今年のかき氷は300円デス。 : Chagashi Ya Taki Jiro

I've been a fan of their summer kakigori for about six years now. Well, the price has gone up a bit each year—has it doubled? Even so, it's still an incredibly affordable treat. My favorites are "Matcha" and "Kuro Mizu". Since it's a wagashi shop, the flavors are amazing! The ice isn't made from special natural ice, but it's light and fluffy. This is perfect! This is exactly what I want!

My favorite place for kakigori (shaved ice) in the summer. Can I really call it a kakigori shop? (´艸｀) It’s shaved ice from a wagashi (Japanese sweets) shop, so the kuromitsu (black syrup) is homemade. The syrup with ume (green plum) fruit pulp is often sold out quickly. This year, I kept thinking about going, but with the extreme heat, all I wanted was to head home as soon as I finished shopping or eating... It’s been over a month of this unusual weather. Finally feeling a bit more motivated, I decided to visit on this day. The parking lot next to the shop holds three cars side by side, or six if stacked. It’s a sister store shared with [a:2004055, Kashidokoro Suzuro]. Inside, there are two simple tables. Since there weren’t any other customers dining in, we had plenty of room to relax. We ordered and paid upfront. I often choose between matcha or black syrup, but my husband overwhelmingly prefers kuromitsu. We thought about toppings but decided to go with "kuromitsu" for both this time. Has the container changed? There might be various types, but the ones with feet definitely add to the atmosphere. It felt like the portion was slightly smaller too, and the ice seemed a bit coarser this time. Yet, the happiness of enjoying this black syrup kakigori for just JPY 255 is unbeatable. No overflowing fruit sauces or huge kakigori that costs over a thousand yen—this is just perfect! By the time we finished, our overheated bodies felt cool and at ease. It was a great meal. I’ll come back next time for the matcha!

The hot season when I crave kakigori has arrived again this year! Even when it’s hot, if the humidity is low, it’s bearable, but lately it’s been muggy and uncomfortable. During lunch, my husband and I agreed to stop by on our way home. We parked in the space next to the shop. Inside, there were two tables like last year, accommodating about four people at most. From the kakigori menu on the window, I ordered the "Matcha" with an added topping of "Azuki." My husband, being a devoted fan of "Kuro-Mitsu" (black syrup), stuck to his favorite (laughs). It’s made in-house at the wagashi shop, so it’s rich and delicious! Sorry for ordering the same things every year. You pay upfront when ordering. Of course, you can enjoy your food inside! I noticed that the self-serve tea that used to be available is now gone. Maybe you have to request it now. The prices are reasonable, so the bowls are on the smaller side—kind of like the kakigori from an old candy shop. But with fluffy, crispy ice and delicious syrup poured over it, it feels very indulgent. The portion is just right! I even scooped some of my husband’s black syrup ice with my spoon to enjoy a double dose with my matcha (laughs). The azuki beans are nicely cooked and lightly sweetened, allowing you to really taste the beans. It’s refreshing and lowers my body temperature a bit. I’ll definitely be coming back this summer!

I've been coming to enjoy this shaved ice every year since I discovered it. When I checked it out at the beginning of last month, the word "Shaved Ice" was displayed in the window. I decided to go there alone after lunch! You can eat inside the restaurant, or of course, take away is available as well. (It seems to be similar to last year, so for more details, please refer to last year's article.) Inside, there are two small tables, accommodating up to about four people. The price has gradually increased each year, and this year it’s JPY 250, with toppings at JPY 60. I love all the flavors, but for me, matcha and black syrup are the top two. This year, I’ll go with the "black syrup" for my first shaved ice! I made the payment first and waited for a few minutes. It was served in a small glass bowl, looking refreshing. Compared to the stylish, Instagrammable shaved ice, this one is much smaller, but this size is just right. The crunchy ice and the not overly sweet black syrup were so pleasant. I quickly finished and left the shop. I wonder how many times I can come back this year!

After lunch, I came with a friend to enjoy our first kakigori (shaved ice) of the year. I had noticed that they started serving during the holiday, but dining in was not allowed at that time. Upon entering the shop, I noticed that they had removed one of the two tables, probably to avoid having too many customers inside? There was already one person dining in. Just when I was wondering what to do, the staff mentioned, "You can also take it to go." So, I decided to order two servings of "kuro mitsu" (black syrup). The price has gone up by 20 yen compared to last year. After a while, what was served on the tray was just kakigori in plastic cups instead of the glass bowls I was expecting... How am I supposed to take this home? (；・∀・) I wonder if I could have asked for a plastic bag. By the time my order was served, the previous customer had finished and was about to leave, so I ended up being able to eat it right there in the shop after all. (;´Д｀) I always liked this place for its warm service, so it was a bit disappointing this time. Maybe it would be better to eliminate indoor dining altogether and create an outdoor eating area on the premises... (;´Д｀)

After lunch with my friend, we decided to enjoy a little tea. During the summer, I often come to this favorite wagashi shop for kakigori (shaved ice). This cozy little shop has such a calming atmosphere! Upon arrival, I saw 'Ichigo Daifuku' (strawberry rice cake) written on the shop's glass and instantly decided to order that. We entered the store and informed them we would be dining in, then I ordered the [b:'Ichigo Daifuku' JPY 270, tax included] and made the payment first. The price is the same for both take away and dine-in (´艸｀). It came with a complimentary cup of tea. [b:・Ichigo Daifuku]… I decided to break it apart with a bamboo fork for a photo. Inside the soft mochi, there was sweet red bean paste and a strawberry. The strawberry was so juicy! Even when paired with the anko (red bean paste), there was no sourness to be found; it was simply delicious. It was a cozy tea time. I’m also curious about the 'Zenzai' (red bean soup) from this shop!

I discovered this place's kakigori (shaved ice) last year, and I was surprised by the price! This is what traditional kakigori is supposed to be like. These days, there are huge servings with fancy syrup that costs as much as a meal, which just doesn’t resonate with me. The kakigori here isn't overly large, but it’s just the right amount—perfect for me! Since it’s a wagashi shop, the kuro mitsu (black syrup) and matcha syrup are homemade, and the toppings like red bean and mochi are delicious too. I love how easy it is to enjoy. The last time I visited, the staff mentioned a price increase starting the next day, but wagashi has only gone up about JPY 20. [b: The kakigori has increased by JPY 50 from last year’s price, now at JPY 200.] I have no problem with that at all! On this day, I came with a friend. I ordered "matcha with red bean," and my friend got "kuro mitsu with milk," both for JPY 250. There are two tables for eat-in, and we paid first while waiting for our order to be prepared. The self-serve barley tea was also delicious, providing a cozy time for us. I plan to keep coming here this year too!

I happened to visit on April 19th~ ( ´艸｀) I was craving a mochi with some beans in it, so I chose 'Mame Kofuku' (JPY 162) from the displayed sweets and informed the staff that I would like to eat it here. Although it's self-service tea, the staff kindly brought it to me! While I already picked the Mame Kofuku, I noticed the dango skewers and ordered one as well. The 'Kushi Dango' (JPY 86) is lightly grilled and coated with sauce after ordering. I chose the 'Goma' (sesame). [b:・Mame Kofuku]...contains smooth bean paste. The sweetness is quite subtle. [b: The salty beans are delicious]. [b:・Kushi Dango]...it's a fragrant mochi with a hint of grilling. [b: The black sesame is rich♬] [b:・Wakkey]...I bought it as a souvenir on the way back. It's made by kneading bean paste into the dough and baking it. [b: Hmm~ a bit ambiguous]. The texture and flavor... ( ´艸｀) They mentioned that they haven't raised prices until now, so there will be a slight increase. By the way, the Kushi Dango will be adjusted from JPY 86 to JPY 108.

I haven't been visiting this summer too frequently, but I've stopped by a few times. On this day, my husband had the "Mizore" for JPY 150, while I chose the "Ume Ice" for JPY 150 with a topping of "Azuki" for JPY 50. The Mizore brings back nostalgic memories. Back in the day, there weren't many choices, and this was the basic option. The Ume Ice is made using blue plums for the syrup, and while there were only a few pieces, you could see some fruit flesh. It wasn't too sour, but it had a refreshing taste. The mildly sweet Azuki beans were fluffy and delicious. Since September began, I’ve gone back again, but there was a notice saying that the "Dango Mochi" topping is no longer available. I made another visit~ ( ´艸｀) I topped my ice with "Strawberry" and "Milk". The nostalgic ice turned my tongue a bit pink. When I asked the staff if it would be available until the end of this week, they mentioned that it might continue for a little longer due to the higher temperatures. Well, once it gets cooler, it’s likely to fade out. I can’t wait for the autumn sweets once the ice season is over!

This is a sister store of the well-known Japanese sweets shop "Kashidokoro Suzuro" in Hirosaki. The shops are located directly across from each other, and the parking lot seems to be shared with Chagashi Ya Taki Jiro. If parked neatly, you can fit about six cars total, depending on the situation. It's also convenient to stop by while shopping at the nearby Nakamura Department Store, which is right behind. I came here in the summer because they serve shaved ice! What I was looking for is classic shaved ice, nothing fancy! This place offers exactly that kind of shaved ice! Upon entering, the space is quite cozy with a small selection of dried and fresh sweets lined up. In the back of the register, there's a mold for making sweets (´艸｀). There was a quiet female staff member. I told her I came to have shaved ice and took a seat. There are two tables by the window, each with four chairs. You might be able to add one or two more chairs, but it's quite cramped. The menu is handwritten and posted on the wall and at the entrance. Shaved ice is uniformly priced at JPY 150, and toppings are each JPY 50! What a great price (；・∀・)! I ordered "Matcha" with milk added, and my husband chose "Kurimitsu." I could hear the sound of ice being shaved in the back while waiting for our orders. They give you a generous portion! Ice, matcha, ice, matcha, and then milk in that order! The ice is shaved just right, crisp and fluffy! This is what I wanted to eat! While fruit-flavored ice and natural ice are nice, sometimes you just want something simple and easy to enjoy (´艸｀). [Another visit with friends later♪] My friend added milk and dumplings to her"Matcha," totaling JPY 250, while I added azuki beans to my "Kurimitsu" for JPY 200 (´艸｀). The dumplings included five pieces total, soft and gently sweet ^^. The Kurimitsu's rich brown sugar flavor and sweetness were delicious, and there were plenty of azuki beans too, making it even better! It's fun and tasty to easily add toppings too♪ They serve shaved ice until the temperature drops, which results in fewer customers, presumably until the end of August. With Aomori's summer ending soon, I hope to visit again at least once more!