Shaved ice, a summer tradition, has a long history. It was even counted among the "refined things" ("atenaru mono" [elegant things]) in "The Pillow Book" (kyoto). During the Heian period, ice was a precious commodity only accessible to the nobility. It's quite a treat to cool your sun-heated body with a cool ice cube and reminisce about the time when Sei Shonagon lived. The perfect way to spice up such an elegant moment is with a sip of shaved ice from Shinjiro Ikebukuro Main Branch (1-29-4 Nishi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo), which just opened in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, in May. The shop's shaved ice is characterized by the use of ice from Shogetsu Himuro, a shop in business for four generations. The ice, slowly frozen from spring water from the Nikko Mountains, has the pure, natural flavor you'd expect from natural water, and pairs perfectly with rich syrup.

The mountain of ice changes shape as you slide a spoon through it, maintaining its vibrant color no matter how much you break it. This is because, during the process, syrup is poured over it once, followed by more ice, and then a generous amount of syrup is added at the end. No matter how much you eat, the mountain of ice before your eyes maintains its beautiful color and flavor, and you may even feel a slight sense of awe. This may be evidence that your brain is awakening as the refreshing natural water and the refined sweetness of matcha permeate your body.

You can also add yogurt to any of the menu items, including fresh strawberries and Uji Kintoki (all 900 yen), mangoes and blueberries (all 800 yen), kiwis and yellow peaches (all 700 yen), for an additional 100 yen.

Since natural water is used, only 150 cups are available per day, so if you absolutely want to try one, we recommend lining up before opening!