We've compiled a list of five unique gelato and ice cream treats found in Okayama Prefecture. From world-class award-winning fragrant wood gelato to ice cream made from tatami mats and adorable animal parfaits, these are special sweets made with rare ingredients and creative methods that you'll want to try at least once.
2025.09.03We'll introduce you to some unique gelato and ice creams we've discovered in Okayama Prefecture that you'll want to try at least once. Our lineup is rich in individuality, from gelato made with unusual ingredients that will have you wondering, "What on earth will it taste like?", to ice cream made with unique methods, and even adorable animal parfaits. Enjoy the special flavors that are only found in Okayama, made using local ingredients and traditional techniques.
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Table of Contents
- 1. Kuromoji Gelato | Gelato Daigozakura(Maniwa City ) - World-class award-winning fragrant wood ice cream
- 2. Igusa Ice Cream | Inoki Tatami Shop(Kurashiki City ) - Soothing ice cream made from tatami mat materials
- 3. Sunflower Seed Gelato | Kasaoka Gelato Workshop happy(Kasaoka City) - Developed in collaboration with high school students
- 4. Animal Gelato Parfait | Misao Farm Gelateria MISAO Main Store(Okayama City) - Adorable Animal Decorations
- 5. SDGs Blended Ice Cream | AOBA ( Okayama City ) - Farm Fresh Ice Cream Shop AOBA - Innovative Technology to Reduce Food Loss
1. Kuromoji Gelato | Gelato Daigozakura(Maniwa City ) - World-class award-winning fragrant wood ice cream
At Gelato Daigozakura in Maniwa City , you can enjoy handmade gelato made with Jersey milk (rich milk from high-quality dairy cows) produced by local dairy farmers. The shop has been gaining attention for its collaboration with various ingredients from Okayama Prefecture.
World-class award-winning fragrant wood gelato
We especially recommend the gelato made with Kuromoji. If you look closely, you'll notice black spots on the gelato. Kuromoji is a fragrant wood (a traditional Japanese fragrant tree) of the Lauraceae family, also known as spicebush, and is harvested in Shinjo Village , next to Maniwa City .
This unique flavor is made by cutting, crushing, roasting, and mixing the leaves of this fragrant tree with rich Jersey milk. The gorgeous aroma of Kuromoji and the rich milk combine to create a taste you will never forget.
This gelato is a masterpiece that won the Asia & Australia Award at the GELATO FESTIVAL WORLD MASTERS World Championships (2021).
Sustainable whey gelato
The store also sells gelato made with whey, a product of the cheese-making process. This was created in collaboration with a cheese factory in Maniwa City. Whey, which was previously often discarded, is put to good use to create a refreshingly sour flavor. This delicious and environmentally friendly gelato also helps reduce food waste.
Okayama Japanese-style collaboration
"Sake Kasu An" is a Japanese-style gelato unique to Okayama , created through a collaboration between bean paste from Fujito Manju Katsuyama in Maniwa City Kurashiki City and sake lees from Tsujimoto, a sake brewery in Katsuyama, Maniwa City. It has a sophisticated sweetness and the aroma of sake lees, making it a taste for adults.
[ Gelato Daigozakura ]
Address: 568-2 Nishikawachi , Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture
TEL: 0867-52-0181 Business hours: 11:00-17:00
Closed: Wednesdays from April to September, Wednesdays to Fridays from March and October to December, Mondays to Fridays from January and February (open on public holidays)
*Please check social media for temporary closures.
Parking: Available
2. Igusa Ice Cream | Inoki Tatami Shop(Kurashiki City ) - Soothing ice cream made from tatami mat materials
Inoki Tatami Shop , located in the historic, retro streets of Tamashima , sells ice cream made with igusa (rush grass), the raw material used to make tatami mats.
A new type of ice cream proposed by a tatami craftsman
This unique ice cream is made at the nearby gelato shop, GELATO OBLATE. It's made by adding powdered rush grass to matcha (a traditional Japanese drink made from powdered green tea). The aroma of rush grass, which is said to have a relaxing effect, fills your mouth, creating a gentle, soothing flavor.
This ice cream is a true experience of Japanese culture, as it uses igusa, a familiar material for tatami mats, as food.
[ Inoki Tatami Shop ]
Address: 2-4-21 Tamashima , Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture
TEL: 086-522-3592
Business hours: 8:00-20:00
Closed: Sundays and public holidays
Parking: Available
3. Sunflower Seed Gelato | Kasaoka Gelato Workshop happy(Kasaoka City) - Developed in collaboration with high school students
Kasaoka Kasaoka Farm Roadside Station is famous for its vast sunflower fields that bloom in the summer.
I heard that there is a gelato created in collaboration with students from Kasaoka Commercial High School's "Kasa SHOP Product Development Team" in honor of sunflowers, so I visited "Kasaoka Gelato Workshop happy."
A new flavor created by young imagination
Alongside the most popular fresh and rich milk gelato and various fruit gelatos, I discovered "Sunflower Seed Gelato"! I tried it in a double flavor (a combination of two flavors) with Setouchi banana flavor.
Roasted edible sunflower seeds are mixed in, giving it a fragrant flavor similar to almonds. It also comes in a cute cup, which makes a great souvenir. All of the gelato is made with milk milked fresh on the farm that morning and is absolutely delicious.
[Kasaoka Gelato Workshop happy ]
Address: 41-3 Kabuto Minami Town , Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture
TEL: 0865-67-7705
Business hours: 10:00-17:30
Closed: New Year's holiday (12/30 - 1/3)
Parking: Available
4. Animal Gelato Parfait | Misao Farm Gelateria MISAO Main Store(Okayama City) - Adorable Animal Decorations
Misao Farm Gelateria MISAO Main Store is popular for its healthy gelato, made without artificial flavorings or colorings using fresh milk from a nearby farm.
A cute parfait that's sure to look great on Instagram
This time, we'll be introducing the adorable "Animal Gelato Parfait." Choose your favorite four types of gelato, and the top one will be decorated with the face of your choice of animal: bear, koala, pig, cow, or rabbit.
This time, I had it decorated with a cow. The gelato inside was a choice of four flavors: roasted sweet potato, blueberry, strawberry, and freshly squeezed milk. It was a luxury to be able to enjoy four flavors at once. Apparently the flavors of gelato on display change depending on the day, so no matter how many times I visit, I always discover something new. It was so cute that it was almost a shame to eat it.
[Misao Farm Gelateria MISAO Main Store ]
Address: 628 Kita-nana-ku, Minami-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture Minami Ward
TEL: 086-362-5542
Business hours: 10:30-17:00
Closed: Mondays from October to April (the following day if Monday is a public holiday)
Parking: Available
5. SDGs Blended Ice Cream | AOBA ( Okayama City ) - Farm Fresh Ice Cream Shop AOBA - Innovative Technology to Reduce Food Loss
" Farm Fresh Ice Cream Shop AOBA" is run by a group company of Okanetsu Kogyo Co., Ltd., a manufacturer of agricultural machinery such as cultivators. With strong ties to farmers and a desire to solve issues such as food waste, the company came up with the idea of making ice cream as a way to make effective use of non-standard vegetables and fruits.
Innovative ice cream production using agricultural technology
This is our original ice cream blender. It uses the power of an agricultural motor to instantly crush even hard-frozen fruit. It's a unique technology that doesn't impair the flavor of the ingredients.
The ice cream is handmade one by one in front of you after receiving an order, so the original flavor and aroma of the ingredients are preserved. The strawberry and banana double that I chose this time was fresh and delicious, with a fun contrast between the crispy texture of the frozen strawberries and the sticky texture of the banana.
Special ingredients that change with the seasons
The shop seems to offer different ingredients from time to time, such as seasonal ingredients and small-batch fruits and vegetables that aren't available in the market, making it a place you'll want to visit again and again. This ice cream shop is committed to the pursuit of deliciousness while being environmentally conscious, truly putting the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) into practice.
[Farm Fresh Ice Cream Shop AOBA ]
Address: 1-15-10 Uchisange , Kita Ward, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture Prefecture
TEL: 086-206-4740
Business hours: Mondays, Thursdays to Sundays, and public holidays: 11:00-19:00, Wednesdays: 11:00-18:00
*Only open from 5:00 to 10:00 on the first Sunday of the Kyobashi Morning Market
Closed: Tuesdays
Parking: Available
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