirasu
Shirasu (or Japanese whitebait) are small white fish. In the Kanto region, they are most commonly associated with Kamakura in Kanagawa Prefecture. Typically, you’ll find shirasu as a topping in kaisendon (seafood bowls) or mixed in a tamagoyaki batter as a savory street food, but you can also find ice cream topped with shirasu in select shops in Kamakura and Enoshima. This one is definitely for adventurous eaters!
4. Gyoza
Yes, you read that right. Gyoza izakaya Dandadan Sakaba has gyoza ice cream on its menu. This unique dessert comes with two gyoza skin senbei, in case you crave the crunch. Definitely a flavor that’s out there and makes for a great night-out story.
Dandadan Sakaba is a chain with locations around Japan, but here’s a quick list of their locations in Japan’s top destinations:
- Dandadan Sakaba Shibuya (Tokyo)
- Dandadan Sakaba Naka-ku (Nagoya)
- Dandadan Sakaba Namba (Osaka)
- Dandadan Sakaba Chuo-ku (Fukuoka)
5. Adzuki (Japanese red beans)
Adzuki is a quintessential ingredient in wagashi. It’s not overwhelmingly sweet but still satisfies if you’re in the mood for a treat. Japanese company Imuraya’s adzuki bar has consistently been one of Japan’s best-selling ice cream products. If you’re already planning to travel to Hokkaido, chances are you can find hard or soft-serve ice cream, too.
6. Shine Muscat grape
Grape is another staple summer flavor in Japan — specifically the Shine Muscat variety, which was first grown and harvested in Japan in the late 1980s. This luxurious Japanese fruit is generally considered a late summer flavor, though you can find Shine Muscat ice cream throughout the warm season.
7. Lavender
Did you know you can find lavender-flavored ice cream if you visit a lavender farm? Furano in central Hokkaido is famous for its lavender fields, but you can visit these three lavender farms around Tokyo to get a taste of creamy, lavender goodness without leaving Kanto.
8. Yubari melon
Yubari melon is a type of cantaloupe melon grown in Hokkaido in the town of Yubari, not too far from Sapporo. This melon is known to be especially sweet and fragrant — and also particularly pricey. Definitely on the top of the list of Japan’s luxury fruit lineup, but you can taste Yubari melon without splurging too much by searching for Yubari melon ice cream.
9. Kyoho grape
That’s right, there are not one but two Japanese grape ice cream flavors on this list. Kyoho grapes are purple grapes that have been cultivated in Japan since the 1930s. They are significantly more sweet than the Shine Muscat varieties. If you like grapes and you like sweetness, then opt for Kyoho grape ice cream!
10. Sakura (cherry blossom)
It’ll come as no surprise to know that in the spring, you might also find sakura-flavored ice cream (sometimes even sakura mochi-flavored ice cream). The flavor will be subtle and light, much like the shade of pink this ice cream tends to be, but it makes for a refreshing dessert nonetheless.
Curious to know what other sakura snacks there are? See our list of cherry blossom foods.
11. Chestnut
Continuing with seasonal flavors, around September and October, keep your eyes peeled with chestnut-flavored ice cream. Like some of the others on this list, this flavor is usually seasonal and available for a limited time only!
12. Miyazaki mango
Another luxury fruit flavor on this list (yes, there are many) is Miyazaki mango. Nissei, one of Japan’s leading producers of soft cream, produces an array of limited-edition premium flavors under its Japan Premium brand, and one of its summer flavors is Miyazaki mango. You need to plan a trip to Miyazaki Prefecture to try this one, but it might just be the best mango ice cream you’ll ever taste.
13. Amaou (Japanese strawberries)
Strawberry ice cream is obviously available in plenty of other countries, but only in Japan can you find Amaou-flavored ice cream. If you’re thinking that Japanese strawberries are not that different, think again. These strawberries, primarily grown in Fukuoka, are known for their size and rich flavor.
14. Corn
Japan does have a penchant for savory ice cream flavors. Nissei has an Aomori-exclusive corn flavor. If you like sweet corn, you might like corn ice cream. Sure, it’s a bit of a trip to get there, but hey, northern Japan is way cooler in the summer.
15. Rice
Continuing with exclusive flavors, in Akita, you can find rice ice cream, also courtesy of Nissei. This Tohoku prefecture is known for its high-quality rice, so of course, the natural course of action is to turn its top export into a not-savory-but-not-too-sweet dessert.
16. Squid ink
Another fishy flavor makes the list! This time, it’s squid ink, an exclusive Nissei flavor that you can only find in Fukui. Unlike shirasu ice cream, squid ink ice cream is more visually striking than it is an attack on the taste buds — makes for a cool photo, though!
17. Olive
Shodoshima, an island off the coast of Kagawa, is Japan’s leading producer of olive oil. If you want to know how it claimed the number one spot, you should visit the Shodoshima Olive Park and learn about the island’s rare characteristics that make it a prime location for growing and tending to olive trees. Here, you can also find olive ice cream. Try it in a cone or in a cup. If you’ve feeling extra adventurous, opt for an extra dash of olive oil.
18. Soy sauce
Did you really think there would be no soy sauce flavor on this list? Often thought of as a simple pantry staple, soy sauce comes in different variations. Soy sauce makers who offer factory visits will also offer eclectic soy sauce treats, including (you guessed it) ice cream.
19. Amazake
Amazake ice cream (sometimes amazake sorbet) is less commonly found at the grocery store but not uncommon at wagashi specialty stores. Amazake, literally “sweet sake,” is a sweet non-alcoholic rice drink. Amazake ice cream brings the distinct flavor of this Japanese drink without its usual grainy texture.
20. Onion
This next flavor might just be the rarest on this list. You can find onion ice cream in Hyogo Prefecture. Onions are a beloved ingredient for a good reason: their sweetness is key to most of your favorite Japanese dishes! You can even order onion ice cream.
21. Salt
Occasionally, you’ll find salt ice cream, which is essentially milk ice cream with double or triple the amount of salt. For lovers of snacks that combine sweet and savory, this one is for you.
22. Soba (buckwheat)
Savory buckwheat noodle ice cream is a surprisingly popular flavor in Japan. It has a nutty taste with a hint of bitterness. It’s tricky to find, but your best bet is to hit traditional neighborhoods and roadside stations in rural areas.
23. Tofu
Recently, you can find soy milk ice cream in supermarkets and convenience stores, but did you know you can also find tofu ice cream? If you visit Nikko in Tochigi, you’ll find local shops with tofu ice cream on offer since the area is known for its yuba (tofu skin)!
24. Unagi
We’re back at it again with a sweet and salty combination! One Japanese company is almost entirely dedicated to making unagi-flavored ice cream — yes, unagi like the eel. You can buy this eel-flavored ice cream online.
25. Wasabi
The same company sells wasabi ice cream, though wasabi ice cream is fairly common all around Japan. You can find wasabi soft cream or vanilla soft cream with a plop of freshly grated wasabi. This spicy dessert is especially easy to find throughout the Izu Peninsula.
26. Mountain yam (tororo)
One last shoutout to Unagi Ice, this time to share that they also make a mountain yam (tororo) ice cream. If creamy potato soup works, why wouldn’t creamy potato… ice cream? Browse the full lineup of novelty ice cream by Unagi Ice.
27. Sea grapes
Sea grapes, a type of seaweed, add a puchi puchi or "bursting" texture to this unique ice cream. They also have a slightly salty flavor. This one is definitely more of a novelty flavor, but if you see it in the wild (most likely in Okinawa), don’t hesitate to try it!
28. Wakame
Another seaweed-infused ice cream, wakame adds a refreshing taste of the sea. It has a mild seaweed flavor and something like a crisp texture. You can find it at Shiokaze-no-sato Tsunoshima in Yamaguchi.
29. Hibiscus
Hibiscus ice cream offers a tart and floral flavor, perfect for a summer day. It's made from the hibiscus flower and has a beautiful pink or red color. The easiest way to find this flavor is to look at Blue Seal’s offerings at one of their stores.
30. Okinawa salt cookies
Being a brand that’s most commonly associated with Okinawa, Blue Seal sells Okinawan shortbread-flavored ice cream. These sweet and salty cookies are one of the most popular food souvenirs to bring back from Japan’s tropical region.
31. Ube
Ube (or purple sweet potato) is a delicious vegetable that’s widely consumed in Asia, and its vibrant purple color makes it a great ingredient to add a pop of color to any sweet. Ube is a popular topping for baked foods and even as an ice cream topping, but ube die-hard fans should just go full steam ahead and get ube-flavored ice cream.
32. Ryukyu tea warabi mochi
Our last Blue Seal recommendation is the brand’s Ryukyu tea warabi mochi flavor. Just as you might expect, this is essentially wagashi in a cup. With swirls of kuromitsu (brown sugar syrup) and chucks of warabimochi, this one is for those who like texture in their ice creams.
33. Royal milk tea
A popular flavor year-round, if you love royal milk tea’s comforting sweetness, you’ll love it in ice cream form. In 2024, Häagen-Dazs released a limited-edition caramel royal milk tea flavor, which you can find in select convenience stores and supermarkets.
34. Yuzu
Though yuzu is usually considered a winter citrus, many still prefer its bitter and sweet taste over lemon or even orange. It’s not uncommon to find yuzu-flavored ice cream at specialty shops or even among limited-edition flavors in the ice cream section of a Japanese supermarket.
35. Chocobanana (frozen chocolate banana)
If you attend a summer festival in Japan, in addition to coolers filled to the brim with ice and ramune bottles, you’ll also find chocobanana stands. This frozen treat is a hot weather staple and has become such a nostalgic flavor for older Japan citizens that you can find chocobanana-flavored ice cream, too. Same cooling effect, significantly reduced risk of it sliding off the stick and falling on the sidewalk.
Chocobanana is a flavor offered at Ushigoyaice, an eclectic ice cream shop in Hokkaido that offers 16 different flavors every day pooled from a rotation of 50-plus recipes!
