Oita’s First-Ever Summer Culinary Event Featuring Japanese and International Shaved Ice “Local Shaved Ice Festival 2026 Oita” ~Held for 11 days only from August 21 to 31 at Tokiha Wasada Town~

2026.08.05 10:00

株式会社ご当地グルメ研究会

Local Gourmet Research Institute Co., Ltd. (Taito Ward, Tokyo) will host the “Local Shaved Ice Festival 2026 Oita” at “Tokiha Wasada Town” in Oita City, Oita Prefecture, for a limited 11-day run from August 21 to 31, 2026, where visitors can enjoy regional shaved ice from Japan and around the world.

ご当地かき氷祭2026大分

Local Shaved Ice Festival 2026 Oita

With the theme “Encounters with a Diverse Array of Shaved Ice from Throughout History and Around the World,” the Local Shaved Ice Festival is a gourmet event designed to let visitors experience the diversity of shaved ice through a lineup that transcends generations and regions—featuring historic shaved ice, innovative variations, and even regional shaved ice from around the world.This year, four participating shops will bring a total of 30 different shaved ice varieties together under one roof.

Previously held annually in the Kanto region, the “Local Shaved Ice Festival”—a gourmet festival centered on shaved ice that attracted 60,000 visitors last year—is making its debut in Oita Prefecture with a specially curated selection of vendors and an expanded lineup of offerings.

From simple shaved ice topped with local syrups to whole-cake-style creations, traditional Japanese confectionery-inspired treats, and international shaved ice from 12 countries and regions—including Japan—we will offer a total of over 30 varieties for sale during the event.

Although we’ve been experiencing record-breaking heat every day this year, we’re hosting this event as a refreshing way to beat the heat—with a truly authentic lineup that everyone from children to adults, and even shaved ice enthusiasts (“gōra”), can enjoy.

■Event Overview

Event Name: Local Shaved Ice Festival 2026 Oita

Dates: August 21 (Fri) – August 31 (Mon), 2026 (11 days)

Hours: Weekdays 10:00 AM–7:00 PM; Weekends 10:00 AM–8:00 PM

Venue: Tokiwa Wasada Town, Block 2

　　　　　　 Special Event Venue, 4-chome, Central Avenue, 1st Floor (Oaza Tamazawa, Oita City)

■Participating Vendors

・Japanese Sweets-Style Shaved Ice: Sanuki Confectionery “Matsukaze-an Kanesue”

・Cake-like Shaved Ice: “Chocolatier Roman-tei”

・Shaved Ice from Around the World and Turkish Stretchy Ice Cream: “Gifu・Kawabe Ice Cream Farm”

・Shaved Ice from Japan and Around the World: “Local Gourmet Research Society”

Official Website: https://j-gourmet.jp/kg/

Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shaveicefes/

■A renowned shop representing Japan’s best warabi mochi. Their signature confections are now served as shaved ice!

Sanuki Confectionery “Matsukaze-an Kanesue,” Kagawa Prefecture

—Masterpieces of Japanese Confectionery Transformed into Shaved Ice [Wagashi no Kakigori]—

"Kanesue" (Main Store: Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture) is widely acclaimed as one of Japan’s premier warabi mochi shops.

Beyond the high-quality ingredients—such as authentic warabi flour—the shop’s unique production methods yield a plump, chewy, and springy texture paired with a refined sweetness. This renowned Kagawa shop has earned acclaim both domestically and internationally, including the Grand Prize at the Kagawa Prefectural Product Competition and a Gold Award at the Monde Selection.

For the Shaved Ice Festival, the shop will be offering a special, limited-edition original shaved ice inspired by its traditional Japanese sweets—a treat not usually available to the public.

和菓子乃かき氷

Wagashi-Style Shaved Ice

[Main Lineup]

・Warabi Mochi Shaved Ice

Shaved ice topped with the shop’s signature “Warabi Mochi,” made with authentic warabi flour for a chewy, springy texture and smooth mouthfeel. A masterfully crafted shaved ice experience featuring black sugar syrup, kinako (roasted soybean flour), and red bean paste, designed to complement the warabi mochi.

・Strawberry Daifuku Shaved Ice

Inspired by Kanesue’s famous “Extra-Large Strawberry Daifuku”—featuring a massive, juice-filled strawberry prominently displayed—this shaved ice is finished with a special strawberry syrup containing real fruit pulp.

・Kagawa, Wasanbon, and Uji Matcha Shaved Ice

Based on “Uji Kintoki Shaved Ice”—a classic Japanese summer treat featuring matcha and azuki beans—this dish is topped with the shop’s popular “Uji Matcha with Wasanbon,” bite-sized round matcha balls. Savor the gentle yet robust flavor and rich aroma of the matcha.

*About “Uji Matcha with Wasanbon”: This bite-sized Japanese confection is made by wrapping a rich matcha filling—combining Sanuki’s treasure “Alulose” (a rare sugar), Wasanbon sugar, and Uji matcha—in chewy warabi mochi, then coating it with matcha kinako.

We will also be selling the shop’s other specialties, such as warabi mochi and dorayaki, at the same time.

■An Evolved Take on Shaved Ice: Ice Desserts■

Chiba Prefecture: “Chocolatier Roman-tei”—Shaved Ice That Tastes Like Cake

—A Fusion of Popular Sweets and Shaved Ice—

Sweet-style shaved ice emerged during the transition from the Heisei to the Reiwa eras. This “cake-like shaved ice” was conceived by Chef Tada, a pastry chef who creates original desserts based on European confectionery.

A one-of-a-kind shaved ice experience crafted with sauces and special whipped cream perfectly paired with the ice. This time, we’re bringing together shaved ice creations inspired by Japanese dessert classics such as strawberry shortcake, pudding, cheesecake, and chocolate cake. Enjoy the exquisite flavors resulting from the fusion of shaved ice and desserts.

ケーキのようなかき氷

Cake-Like Shaved Ice

[Main Lineup]

・Strawberry Shortcake Shaved Ice ・Peach Shortcake Shaved Ice

They look just like the cakes displayed in a shop window. Featuring a special whipped cream that’s light enough to enjoy even in summer, and shaved ice crafted with a perfect balance of tartness and sweetness.

It pairs perfectly with our special sauce.

・Pudding Shaved Ice

Shaved ice topped with custard-based syrup and pudding cream, finished with a slightly bitter caramel sauce and a cherry.

You can easily polish this off all by yourself.

・Chocolate Cake Shaved Ice

Ice-cold chocolate sauce and lightly sweetened white cream. Our signature chocolate shaved ice, meticulously crafted to satisfy even the most discerning chocolate lovers.

・Rare Cheesecake Shaved Ice

Topped with a bold, Emmental-style cheesecake, this dessert looks impressive—but the real star is the combination of tangy and rich flavors from the rare cheesecake sauce and berry sauce, making for a truly satisfying experience.

We’ll also be selling cheesecakes and other items at the same time.

■Shaved Ice Loved for 1,000 Years Also Makes an Appearance

Gifu・Kawabe Ice Cream Farm

—Shaved Ice from Around the World and Turkey’s “Stretchy” Ice Cream—

“Gifu Kawabe Ice Cream Farm” is led by Mr. Güney Nezimetin, a Turkish-born fourth-generation Turkish ice cream artisan (whose family founded their business in 1862) who also researches ice creams from around the world.The farm offers rare shaved ice creations produced by Mr. Güney—an expert on ice cream desserts from around the world—as well as “Turkish Ice,” a recipe passed down through generations of the Güney family and hailed as the number one in Asia, and soft-serve sundaes.

世界のかき氷とトルコアイス

International Shaved Ice and Turkish Ice Cream

[Main Menu]

・Kars Sumbachi (Turkey)

A shaved ice dessert that appears in 11th-century texts and was beloved during the Ottoman Empire—it is considered the origin of ice cream. Originally, it was made by mixing honey and grape syrup into perpetual snow. It is still enjoyed and passed down in southern Turkey today.

・Taiwanese Shaved Ice: Mianmian Bing (Taiwan)

A Taiwanese-style shaved ice where ice balls blended with fruit juice are shaved into thin, cloth-like strands. This incredibly popular treat has now spread worldwide and gained immense popularity. It pairs perfectly with sauces made from fruit pulp and juice, as well as condensed milk.

・Güney Family Turkish Ice Cream

The Güney Family’s ice cream is the original brand that sparked the Japanese craze for Turkey’s “stretchy” ice cream. Made by the fourth-generation head of a distinguished family that has been in business since 1862—when Japan was still in the late Edo period—this ice cream offers an authentic Turkish flavor that even Turks themselves would approve of.

We’ll also be selling farm-fresh soft-serve sundaes and other treats.

■ A Selection of Regional Shaved Ice from Japan and Around the World

Tokyo Local Gourmet Research Society

A museum-style shop dedicated to the culture of shaved ice from Japan and around the world, created by the members who organized Japan’s first ice cream exposition in 2004, is making its debut.

Starting with Japanese regional shaved ice such as simple regional syrup-flavored shaved ice, Okinawan zenzai, and Yamagata’s “Sudamari” ice, the lineup will also feature 11 varieties of regional shaved ice from 9 countries around the world, including the United States, Italy, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

日本と世界のご当地かき氷

Regional Shaved Ice from Japan and Around the World

[Main Lineup] (Japan)

・Regional Syrup Shaved Ice

We’ll feature shaved ice made with local fruit juices such as Yubari Melon (Hokkaido), Shikuwasa (Okinawa), Sudachi (Tokushima), Apple (Aomori), and Zunda (Miyagi).

・Okinawan Zenzai

A classic Okinawan shaved ice dessert featuring shaved ice atop a bed of Kintoki red bean zenzai, topped with “Washi Milk,” Okinawa’s famous plant-based condensed milk.

・Vinegar-Drizzled Shaved Ice

A surprising local shaved ice specialty from the Yamanobe district of Yamagata Prefecture, where vinegar-soy sauce is drizzled over the shaved ice.

・Canned Mandarin Orange Shaved Ice

A shaved ice specialty from Yokohama’s baseball stadium, generously topped with canned mandarin oranges and a special syrup.

[Main Lineup] (World)

・Slushie (USA)

A drink-style shaved ice made by blending finely shaved ice with a beverage

・Hawaiian Shaved Ice

A rainbow-colored shaved ice made by pouring fruit juice-based syrup over fluffy, Japanese-style shaved ice

・Piccadilly

A famous shaved ice specialty from Texas. Chopped pickles are topped on sweet shaved ice. The combination of salty and sweet flavors blows away the summer heat.

・Gratacecca (Italy)

A shaved ice drink served at street stalls, where a beverage is poured over shaved ice. Made with Sicilian lemons and blood oranges.

・Halo-Halo (Philippines)

Means “mix-and-match” in Tagalog. Features syrup-soaked ingredients such as beans, nata de coco, and coconut flesh, as well as ube ice.

・Chè (Vietnam)

Made with mung beans, taro, nata de coco, and fruit, served with plenty of ice and a syrup base of coconut milk or cow’s milk.

・Es Buah (Indonesia)

A dish featuring a variety of fruit toppings, topped with coconut milk or pandan leaf syrup.

・Ppangbingsu (South Korea)

A classic Korean-style shaved ice dessert featuring Korean kinako powder mix, red beans, and rice cakes atop ice.

・Red Bean Shaved Ice (Hong Kong)

A shaved ice drink featuring plenty of red beans and a generous serving of shaved ice in a glass of Hong Kong-style milk tea.