It is so so hot here in Japan, we’re mid 30°c and the scary thing is, it’s going to get hotter. The only thing that makes being a sweaty puddle even slightly bearable is having a reliable supply of vegan ice lollies to be able to chomp through.
In almost any food-selling shop in Japan, you will be able to find at least one vegan-friendly ice lolly. Depending on where you go, you could have more than one to choose from.
However as we have found out from this post, Japan loves to sneak unsuitable ingredients in all the time and unfortunately, that’s also the case with ice lollies. But, no need to worry because I have listed some of the vegan-friendly ice creams and ice lollies you can purchase from the shops!
Why aren’t there many vegan ice creams in Japan?
When exploring and travelling around Japan you may see “soy ice cream” or “tofu ice cream” but unfortunately most of them will still be milk-based or have other animal-derived ingredients inside.
“Plant-based” is still seen as a health phrase and most people aren’t aware of veganism so there isn’t a large consumer base for these companies to produce vegan-friendly ice creams. For example, Haagen-Dazs Japan has soy milk ice cream but unfortunately, it contains eggs.
You can buy vegan-friendly ice creams from stores in Japan but it’ll be rare to just accidentally come across it. Most of the time, you need to know what you’re looking for and the particular shop to find it in.
Luckily there are many supermarkets and convenience stores in Japan to get your sweet, cold and refreshing fix! Buying vegan-friendly ice cream in Japanese stores is still a bit of a rarity but there are plenty of ice lollies to choose from.
Vegan-friendly ice lollies and ice creams from the store
1. クーリッシュグリーン | Coolish Green
Flavour/s: vanilla & strawberry
Spotted in: Yaoko Marketplace, Life, MaxValu, Ito Yokada, Tokyu Store
Coolish ice cream was one of my childhood favourites so I’m so pleased they now have two flavours that are vegan-friendly! Coolish has many different flavours but the ones with “Coolish Green” written on the packaging are the only ones that are suitable.
I’ve also tried the vanilla soy milk ice cream by Lotte and I’m hoping to get my hands on the strawberry flavour soon. The vanilla ice cream is so sweet and creamy.
Their packing is great too, just twist the lid off, squeeze and enjoy. It certainly saves clumsy people like me from spilling it all over their clothes!
This ice cream is probably one of the most accessible making it one of the best vegan-friendly ice creams in Japan! If you’re lucky you can get it in a few supermarkets, if not you can order it from Lotte’s online store or on Amazon where you can get a pack of 24.
Allergens: 小麦, 大豆 / wheat, soy
2. ガリガリ君 | Gari Gari Kun
Flavour/s: soda, mikan, cola, pineapple, green grape and more
Spotted in: most convenience stores and supermarkets
Gari Gari Kun is a classic Japanese ice lolly every Japanese kid has grown up eating – you absolutely have to try it!
The original and one of the more popular flavours is soda, in the blue packaging which tastes similar to bubblegum. The flavour is very unique to Japan, and I’d love to know what you think!
The rectangular ice lolly has a harder outer layer and an inside filled with crushed ice. It’s lovely and sweet but unlike any flavour, I’ve had in England. Try the different flavours of Gari Gari Kun too as they have some fun and unique ones you probably won’t get to try anywhere else.
Alongside Gari Gari Kun they also have Otonano Gari Gari Kun (or adult Gari Gari Kun) which has a variety of very deliciously juicy ice lollies full of so much flavour.
Allergens: Dependent on each item
3. サクレ | Sacré
Flavour/s: orange, mango, white peach, pineapple
Spotted in: most convenience stores, Gyomu Super, and most supermarkets
These Sacré cups from Futaba are very similar to the popular Japanese summer festival snack, otherwise known as Kakigori. They’re freshly shaved ice which comes with a sweet flavoured syrup – it’s so simple yet so refreshing!
Among the sweet and yummy shaved ice are small chunks of fruit which give it an extra chew and is a great way to level up the whole icey dessert!
Sacré produces many flavours of these shaved ice cups but not all of them are suitable. Other flavours contain milk products or other animal products like honey. Make sure you know how to read the ingredient and allergen list to be sure!
Allergens: オレンジ, もも / Orange, peach (dependent on each item)
4. アイスの実 | Ice Fruit
Flavour/s: purple grape, mikan, mango, pear, grapefruit, peach, muscat grape
Spotted in: most convenience stores and supermarkets
This cold snack from Glico comes in a bag filled with delicious round balls. The outer has a solid layer but as soon as you bite into it, you’re met with a juicy and flavoursome soft sorbet-like inner.
They are the perfect little mouthfuls of flavour – they’re so good! They’re also great for on-the-go too as you don’t need anything to eat them with.
Allergens: Dependent on each item
5. ロッテ 爽 | Lotte SOH
Flavour/s: Frozen pineapple, two colour ramune (soda and grape), frozen mandarin, pear, lemonade, cider fruits punch
Spotted in: Most convenience stores & supermarket
These square boxes are somewhere in between sorbet and ice cream. It’s filled with flavoursome, smooth textured ice dessert and the portions are very generous! You’ll most commonly see the vanilla flavour but that option is not suitable!
Allergens: Dependent on each item
6. アイスボックス | Ice Box
Flavour/s: muscat grape, grape, grapefruit
Spotted in: most convenience stores and supermarkets
Ice box made by Moringa are filled with flavoured small chunks of ice you can tip back and enjoy. They’re crunchy, cold and yummy.
Out of this whole list, they’re probably not the most flavoursome but they will definitely help you beat the summer heat and help cool you down!
Allergens: Apple (depends on each item)
7. 温州みかん氷 | mandarin orange flavoured shaved ice
Flavour/s: Mandarin Orange
Spotted in: 7-Eleven
This is a 7-Eleven own-brand product I discovered recently, tried it a couple of days ago and fell in love! I very much love their mandarin jelly and I think this shaved ice has topped the jelly from the first place, especially in this sweltering heat!
As it says in the name, it’s a mandarin-flavoured shaved ice with a top layer of mandarins and also chunks of fruit within it. It’s so simple yet so damn tasty!
Allergens: Orange
8. 森永 みぞれいちご | Morinaga Mizore
Flavour/s: strawberry
Spotted in: 7-Eleven
A shaved ice cup but this one is strawberry flavour! If Sacré cups or the 7-Eleven mandarin orange-flavoured shaved ice cup is not available then this is my go-to. It’s very yummy, sweet and refreshing but I personally favour those with the extra chew from the fruit bits inside!
Allergens: none
9. パピコ | Papico
Flavour/s: Muscut, lemon, tomato & orange, kiwi & green, mango & carrot
Spotted in: Belx, Belc
You’ll likely see Papico ice refreshments in most stores but only a handful are actually suitable.
They’re a mix between a slushy and a sorbet. Each packet comes with two separate plastic bottles with icy refreshments in them. They’re great for sharing but also I wouldn’t blame you for eating them both in this hot weather.
To enjoy you simply break apart the plastic bottles and take the top off.
Allergens: dependent on each one
10. 赤城乳業 ガツンと、みかん | Akagi Mandarin
Flavour/s: Mandarin
Spotted in: most konbini & supermarkets
Such a refreshing ice lolly made from 40% mandarin juice and flesh. It’s the ideal ice lolly for a super hot day to cool you down, and it even has yummy mandarin bits throughout the lolly!
Allergen: None
11. 4種のフルーツバー | fruit ice bar
Flavour/s: mikan, pineapple, red grape, peach
Spotted in: 7- Eleven
These 7-Eleven own-brand premium ice bars are so full of fruity flavour. There are 8 bars in the box and includes 4 flavours which are mikan, pineapple, red grape, and peach.
They’re great if you’re staying somewhere for a period of time and you have access to a freezer.
Once they melt a little, these ice bars have a jelly-like wobble and texture which I have never experienced before in an ice lolly and it’s rather fun!
Allergens: Peach
12.クラシエ ソイ | Kracie Soy ice cream
Flavour/s: vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, latte
Spotted in: family mart, Peacock Store (aeon), coop
Kracie is mostly known for its hair and beauty products across Japan however, they also have ice cream suitable for vegans! Four flavours of ice cream made from soy milk are available, great for those with a sweet tooth. They’re rich, creamy, so flavoursome and have a great texture.
Allergens: Soy/ apple (dependent on each product)
Bonus! ↓
13. パイナップルスティック | Pineapple Stick
Flavour/s: pineapple
Spotted in: 7-Eleven
Now I know it’s not exactly an ice lolly or ice cream but don’t knock this frozen pineapple stick until you’ve tried it!
As a lover of fruit, this frozen pineapple is equally delicious as some of the above ice lollies and a bonus is that it’s actually healthier! As it’s simply a frozen pineapple, only the natural sugars from the fruit are present.
It’s great for days you want to go for the healthier option when you’re in need of something refreshing!
Allergens: none
With the help of this list, finding vegan-friendly ice lollies and ice creams in Japan should now be much easier! To work out what else you can eat at any konbini’s, check out my guide on navigating Japanese convenience stores as a vegan.
Want to know where to get some yummy vegan ice cream in Nara? You might want to visit here on your travels!
FAQs about ice lollies and ice creams in Japan
Is Haagen Daz vegan ice cream?
Unfortunately not. Although Haagen Daz has soy milk ice cream, it’s not vegan as it has eggs in it.
Is Japanese ice cream dairy-free?
99% of ice creams and some ice lollies in Japan will have animal product ingredients present. Most ice creams you’ll see that have been made from tofu or soybeans when exploring Japan will also have animal-derived ingredients too.
Does Japan have a dairy-free ice cream option?
Yes, they do however it’s not widely or easily accessible compared to dairy ice creams. You have to know what you’re looking at and where to go. I’ll be writing a post on where to get ice cream in Tokyo so watch this space!
