Ice, Ice, Baby… The Best Ice Cream in Hiroshima

Sep 27, 2024

Ice, Ice, Baby… The Best Ice Cream in Hiroshima

You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream! The summer may have drawn to a close but it’s never a bad season for ice cream. Japan is fast becoming an ice cream hotspot to rival Italy thanks to the likes of its unique flavours such as matcha, black sesame and pumpkin, as well as novel serving ideas (ice cream served in a donut cone, anyone?). There are also distinct regional blends. For example, Hiroshima’s Miyajima Island created the ‘deer poop’ ice cream with interesting-looking sprinkles on account of the numerous deer on the island (don’t worry, they’re chocolate drops).

Here are some of the fine places you can go to get your ice cream fix in Hiroshima.

Polar Bear

PA long-standing ice cream favourite in Hiroshima, Polar Bear operates two stores. One is at Aeon Mall in the Aki district and the other is a gelato Italian ice cream specialist at The Outlets in Saeki ward. Known for providing large servings in a cone or cup for reasonable prices, the venues allow you to sit in or take away (seating is limited). Popular flavours are green tea and mango, while the bamboo charcoal and vanilla is worth a try if you wanna get experimental.

Where:
2-1-1 Osu, Fuchu, Aki District 735-0021 (map link)
1F, The Outlets, 4-1-1 Ishiuchihigashi, Saeki Ward 731-5162 (Gelato store)

Open Hours: Every day, 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/polarbear.gelato/

Gelateria Baccano

Miyajima Island has several ice cream outlets and this is arguably the pick of them. It sells home-made gelato and the knowledgeable staff can talk you through the different offerings that include Japanese favourites matcha and black sesame as well as internationally popular blends such as hazelnut and pistachio. There is a cosy eat-in space where you can sit on cushions and enjoy a nice cup of tea along with your ice cream.

Website: http://baccano.jpn.com

Karasawa

One of the oldest ice cream parlours in Hiroshima, Karasawa began as a coffee shop in 1939 and started serving ice cream in the 1950s. Located on the waterfront in Onomichi town, its signature is the ice monaka, a wafer ice cream sandwich made with egg gelato. You can also enjoy simple scoops of flavours like matcha or vanilla as well as choose from menu items including red bean soup.

Address: 1-15-19 Tsuchidou, Onomichi

Dolce

Spending the day seeing historic sites like the Peace Memorial Park and Atomic Bomb Dome is a sobering experience. If you’re in need of a pickup after you’re done, head over to the Dolce branch in Sogo Department Store. It’s also a good option after a trip to Hiroshima Castle or the Prefectural Art Museum.

With its main location in Setoda, Dolce is a local gelato company. It serves a delicious range of flavours, including orange, tangerine, and lemon made from citrus fruits grown in Hiroshima. Some other top flavours to try include matcha, black sesame, and two options with salt: Setoda lemon salt and seaman’s algae salt. All the ice creams are available in a cone or cup.

Where: 6-27 Motomachi, Naka Ward (map link)
Open Hours: Every day, 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Yacone Ice Cream

This is a craft ice cream store in the Naka ward worth trying out for its experimental flavours that include almond and tofu, pumpkin and coconut, gorgonzola, and citrus and rosemary. You can find the shop on the first floor of an old building alongside a number of other restaurants and cafes.

Where: Nantendo, 8-16 Nekoyacho, Naka Ward (map link)
Open Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday to Tuesday
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yacone.icecream/?hl=en

Oshiro no Chaya

A quaint tea room close to Hiroshima Castle, this place offers plant-based soft serve ice cream alongside a mostly vegan and vegetarian menu. Ice cream flavours include matcha and black sesame made with soy milk. There is a seated area where you can take in the scenic castle views.

Address: 21-5 Motomachi, Naka Ward 730-0011

There are plenty of other places to explore and find ice cream and gelato in Hiroshima — these are just three of the best. Of course, if ice cream isn’t your thing, there’s also the option of かき氷 (kakigori), or shaved ice, which comes in flavours including green tea, strawberry, and lemon. Whatever you do, just remember to keep cool this summer with lots of ice, ice cream, baby!

Wakayamans, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons