Enjoy delicious soft-serve ice cream in Hakodate

[Last Update 2025/7/15 ]

Hokkaido produces more than half of Japan’s raw milk and has developed its dairy industry by utilizing its vast land. Because of this, the quality of its dairy products is highly regarded worldwide. Among them, soft-serve ice cream made from fresh, rich milk is one of Hakodate’s signature specialties.

Dairy farming in Hakodate began in southern Hokkaido and remains active today. When you visit Hakodate, you’ll see people enjoying soft-serve ice cream all year round, whether in hot summers or cold winters. Be sure to enjoy its exquisite flavor while you’re there！

Hakodate : Strolling around town × Soft-Serve Ice Cream

Get off at Suehirocho Station on the streetcar and walk up Motomachi Hill, where you’ll find sights full of foreign charm like the Old British Consulate, Motomachi Park, and the Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward. Along the road from the public hall to Hachimanzaka Hill, there are soft-serve ice cream shops offering unique flavors you won’t find anywhere else.

Pick your favourite flavor to take out, and enjoy the rich taste of Hakodate’s soft-serve as you stroll along the cobblestone streets. You can also relax and unwind at Motomachi Park, both are highly recommended.

Hakodate Soft House Motomachi (Kitaoucha)

Address: 14-4 Motomachi, Hakodate City, 1st Floor
Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed:
- April ~ October : Open daily
- November ~ March : Close for winter

At Goryokaku Park, a famous cherry blossom spot, you can also find a popular soft-serve treat. The observation deck of Goryokaku Tower offers a seasonal special called the “Hakodate Sakura Sofuto”

Hakodate locals never miss out on soft-serve ice cream, even in winter!

Many soft-serve shops in Hakodate and nearby areas stay open even during winter. This is because locals love their soft-serve ice cream no matter how cold it gets, even below freezing. While it might surprise visitors from other regions, enjoying cold soft-serve after a warm soak in a hot spring or while relaxing in a heated room is a special and delightful experience. For Hakodate residents, soft-serve is not just a summer treat but a beloved dessert enjoyed throughout the year.

Urban Legends About Soft-Serve Ice Cream

Have you ever heard the saying, “The more delicious the soft-serve ice cream, the faster it melts”? There’s a real reason behind this “urban legend.” The secret is in using fresh milk and no preservatives. That’s exactly what makes Hakodate’s soft-serve ice cream so special.

Made from locally sourced fresh milk and crafted with each shop’s unique recipe, it offers rich and diverse flavors. When you get your soft-serve, be sure to enjoy it immediately at its best. Many shops also offer small spoons, so just ask the staff if you’d like one.

Soft-serve made with fresh milk straight from the farm

The key to delicious soft-serve ice cream is the milk. Most of the milk used in Hakodate’s soft-serve comes from farms in and around the city. The cows are raised healthily in stress-free environments, producing exceptionally tasty milk. Hakodate’s cool summers provide an ideal climate for dairy cows, which prefer cooler conditions, making it perfect for high-quality milk production.

In 1904, the first founder of the Trappist Monastery imported dairy cows from his homeland, France, and began producing cheese and other dairy products. Although dairy farming faced many challenges at first, persistent effort helped it thrive. Over time, milk and dairy products became essential staples on the tables of Hakodate’s residents.

Today, farms in and around Hakodate sell soft-serve ice cream and dairy products made with their own fresh milk. While exploring the area, stopping by these farm-run shops is highly recommended. Enjoy the fresh scent of milk and the great outdoors as you savor a truly delicious treat!

Hakodate Milk Ice 118

Address: 118 Nakano-Cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido
Hours:
- April – June; September – November: 10:00-17:00
- July – August: 10:00-17:30
- December – March: 10:00-16:00
Closed:
- April – November: Open daily
- December – March: Wednesdays
- December 31 – January 1
Official Website (Japanese)

Challenge yourself with unlimited Soft-Serve swirls

In a corner of a residential neighborhood, there is a local soft serve shop. Step inside and you will see a showcase filled with different types of cones such as cups, regular cones, waffle cones, and more. Each comes in a variety of shapes, materials, and sizes, so you can choose what you like best.

After selecting your cone and size, purchase a ticket from the vending machine and give it to the shop owner. You will receive your cone and can move on to the flavor selection. The menu includes classic options like milk, strawberry, mocha, chocolate, and melon, as well as mix flavors you can combine to create your own.

The highlight here is the self-serve style, where you get to swirl your own ice cream. That said, do not overdo it. If your soft serve falls over, it will ruin the experience. Be sure to serve an amount that suits your pace and enjoy!

Best Friend (Hinode Branch)

Address: 12-2 Hinodecho, Hakodate, Hokkaido
Business hours: 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Closed during winter)

Soft Serve in Hakodate with Unique and Diverse Flavours

From classic milk and vanilla to unique local flavors like squid ink and kelp made with ingredients from Hakodate, and even Hokkaido’s signature melon, the variety of soft serve flavors is impressive. With so many options, you might have a hard time choosing just one. After a walk around Hakodate, why not take a moment to unwind with a cold, rich soft serve ice cream?

Yubari Melon Soft Serve Ice Cream

Pumpkin Soft Serve Ice Cream

Kelp Soft Serve Ice Cream

Squid Ink Special Soft Serve Ice Cream

Wine Soft Serve Ice Cream

Chocolate Soft Serve Ice Cream