Kakigori Japanese Shaved Ice

Kakigori (かき氷) is a shaved ice dessert that is very popular at beaches, festivals, events, and cafes in the summer. It is also common for families in Japan to have an ice shaver and make homemade Kakigori.

Kakigori, a refreshing Japanese dessert, is typically sweetened with colorful sugar syrups and condensed milk. In exceptional cases, it can be enhanced with traditional ingredients such as “Kinako” (roasted and ground whole soybean flour) or anko (sweet red bean paste, known as azuki).

This delicacy has remained virtually unchanged over the past 50 years, evoking a unique nostalgic feeling. With an endless variety of flavors, from fruit syrups to sweet and colorless options, Kakigori offers a refreshing and tasty experience that transcends generations.

Kakigori – かき氷 – Japanese Shaved Ice

The Origin of Kakigori

Kakigori dates back to the Heian period, around the 11th century, when ice was carefully shaved by hand and served in metal bowls, accompanied by syrups and sauces of various flavors. In that era, this dessert was considered a luxury, as the ice used came from the mountains.

During the Meiji period, around the 19th century, Kakigori became more accessible to the public, although it still had a high price due to the importation of ice from the United States. It was only with the initiative of food entrepreneur Kahe Nakagawa that ice from Hokkaido began to be used in Kakigori in Yokohama.

The first store dedicated exclusively to Kakigori was opened by Nakagawa in 1872, in the Bashamichi area of Kanagawa. The ice crushing machine was invented around 1930, boosting the popularity of Kakigori as one of the most loved and consumed desserts in Japan.