From sweet potato soft serve to ice cream in a tube, here are the best types of ice cream you’ll find at Japan’s convenience stores!
1. Dandy Chocolate
I like to start my lists off with the best (which probably isn’t good for reader retention), but Dandy Chocolate is a gigantic block of ice cream coated in crispy dark chocolate and is easily the best combini ice cream I’ve ever had.
Each bite provides a perfect dynamic of crunchy chocolate and smooth creamy ice cream, giving your mouth the impression that it’s having a full-course dessert banquet.
2. Lawson Parfait
I’ve mentioned the greatness of Lawson parfaits several times on my blog, so it should come as no surprise that it’s made its way to my top 5 types of ice cream in Japan’s convenience store.
In particular, I highly recommend the strawberry cheesecake flavor because just like the first item on this list, it offers the senses a full banquet of dessert from the crunchy to the smooth!
3. Azuki (Sweet Red Bean)
Now onto the traditional stuff, you can’t leave Japan without respecting their authentic desserts, and what better way to do that than trying their delicious sweet red bean called azuki?
You’ll typically find traditional Japanese-style ice creams at any convenience store, but this one, in particular, goes all out to include whole red beans, making it transcend the realm of plain ice cream flavors into a full-on dessert dish!
4. Soft Serve Cones
You can’t go wrong with a good old-fashioned soft serve cone, and Japan is a culture that truly admires the potential for creamy smooth textures that milk-based desserts are capable of.
Not only do these 7-Eleven ice cream cones come with an exceptionally smooth and creamy texture, but also an abundance of traditional Japanese flavors including matcha green tea, hojicha, and yaki-imo (roast sweet potato)!
5. Coolish
An absolute staple of the Japanese ice cream world, Coolish is the cheapest, best-value ice cream you can get. It’s super easy to eat and you can carry it around just about anywhere (probably one of the few things you can get away with walking out on the streets of Japan).
Varieties include classic vanilla, chocolate, banana, and even Calpis! Depending on the time of year, Coolish has many seasonal flavors such as honey butter, summer pineapple, and white peach flavor!
Of course, if you are planning to visit Japan, you’ll need a way to get around the country as efficiently and affordably as possible. Japan Rail provides an abundance of travel passes to suit your travel needs. So whether you are traveling individually or as a group, the JR Pass is every traveler’s go-to for getting around and making the most of your time in Japan!
