In Japan, there has long been a type of Japanese confectionery called “monaka.
The “monaka” is a Japanese confectionery with a crispy crust and a sweet red bean paste that stands out for its elegant sweetness, and has been popular among the Japanese people since ancient times.
The “monaka” has continued to evolve, and in addition to red bean paste, there are now other types such as gyuhi, rice cakes, chocolate, and now ice cream.
I remember that the skin of the “Monaka ice cream” was soft and ripped easily, making it difficult to eat.
However, today’s “Monaka ice cream” can keep its crispy skin for a long time, and its filling has been upgraded as well.
So, in this article, I will give an overview of “Monaka ice cream” , its appealing points, recommended “Monaka ice cream” , and how to enjoy them, including my own experiences.
I hope this will spark your interest in “Monaka ice cream” .
To review, what are “Monaka ice cream”?
“Monaka ice cream” is a traditional Japanese sweet made by sandwiching ice cream in the skin of “monaka,” a traditional Japanese confectionery.
It is characterized by its crispy skin made of glutinous rice, which is a perfect combination with rich ice cream.
In addition to standard flavors such as vanilla, green tea, and red bean, seasonal flavors are also available, making it a popular Japanese sweet that can be easily enjoyed at tourist spots and specialty stores.
How is today’s “Monaka ice cream” different from the old-fashioned “Monaka ice cream”?
The old-fashioned “Monaka ice cream” had a simple structure, but nowadays, there is more attention to detail in the ingredients and manufacturing process.
For example, the composition is adjusted to enhance the flavor of the ice cream, and rice flour is used in the monaka skin to improve the aroma and texture.
In addition, seasonal flavors and high-quality premium products are now available, offering a wide range of choices that can be enjoyed at specialty stores and convenience stores.
Indeed, I thought that today’s “Monaka ice cream” had a crispier skin for a longer period of time compared to the old ones, but I guess they have changed the formula and added rice flour.
Three Attractions of “Monaka ice cream”
I have summarized some of the attractions of “Monaka ice cream” that I find appealing.
Fusion of tradition and innovation
Based on the Japanese confectionery “monaka,” “Monaka ice cream” is a hybrid sweet that combines the coolness of ice cream with the savory flavor of monaka skin.
By replacing the traditional red bean paste with rich vanilla or green tea ice cream sandwiched in between, it is widely favored by young people and foreign tourists alike.
In particular, the combination of the crispy crust made by a long-established Kyoto shop and the creamy ice cream made with Hokkaido milk combines the inheritance of tradition with a modern taste sensation.
Seasonal flavors (cherry blossom, chestnut, coffee, etc.) are also highly valued for their evocation of the Japanese climate.
Multi-layered textures
The textural contrast between the crispy monaka skin and the smooth ice cream is the most distinctive feature.
Tokyo-Ya Confectionery recommends eating it the “way you taste only the ice cream first with a spoon and then nibble on the skin in the second half” to enjoy the changing textures in each bite.
In the Nokyo series of products, the skin made of rice flour is designed to resist crumbling even after freezing and to withstand temperature changes of the ice cream.
In some specialty stores, they are served as baked “Monaka ice cream”, and the temperature difference between hot and cold gives rise to new tastes.
Perfection as a gift
Demand for souvenirs is growing rapidly with an increase in premium products made with an abundance of high-end ingredients.
There is an abundance of products that emphasize value as gifts, such as Michelin-supervised additive-free ice cream, thick ice cream made with vanilla beans from Madagascar and fresh cream with 47% milk fat, and “golden ice cream” sprinkled with gold leaf.
The packaging also pursues convenience for tourists, with a modern twist on Japanese motifs and designs that make it easy to eat and walk around for takeout.
I didn’t know that luxury orientation was progressing in the world of “Monaka ice cream”.
“Monaka ice cream” I recommend
Here are some of the popular “Monaka ice cream” and my recommendations.
My recommendation that you can buy at convenience stores
- Morinaga Choco Monaka Jumbo
- Seven Premium Gold Golden Ice Azuki Monaka
- Fujiya Milky Ice Cream Monaka
Unique and original to Japan
What I recommend
Morinaga Choco Monaka Jumbo
✅ Recommended Points
- The crispy monaka skin is filled with layers of vanilla ice cream and crispy chocolate, creating an appealing contrast in texture.
- It is easily eaten and can be found at convenience stores and supermarkets.
- It has been loved for many years as a classic Japanese ice cream and is recommended for foreign visitors to Japan.
Seven Premium Gold Golden Ice Azuki Monaka
✅ Recommended Points
- A luxurious product with rich azuki bean paste and cream wrapped in a monaka skin.
- The traditional taste of azuki bean paste made from Hokkaido azuki beans and supervised by a Japanese confectionery craftsman is reproduced in ice cream.
- The moist and chewy texture is a perfect match with green tea or sencha green tea, and it is a standard product available nationwide.
Fujiya Milky Ice Cream Monaka
✅ Recommended Points
- The classic condensed milk of “Milky is Mom’s Taste” is made into ice cream.
- The glutinous texture of the monaka is accented with a melted condensed milk sauce.
- The 2025 renewal version features a creamier mouthfeel and is sold exclusively at Seven.
I’ll never forget the shock I felt when I had a Choco Monaka Jumbo for the first time in a long time.
Unique and original to Japan
Tokyo-ya Confectionery “Seasonal Monaka Ice Cream”
✅ Recommended Points
- An original product offered by Tokyo-ya Confectionery in Yamanashi Prefecture, this gem sandwiches homemade ice cream made with rare ingredients from various regions of Japan between crispy middens.
- In addition to the standard Wasanbon sugar and brown sugar, chestnuts, strawberries, cherry blossoms, blueberries, etc. are available seasonally, and feature a gentle sweetness that makes the most of natural flavors.
- The way to enjoy the ice cream is to taste the ice cream with a spoon and then chew the whole midium to enjoy the change in texture.
- The company’s commitment to local ingredients shines through, such as Okinawan brown sugar and free toppings (kinako (soybean flour) and anko (sweet red bean paste)).
Nakatsugawa Ichinose “Japanese Chestnut Monaka Ice Cream”
✅ Recommended Points
- This item uses an abundance of chestnuts, a specialty of Nakatsugawa City, Gifu Prefecture.
- Chestnuts harvested from the company’s own chestnut orchards are combined in three forms (candied chestnuts, coarse chestnuts, and chestnut flour) and kneaded into the ice cream together with white bean paste.
- When heated in the oven for 20 seconds, the aroma of the skin and the melting ice cream enhance the mellow flavor of the chestnuts.
- It is also called “fantastic ice cream” because it depends on the yield of chestnuts, and is popular as a gift as it is a product of cooperation with local farmers.
Higashiyama Ice Monaka “Noto Milk Tailored”
✅ Recommended Points
- This local ice cream is made by a long-established shop in Kanazawa, using raw milk from selected dairy farmers in the Noto Peninsula.
- The rich milk ice cream is wrapped in a crispy monaka, combining traditional local techniques with modern production methods.
- Limited edition flavors such as Kaga-bocha and gold leaf are also available.
- The ice cream is offered in a size that is easy for tourists to eat and walk around, and features a unique Kanazawa experience that can be enjoyed while strolling along Higashiyama Chaya-gai.
At the sweet cafe “Chayu,” in addition to “Monaka ice cream”, there is Mont Blanc ice cream, dorayaki ice cream, and even curry buns, so it’s hard to decide which one to try…
Column: Goldfish scooping at Japanese festival stalls sometimes uses the skin of the monaka.
The “poi” used in “goldfish scooping” found at Japanese festival stalls is sometimes made of the skin of a monaka as well as paper.
The skin of a monaka is thin and light, and when exposed to water, it gradually blisters and tears easily, making it ideal for the game.
It is also environmentally friendly because it is made of natural materials, and it is safe even if it should fall into a pond.
Because they are both easy to use and eco-friendly, they are useful at festival stalls.
I remember when I was little, I was surprised to see the goldfish I had caught at a goldfish scooping stall at my grandfather’s house after a long time, because it had grown into a big fish.
Three ways to enjoy “Monaka ice cream” for foreigners visiting Japan
To enjoy “Monaka ice cream” to its fullest, try these tips:
✅ Two-step tasting experience
The first stage is to taste only the iced part with a wooden spoon, and the second stage is to close the monaka and eat it in one bite while crushing the iced part.
In the first half, you can enjoy the pure flavor of the ice cream, and in the second half, you can enjoy the textural harmony with the crispy monaka.
Tokyo-Ya Confectionery recommends this experiential style, in which the eating process itself is the presentation.
✅ Using the “monaka” as a spoon
Break open the upper part of the “monaka” to scoop out the ice cream and enjoy it together with the softened skin.
This is ideal for those who do not like the crispy texture and prefer a moist texture.
The characteristic feature of this method is that you can enjoy the “transition of flavor over time,” as the flavor of the middle changes with the timing of the melting of the ice cream.
✅ Pairing with coffee
At the downtown cafe “Kamome Roastery Tokyo,” the culture of pairing iced monaka with coffee is well established.
Using vanilla from New Zealand and Kyoto’s long-established of a monaka skin, the bitter taste of coffee and the sweetness of milk ice cream create a synergistic effect.
The appeal of this product is that it can be easily eaten and enjoyed like a hamburger when taken out.
There are many fun ways to enjoy the skin of the monaka, and the bitterness of the coffee and the ice cream of the monaka go well together.
You can easily taste “Monaka ice cream” at home!
You can buy popular “Monaka ice cream” that are only available in certain regions of Japan on Amazon.
In this article, I would like to introduce some of my recommended “Monaka ice cream” that are available on Amazon.
Please take a look at this page to help you choose your favorite “Monaka ice cream”.
If you are interested, check out the following products on Amazon!
Chiyo Chrysanthemum, Round Large Size, Pack of 100 (Taneraku)
It is also a good idea to make your own original “Monaka ice cream” by putting as many of your favorite things on the monaka skin as you like and enjoy it together.
