10 Best Quality Shaved Ice in Tokyo

1. 'Gokujo Ichigo' at Darumaya (『極上いちご』だるまや餅菓子店)

Darumaya is a long-established Japanese traditional sweets shop founded in 1947. Darumaya is a home production and sales shop, and its shaved ice is made with naturally frozen water by Shogetsu Himuro,using the mineral water from Nikko area. Seasonal fruits are used for the home-made syrup, and the 'Gokujo Ichigo' (極上いちご）is served with organic premium brand strawberry, 'Amaou.' This quality, strawberry flavored shaved ice is available throughout the year at 1,500 yen.

HP: tabelog.com/en/tokyo/A1323/A132304/13008769/dtlphotolst/1/

HP: www.jujo-darumaya.com/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 1-3-6, Jyujyo Nakaraha, Kita-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

2. 'Organic Carrot Mascarpone' at yelo (イエロ、『有機にんじんマスカルポーネ』)

yelo is a shaved ice café/bar in Roppongi area. This popular shaved ice café/bar has long opening hours, and its popularity can be easily seen by the long waiting line during summer. The popular shaved ice flavor at yelo is 'Organic Carrot Mascarpone.' Its deliciousness surprises even those who are not usually fond of carrots.   Price: 900 yen. 

HP: yelo.jp/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 5-2-11, Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

3. 'Motokare' at Mango Chacha (マンゴー チャチャ『元カレ』)

Mancho Chacha is a hugely popular Mango dessert and sweets shop in Taiwan, and this is its first Japanese branch. At Mango Chacha, you can enjoy the highest quality Mango all year round. One of its double-portion shaved ice, which is for sharing between 2 to 3 persons, is 'Motokare (元カレ）,' which means 'an ex-boyfriend' in Japanese. Considering the quality of Mango, 2,500 yen may indeed be a reasonable price. 

HP: mangochacha.jp/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 2nd Floor, Harajuku Maple Square, 4-25-35, Jingu-Mae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

4. 'Kouri Suika' at Fruits Parlor Gotoh (フルーツパーラーゴトー『氷すいか』)

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Established in 1946, Fruit Parlor Gotoh has been a favorite of its Asakusa locals. Its superb sweets are made with seasonal fruits from all over Japan.  Popular sweets and desserts of Fruit Parlor Gotoh include parfaits and pancakes. Shaved ice is served with homemade fruit syrup and is available throughout the year. Price: 830 yen. 

HP: tabelog.com/tokyo/A1311/A131102/13095672/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 2-15-4, Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

5. 'Tapioca Milk Tea' at ICE MONSTER (ICE MONSTER『タピオカミルクティーかき氷』)

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Originally from Taiwan, ICE MONSTER is a well-known dessert café which has been selected as one of the Top 10 Best Sweets in the world. This cafe, which is located in Omotesando,  is the first branch of ICE MONSTER in Japan. The distinctive characteristic of shaved ice ICE MONSTER is made by shaving the 'flavor ice block,' which has a rich, condensed flavor of the ingredients.  The fluffy texture and rich taste have attracted many over the years. The most popular flavor in Taiwan and Japan is 'Tapioca Milk Tea' (Sweet Tea with Milk and Tapioca).  Price: 1,000 yen. 

HP: ice-monster.co.jp/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 6-3-7, Jingu-Mae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

6. 'Gokujo Matcha Uji-kintoki' at Gion Tokuya Harajuku (ぎおん 徳屋 原宿店『特上抹茶 宇治金時』)

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On the first floor of a clothing shop 'United Arrows Harajuku Flagship Store: Womens,' you will find 'Gion Tokuya (ぎおん徳屋）,' a popular, traditional Japanese sweets café from Kyoto. While Gion Tokuya is famous for its 'warabimochi' (わらび餅), bracken-starch dumplings, its shaved ice is an equally popular choice during summer. Fluffy at the top and crunchy at the bottom, this green tea-flavored shaved ice has two different textures. It is available all year round. Price: 1,300 yen. 

HP: www.united-arrows.jp/harajuku/womens/tokuya/index.html (Japanese Only)

Address: Ground Floor, 2-31-23, Jingu-Mae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

7. Chimoto (ちもと)

Chimoto is a long-standing Japanese traditional sweets shop known for its signature sweets called 'Yakumo Mochi.' Chimoto's shaved ice is available throughout the year. Out of the three different menus for shaved ice, the most popular one is the a la carte (price: 1,000 yen).  Inside the shaved ice covered with matcha (green tea) and rennyu (sweetened condensed milk) syrups, you will be surprised to find many traditional Japanese sweets, including smashed sweet red beans, agar jelly, yohkan (smashed sweet red beans jelly made with agar), shiratama (rice-flour dumplings), namafu (Japanese raw wheat gluten), warabimochi (bracken-starch dumplings).

HP: tabelog.com/tokyo/A1317/A131702/13003218/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 1-4-6, Yakumo, Meguro-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

8. 'Bitoh Matcha' at Shimokita Chaen Daisan (しもきた茶苑大山『微糖抹茶』)

Shimokita Chaen Daisan is a Japanese green tea specialty shop, which has  2 of 10 Japanese Tea sommeliers working. In addition to 'Bitoh Matcha' (slightly sweetened green tea) flavor, a wide variety of flavors are available, including seasonal flavors, special flavors for Christmas and Valentine's Day. With foamed matcha sauce and matcha mousse inside the shaved ice, you will enjoy quality match to the fullest. The shaved ice is available for all year round. Price: 1,000 yen. 

HP: shimokita-chaen.com/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 2-30-2, Kitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

9. 'Himitsu no Ichigo Milk (Strawberries with sweetened condensed milk) ' at Himitsu-do (ひみつ堂『ひみつのいちごみるく』)

Himitsu-do's shaved ice is made with naturally frozen ice using the mineral water from Nikko, and it is shaven manually in a traditional style. The shaving method differs depending on the season, and seasonal fruits are used to make the syrups. The waiting line easily proves the popularity of this quality hand-made shaved ice.  Price: 900 yen. 

HP: himitsudo.com/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 3-11-18, Yanaka, Taitoh-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

10. 'Shizuoka Cantaloupe (Crown)' at Yukino-shita Ginza (雪の下銀座『静岡マスクメロン（クラウン）氷　』)

Yukino-site Ginza is a branch of popular café from the Kansai region, known for its pancakes and selection of top quality ingredients.  The shaved ice is available throughout the year, and it is made by freezing the seasonal fruits from all over Japan. This shaved ice has a fine taste and texture that are closer to gelato or granité than that of an ordinary shaved ice. We recommend cantaloupe flavor, which is available only in summer. With its smooth texture and rich flavor, this shaved ice is excellent even after it has melted. Price: 1,200 yen. 

HP: yukinositatokyo.net/ginza.html (Japanese Only)

Address: 1-20-10, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

(Thumbnail image:Norio NAKAYAMA)