Fluffy shaved ice that melts like clouds in your mouth – Japan’s wildly popular shaved ice shop makes its Taiwan debut

By the MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team

The super-popular Japanese shaved ice shop “Oishii Kōriya” from Kyushu will open its first overseas branch in Taipei’s Zhongshan District this May. The store will air freight a variety of shaved ice flavors originally sold in Japan, aiming to recreate the authentic taste of traditional Kyushu from Showa 21 (1946).

Oishii Kōriya started as an ice-making factory. Using water sourced from Japan, the ice is stirred for 72 hours to remove air and impurities, then slowly frozen into transparent ice blocks, creating a cloud-like fluffy and smooth texture.

The matcha, red beans, fresh milk, and mascarpone used in the store all come from premium Japanese ingredients, and with the high standards insisted upon by Japanese artisans, it aims to offer the most authentic shaved ice flavors.

The shop is designed with an elegant and simple Japanese aesthetic in pristine white, using natural wood materials that feel like they’ve been directly transported from Kyushu.

The Taiwan branch offers eight shaved ice flavors from the original Kyushu store, including Matcha Mascarpone, Black Sesame Almond Tofu, and Fresh Cream Caramel, all of which are original creations from the Kyushu store. In the future, they will also develop exclusive flavors for Taiwan, such as passion fruit and mango shaved ice.