[Tokyo・Himitsu-do] Indulge in Fresh Fruit! A Delightful Kakigori Experience Featuring Rare Figs and Premium Japanese Fruits

Today, I’d like to share my experience at Himitsudo, a popular shaved ice shop in Yanaka, Tokyo.

Encounter with the Legendary Fig “Hazama Ichijiku”

Directly shipped from Mannō Town in Kagawa Prefecture, the “Hazama Ichijiku” fig can be eaten whole with its soft skin. Its incredible sweetness and crunchy seeds make it truly special. This rare fruit was discovered by the “Fruit-Seeking Traveler of Himitsudo” while wandering around on a Sanuki udon food tour. Truly a fig you can only encounter here.

In addition, the menu features organic “phantom field strawberries” from Higashinaruse Village in Akita, mangoes harvested from the “secret mango tree” in Miyako Island, Okinawa, and carefully selected summer melons that are ripened in-house.

Himitsudo’s Signature Syrup

At Himitsudo, the syrups contain no water or premade products—just carefully chosen fruits and a touch of sugar. This “pure fruit syrup” is their pride.
The top 5 flavors (strawberry, melon, mango, peach, and citrus) are all made with Japanese-grown fruits. Customers often exclaim, “It’s like eating a mango itself!” or “This tastes exactly like melon!”

Five Styles of Shaved Ice

All ice is hand-shaved, and the shaved ice comes in five main styles:

• Marugoto (Whole Fruit): Generously topped with fruit syrup.
• ZANMAI (Indulgence): With fresh fruit on top and homemade whipped condensed milk inside.
• Short: Crowned with fluffy, cloud-like whipped condensed milk.
• Milk: Plenty of condensed milk poured over, plus an extra small bowl of fruit syrup.
• Yogurt: Condensed yogurt sauce with a side bowl of syrup (to be mixed in).

You can also customize with extra syrup (“Oi-mitsu”) to create your own style.

The Magic of Nikko Natural Ice

Himitsudo uses natural ice from Nikko, frozen in the depths of winter without electricity—only the power of nature. Because it freezes slowly over about two weeks, the ice is dense and melts slowly. Thanks to this, it doesn’t give you a headache when you eat it. Amazingly, they use over 20,000 kg of this natural ice per year!

My Visit

I went on a Wednesday afternoon in mid-July around 2 PM. Even though there were more than 20 people in line, because two shops were open, I got in within about 30 minutes.

The shop itself is tucked into a residential area and feels like a hidden gem. Inside, there’s even a hand-cranked shaved ice machine that looks like it came straight out of an anime—so nostalgic and fun.

The service is simple, but very thoughtful. They hand out tickets to shorten the waiting time and share detailed updates on social media. During the busy season in mid-August, the line gets much longer, but if you go early in the morning or later in the evening, you might not have to wait as long. Incredibly, during peak summer, they even open as early as 7 AM!

Final Thoughts

Himitsudo’s shaved ice, packed with the natural sweetness of seasonal fruits, is truly a one-of-a-kind experience. The combination of pure fruit syrup and natural ice makes for the perfect summer treat. Definitely worth the wait!

Fuupa

Tokyo Gourmet Explorer

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Having lived in Tokyo for over 40 years, I'll introduce you to some delicious restaurants that are definitely worth a visit. They range from familiar places to long-established establishments with a long history. Be sure to check them out when you're visiting Tokyo.