Hokkaido accounts for approximately 50% of Japan's raw milk production. When you visit Hokkaido, you'll definitely want to try some local ice cream or soft serve. Among them, Sapporo's soft serve, known as a fierce battleground for sweets, is guaranteed to be delicious!

However, when it comes to actually looking for a store, many people probably find themselves overwhelmed by the sheer number of options and don't know where to start.

So, this time, we'll introduce five soft-serve ice cream shops in Sapporo that are worth making a special trip to try.

1. Top 5 Recommended Soft Serve Ice Cream Shops

1-1 BARNES

BARNES is a cozy shop where you can enjoy soft-serve ice cream with a gentle flavor. They use fresh, high-quality milk, so the first bite is very rich and creamy, but the aftertaste is surprisingly refreshing.

Furthermore, the soft serve ice cream served right after opening is said to be the fluffiest and most delicious of the day. The word "fluffy" might give the impression that it melts quickly, but compared to other soft serve ice cream shops, it actually hardens over time and doesn't melt as easily. This is a shop that I would definitely recommend to anyone who wants to enjoy soft serve ice cream slowly.

Soft serve ice cream is available in three cone styles and starts at 350 yen. You can also enjoy monthly changing flavored soft serve ice cream, as well as limited-time items such as rum raisin soft serve ice cream. (Source:Daiji's Cake Buffet Diary）

BARNES

Address: 1-14, Miyanomori 1-jo 11-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo City

Opening hours: 10: 00 to 19: 00

1-2 MILKHOUSE

This soft-serve ice cream shop, hugely popular in Hokkaido, operates under the motto of "providing people-friendly products to customers nationwide." The main ingredient, milk, is said to be Hokkaido's number one milk, produced using a low-temperature pasteurization method at a naturally rich farm near Kiroro Resort, often called the "Switzerland of the East." The flavoring uses vanilla beans from Madagascar and vanilla flavoring from France, and the amount of additives is kept to about one-fifth of the usual amount, resulting in a product renowned for its ability to let you enjoy the natural flavors of the ingredients. (Soft-serve ice cream from 290 yen)

Furthermore, since the MILKHOUSE flagship store is located near the Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, it gets quite crowded on weekends with customers strolling around Maruyama or visiting the museum. If you don't like waiting in line, it might be best to visit on a weekday when it's less crowded.

This soft-serve ice cream, which is also sold online, often sells out during the summer, so it's something you should definitely try if you're in Sapporo. In addition to soft-serve ice cream, they also offer sundaes (400 yen) and a Vanilla Jumbo (470 yen) that is about 30 cm tall from the cone to the top of the cream.

MILKHOUSE Main Store

Address: 2-38, Odori West 17-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo City

Opening hours: 11: 30 to 18: 00

1-3 Mish House

The Fushimi branch of the Mish House flagship store has a gelateria on the first floor and a parfait terrace on the second floor.

At Mish House, a famous specialty shop for handmade ice cream, the pair soft serve ice cream, which features ice cream in one of over 20 flavors and topped with soft serve, is a popular item.

You can choose from two main types of ice cream: ice cream and sorbet. The soft serve ice cream is characterized by its smooth texture and subtle sweetness. The well-balanced soft serve, which is light yet retains the richness of milk, can be enjoyed in combination with the ice cream. (Pair of soft serve ice cream: 460 yen)

Furthermore, the parfait terrace on the second floor, a rarity even nationwide, offers parfaits made with homemade ice cream and all accompanying ingredients, showcasing the shop's dedication to quality. As it's only available here in Sapporo, the shop's recommended raspberry yogurt parfait (880 yen) is definitely a must-try.

Mish House
Address: 2-2-20 Fushimi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo
Opening hours: (Summer season, May onwards) 11:00-18:00
(Winter season from October) 11:00-17:30

1-4 Fujizuki

Fujitsuki, a traditional Japanese confectionery shop, is a popular spot known for its nostalgic-tasting soft-serve ice cream. At first glance, you might wonder, "Can you really get soft-serve ice cream at a Japanese confectionery shop?" But Fujitsuki is popular for its soft-serve ice cream, which is low in fat and has a slightly icy, crunchy texture.

The milk flavor is light and not too sweet, making it a great choice for those who want a refreshing soft-serve ice cream during the hot season (left photo). Equally popular is the coffee flavor (right photo). Its subtle bitterness and sweetness, reminiscent of a café au lait, has garnered many fans. You can also order a mixed flavor, making it perfect for those who want to try both. (Soft serve ice cream: 250 yen)

Fujitsuki

Address: 11-1-1 Shinkotoni Nijo, Kita-ku, Sapporo

Opening hours: 10:00 AM - 18:00 PM (may vary depending on the season)

1-5 Chitose Tsuru Sake Museum

Many of you might be thinking, "Soft serve ice cream at the Chitose Tsuru Sake Museum?" But whether you're a sake lover or not, this "sake lees soft serve ice cream" is something you should try at least once. It's sold at the back left of the Chitose Tsuru Sake Museum.

This soft-serve ice cream is renowned for its addictive combination of the sweet aroma of sake lees and the rich sweetness of milk. Since it contains no alcohol, it's easy to enjoy for drivers and those who don't like alcohol. It's only available here in Sapporo, so why not try it while learning about the history of Hokkaido's local sake? (Sake Lees Soft Serve Ice Cream: 300 yen)

Chitose Tsuru Sake Museum

Address: Chitose Tsuru Sake Museum, 1-1, Minami 3-jo Higashi 5-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo City

Opening hours: 10: 00 to 18: 00

 

2. Behind the Scenes of Sapporo Soft Serve Ice Cream

Hokkaido milk has a reputation for being delicious, doesn't it? The soft-serve ice cream shop I introduced also focuses on milk in its product lineup, but do you know why Hokkaido milk is so tasty?

Holstein cows, the dominant breed of dairy cow in Japan, originate from cool climates, and their optimal growing temperature is said to be between 10 and the low 20s Celsius.Cows primarily feed on grass, and the more fiber they consume, the richer their milk tends to be in fat. This combination of Hokkaido's climate and lush green terrain is said to be ideal, resulting in delicious-tasting milk.

In Sapporo, a fiercely competitive area for sweets, each shop carefully selects milk from cows raised in the great outdoors to make their soft serve ice cream, making it a delightful city for soft serve ice cream fans. While visiting the famous spots is great, it might also be fun to explore Sapporo city to find a shop that you can proudly recommend to your family and friends.

☆Check this out too!
・If you're buying cake in Sapporo, check out these 6 must-visit shops!
・Selected by locals! 7 truly delicious coffee shops in Sapporo
7 of Sapporo's Best Bakeries! Local favorites and hidden gems!
・[My Personal Picks] Six Delicious Sapporo Ramen Restaurants You'll Want to Try While Traveling!

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