Kumamoto’s Cutest Kakigōri Showdown – Eye-Candy Shaved-Ice You Can Taste With Your Eyes
Self-confessed “cute-and-sweet addict” BOWZ goes on a photo-delicious quest to compare two picture-perfect kakigōri (Japanese shaved-ice) creations in Kumamoto. Spoiler: your camera eats first.
Hi, I’m BOWZ—photographer, writer, and unashamed kakigōri maniac. From this month I’m part of the Moe-Bae CUTE creators’ crew, and my mission is simple: track down desserts that make your heart squeal as loudly as your sweet tooth.
Below are three mouth-watering snaps of today’s “eye-candy” contenders.
How’s that?
If you recognised them at a glance, you’re seriously in the know.
Kitchen Lab Muku – Minimalist Fruit Kakigōri
Hidden on a five-way junction corner behind the Udon-no-West noodle shop, Kitchen Lab Muku looks like an unpretentious neighborhood izakaya—
—until you notice the bold “氷” (ice) sign sandwiched between bottles behind the bar.
The chef-owner of Muku believes great ingredients speak for themselves, so his shaved-ice is intentionally stripped back: velvety ice, house-made fruit sauces, nothing else. “Great ingredients need no fuss,” says the chef. He simply pours a handmade sauce over finely shaved ice, and that purity is loved by kids and adults alike.
Twin-flavour heaven
With more than ten sauces, you can even order them ai-gake—two flavours on one mountain of finely shaved ice.
Today I tried the Oishi Wase plum × Kawachi Bankan citrus. Whole-fruit purée, skins and all, gives vivid ruby red and soft sunshine yellow layers.
Oishi Wase’s gentle tartness keeps the spoon moving; Kawachi Bankan adds a bittersweet zing that grows more refreshing with every bite.
Because there’s sauce hidden inside the ice, the flavour stays lively right to the last mouthful. 
All this craftsmanship from just ¥400—unbeatable!
| Name | Kitchen Lab Muku (こだわり家 Kitchen Lab 無垢) |
| Address | 1-48-15 Onoue, Higashi-ku, Kumamoto City (Japanese: 熊本市東区尾ノ上1-48-15) |
| Phone | 096-384-1117 |
| Closed | Mon, Tue and Wed (+ occasional extra days) |
| Hours | Lunch 11:30-14:00 / Dinner 18:00-22:00 (week-night dinner by reservation) |
Sunny Blue – Fresh-Fruit Juices by Day, Creative Kakigōri by Night
Just off fashion-forward Shower-dōri, Sunny Blue doubles as a café-bar famous for fresh-fruit cocktails. In summer it rolls out kakigōri worthy of a fashion shoot.
Kumamoto-grown strawberry-loaded kakigōri
Strawberry is the queen of kakigōri, and this scarlet dome proves it. The owner sources berries direct from farmers and makes a thick, sweet-tart sauce, pouring it three times as he shaves so the ice blushes pink all the way through.
A cap of mascarpone cream sits on top, and hidden inside you’ll find a mix of cereals for extra crunch—think “strawberry shortcake in snow-cone form.”
Rare sweet-potato kakigōri
A Kumamoto-exclusive: roasted satsumaimo puréed into a thick, custardy topping that clings to feather-light ice. Hidden inside are sencha syrup and tender black soybeans, giving an elegant, wagashi-like depth. The staff even bring piping-hot green tea halfway through to warm your palate—an unexpectedly cozy touch.
Layers of sencha syrup and tender black beans add a refined wagashi mood, while the staff bring hot green tea mid-way so the temperature contrast doubles the comfort.
| Name | Sunny Blue (サニーブルー) |
| Address | 1 F, 2-5-12 Shimotori, Kumamoto City (Japanese: 熊本市下通2丁目5-12 1F) |
| Phone | 096-323-7345 |
| Closed | Thursdays |
| Hours | 14:00-24:00 (Sun–Thu) / 14:00-02:00 (Fri, Sat, eves of holidays) |
Insider Tips & Cultural Context
- Kakigōri culture: In Japan, shaved-ice isn’t just a festival treat. Craft shops obsess over ice temperature, razor-sharp blades, and farm-to-glass syrups—more akin to specialty coffee than snow-cones.
- How to order “ai-gake”: At Muku, ask for “so-su no ai-gake de” to split flavours on one mound.
- Why mascarpone, not cream? It holds shape in summer heat, and the slight tang balances sugar—worth copying at home.
Final Takeaway
Whether you crave fruity minimalism or playful mash-ups, Kumamoto’s kakigōri scene goes beyond carnival syrup. Pack your camera, queue a YOASOBI playlist, and let your tastebuds chill out—literally.
The above was translated and adapted from an article on our Japanese-language sister website ALT Kumamoto. For the original content, see the article below!
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