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Nikko Chaya

Simple homemade syrups enhance the taste of pure ice.

The store is located about a 1-minute walk from Tobu Nikko Station, one of the best locations in the shaved ice battleground that stretches from the station to the World Heritage Site of "Nikko's shrines and temples". In order to make the best use of the best natural ice from Nikko, the store is most particular about the way it is shaved. The shop's craftsmen slowly shave the ice into fluffy, feather-like pieces while paying attention to temperature and humidity. The angle of the blade is sometimes fine-tuned during the shaving process according to the condition of the ice.

The "handmade nectar" on the right of the photo is favored by repeat customers from far and wide, who say it is the best way to taste the deliciousness of the ice itself. The nectar syrup, which is the ultimate in simplicity, is made by simply boiling down glacial sugar, and is the perfect complement to the pure, natural ice. The "Umezu (plum vinegar)" on the left in the photo is a refreshing summer menu item that allows you to enjoy the whole pickled plums and the mild homemade syrup that has been aged for a year. Originally served over tokoroten (dried sardines), the ume vinegar was created when a Staff/staff member happened to try it over shaved ice, and it has since become the restaurant's signature dish.

The shaved ice is served in your mouth as soon as it arrives, and we recommend that you take a second to enjoy the delicate and light melting of the ice. After that, pour the optional sauce over the shaved ice to give it a different texture.
Strawberry lovers will love the "Natsuotome Strawberry," made from locally grown "Natsuotome" strawberries that have been carefully candied. The natural and gentle color of the syrup is a perfect balance of sweetness and sourness. It is topped with red, ripe fresh strawberries and strawberry nuts that have been soaked in the syrup to concentrate their flavor.

The syrup used in "Natsuotome Strawberry" is all homemade, made and stored in a corner of the store. One kilogram of strawberries and one kilogram of sugar are soaked together for two weeks to finally produce enough syrup for 10 servings. After the sugar has dissolved, the syrup is stirred more than 50 times daily, and is carefully aired to prevent spoilage.

Originally located on the grounds of Nikko Toshogu Shrine, the shop moved to a new location near Nikko Station in 2013. With the space and environment now available to enjoy shaved ice at a leisurely pace, the shop began to focus more on shaved ice. During the busy summer season, the courtyard in the back of the building is also open to the public. The courtyard is also pet-friendly.

Nikko Chaya

• 253 Matsubaracho, Nikko, Tochigi MAP
• 3 min. walk from Tobu Nikko Station on the Tobu Railway
  5 min. walk from JR Nikko Station
• 10:00-16:00
  *Varies according to the season. Inquire for details.
• Closed on weekends and holidays
• 0288-53-2207
• None

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Kimono Tsutsuzureya cafe Senryo Chaya

Shaved ice that tastes like powder snow, just like a sweet treat!

A 10-minute walk west from JR and Tobu Nikko Stations, café Senryo Jaya is run by a kimono rental shop that has been in business for 50 years. The owner, an idea man, opened the store because he wanted to do something useful for Nikko's tourism industry in addition to kimono.

The main product is a sweet baked sweet potato with a sugar content of 47%. The shaved ice that goes well with the baked sweet potato is the "Japanese style kuromitsu kinako shaved ice" using natural ice from the Shougetsu Ice House. The shaved ice, which looks like powdered snow, is softly covered with fragrant soybean flour and topped with a generous amount of thick kuromitsu (molasses). As you continue eating, you will be surprised to find a shiratama (white bean curd) inside, giving it a cool and refreshing Japanese confectionary sensation. Alternating with the sticky-sweet baked sweet potato, this is a dish that is sure to satisfy.

This is a mango flavor with a fruity and refreshing sourness. The shaved ice looks like a cotton cap and is covered with syrup made from glacial sugar, and then covered with mango puree. The ice is filled with cut mango for a different texture. It is served with creamy, mildly thick yogurt. We recommend eating it to refresh your palate or adding it to shaved ice for a milky flavor.

The shaved ice is like fine powdery snow, which is the "café Senryojaya" style. The secret lies in the method of shaving the natural ice that has been freshly shaved right out of the freezer. The ice cubes fresh from the freezer need to be shaved well or they may break, so it takes a lot of skill to shave them. The fluffy shaved ice that has been slowly shaved and piled up in a thick layer is a beautiful, yet fleeting, reminder of the flavor.

The store is located along the "Japan Romantic Road" lined with souvenir shops. It is also about a 15-minute walk from Nikko's two shrines and one temple, both of which are World Heritage sites, so it is an easy location to stop by for a stroll before or after visiting or touring the area.

Kimono Tsureya cafe Senryo Chaya

• 601-3 Miyuki-cho, Nikko-shi, Tochigi MAP
• About 10 minutes on foot from Tobu Railway Tobu Nikko Station
• 10:00-16:00
  (*Saturday, Sunday, and national holidays may be closed after 3:00 p.m.)
• Closed on weekends and holidays
• 0288-53-2208
• Free of charge

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Shougetsu Hyokushitsu Honten

Shaved ice directly managed by the icehouse is exciting for both adults and children with its wide variety!

Located in the city center of Imaichi, Tochigi Prefecture, Shougetsu Himuro Honten is a very famous store that is crowded with tourists who come all the way from faraway places, regardless of the season. Because it is directly operated by an icehouse, shaved ice made from natural ice can be enjoyed all year round. The shaved ice as we know it today was first served about 30 years ago, when Masao Yoshishin, now in his fourth generation, became the head of the shop. The shaved ice has evolved over the years by developing original mitsu (honey) to complement the ice, and by creating innovative menus using not only locally grown strawberries, but also carefully selected premium melons and mangoes from all over the country.

The most popular menu item is one that uses an abundance of locally grown strawberries. One of the most popular items for those with a sweet tooth is the "Strawberry Chocolat Whip," a triple combination of chocolate whip, chocolate sauce, and fresh strawberry sauce. The light whip and delicate shaved ice melt in your mouth in the blink of an eye, and the fresh tartness of the strawberry sauce is just the right accent. We also recommend the "Fresh Strawberry Premium" filled with fresh sauce.

The "Mello Mello Melon," a specialty, uses half of a whole, high-end melon such as an Earl's melon and combines the juicy pulp with shaved ice covered with original melon syrup. It is unique in that it comes with condensed milk and soda water. After enjoying the sweet melon flavor of the condensed milk, finish off with the soda water added to the hollowed-out half melon bowl. This is a heartbreaking trick that allows you to enjoy the melon flavor to your heart's content while scraping off the pulp from the bowl.

Natural ice with a clear taste and no peculiarities is a gift from nature, created by the pure spring water from the Nikko mountain range and the severe winter cold. Shougetsu Ice House's shaved ice is full of ingenuity that not only tastes great but also makes you feel excited and happy while you enjoy the simple ice that has been carefully cared for and made dense and clear by following the traditional method of making ice.

Matsuzuki Ice Shop Main Store

• 379 Imaichi, Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture MAP
• 6 min. walk from JR Imaichi Station
  9 min. walk from Tobu Railway Shimo-Imaichi Station
• Weekdays 11:00-17:00
  Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays: 10:30-17:00
  *Varies depending on the season and weather.
• Mondays (open if Monday is a national holiday, closed the following day)
• 0288-21-0162
• None