Hello, travelers!
I’m Nanako, and even in September, the lingering summer heat in Kumamoto has been absolutely sweltering.

Today I’m introducing the perfect spot for these scorching days!
Located in Toyooka, Koshi City, Kumamoto Prefecture,
“Hawaii” (夏威夷 / Natsuii).

That’s right! On a hot day, nothing beats it!
A shop that serves kakigori (Japanese shaved ice) — a classic summer treat loved by both kids and adults alike!

The shop sits on the corner of a busy intersection,
so be a little careful when parking.

There’s a large sign right along the road,
so you definitely won’t miss it.

The parking lot is spacious, with room for about 4–5 cars.

It’s primarily a takeout shop,
but there’s also a cozy eat-in space in front of and beside the store.

It happened to be cloudy on the day I visited,
and they had electric fans running full blast, so it wasn’t too hot outside at all.

Honestly, the temperature was just perfect for enjoying shaved ice.

From this seating area you can also watch cars pass by along the road —
my car-loving son was absolutely delighted!

This is the banner displayed in front of the shop.
As it turns out, this place is something special…

It’s the Japanese branch of a long-established, popular tapioca shop from Taiwan!!
And this is the only location in all of Japan!

You might be thinking, “Wait, why is a tapioca shop being introduced for shaved ice?”
Well, the kakigori at this tapioca shop is absolutely incredible!!

Recommended Menu

Here’s the menu.

First, the tapioca drinks.
The standard L-size at 500 yen comes in 5 varieties:

Strawberry Milk, Mango Milk, Milk Tea, Brown Sugar Matcha Milk, and Taro
The following come in L-size at 450 yen:
Iced Tea, Brown Sugar Milk, and Matcha Milk

You can also choose your cup size, the amount of ice, and the amount of tapioca.

The kakigori prices vary by flavor:
Blueberry and Matcha are 500 yen
Tapi-gori (tapioca shaved ice), Black Tea, Mango, and Strawberry are 450 yen.

The fact that you can choose your cup size and that there’s a student discount is a nice bonus too.

This time, I went with the classic strawberry shaved ice.

Currently, if you follow them on social media, they’ll add a free vanilla ice cream topping —
so of course I followed them on Instagram and got my free scoop! ♪

The shaved ice here doesn’t just come with condensed milk and syrup —
it’s also topped with tapioca pearls and peanuts!

The refreshing syrup, the sweetness of condensed milk, the toasty crunch of peanuts, and the chewy bounce of tapioca all come together —
that cool, luxurious sensation in your mouth is simply irresistible!!

For this price, with this volume and quality —
it’s seriously addictive.

The syrup is rich and flavorful, and even when the ice melts, what’s left tastes like a thick strawberry milkshake!
A shaved ice you can truly enjoy down to the very last drop. ♪

For now, the shop plans to serve both kakigori and tapioca drinks year-round.
And starting in October, they’re planning to introduce hot tapioca drinks as well —
definitely a place you’ll want to visit again and again. ☆

As for me, Nanako, I want to conquer all the other shaved ice flavors before the year ends,
so a return visit is already in the cards! ww

If you’re looking for a uniquely different shaved ice experience,
be sure to head to Hawaii (Natsuii) in Koshi City!!

Frequently Asked Questions

※Information is current as of the time of reporting. Prices and hours may change. Please confirm before visiting.