Japanese confectionery shops draw crowds with seasonal shaved ice

Traditional Japanese confectionery shops in Gunma and Gifu prefectures are drawing crowds with seasonal shaved ice offerings.

In Kiryu, Gunma, the long-standing wagashi shop Bunjudou is serving seasonal shaved ice through September 30. Popular options include ‘Kuromitsu Milk’ featuring Okinawa black sugar and ‘Uji Kintoki Milk’. The shop, which features a collection of Showa-era vinyl records, also offers handmade toppings such as suama and adzuki beans.

In Gifu City, the shop Fukumaru, located within the grounds of Gifu Zenkoji temple, has gained popularity for its generous fruit toppings and handmade syrups. A standout menu item is the peach shaved ice, which uses three or more peaches per serving. The shop also serves ‘Gifu Kintoki’ matcha shaved ice and thin-skinned taiyaki filled with Hokkaido Tokachi adzuki bean paste.