I didn’t expect a soft serve to steal the show in Takayama. Then I met Cremia Ice Cream. One bite, and hubby and I looked at each other in silence. It was that good. The catch? You can’t find it everywhere. Here’s everything I’ve learnt about tracking it down in Japan.
Our First Taste of Cremia Ice Cream in Takayama
We found it by accident. We were wandering the old streets of Takayama on our Takayama, Shirakawa-go & Gujo Hachiman Day Trip from Nagoya. A random snack and souvenir shop caught our eye, so we ordered the original milk and chocolate swirl.
The texture blew us away. It’s smooth, creamy and rich. It never tips into cloying. It just feels comforting.
The real star? The cone. Cremia skips the usual wafer and uses a French langue de chat cookie cone. It tastes like a crisp, crumbly, buttery biscuit. This really takes regular soft serve to a whole new level. For something from a humble shop, it tasted seriously luxe.
What Makes Cremia Ice Cream So Special?
NISSEI, a Japanese company, makes Cremia as its premium soft serve. The numbers explain the magic:
- 12.5% milk fat – about 50% more than regular soft serve
- 25% fresh cream from Hokkaido
- Langue de chat cookie cone – buttery, crisp and totally addictive
Where to Find Cremia Ice Cream in Japan
Here’s the tricky bit. Cremia has no standalone shops. Independent cafés, restaurants, dessert shops, transit hubs and tourist attractions sell it instead. After Takayama, we didn’t spot it again in Nagoya or Hakuba. Not once.
Check the Official NISSEI Shop List
The best resource I’ve found is the NISSEI Cremia shop finder. It sorts outlets by region. A few caveats:
- It only shows retailers who agreed to appear, so it’s not a complete list.
- The page doesn’t show a last-updated date.
- Always check Google first to confirm the shop still operates.
Search Google Maps in English and Japanese
This remains my top tip. Open Google Maps and search “Cremia” or its Japanese name クレミア. You’ll often uncover outlets the official list misses.
Spot the Poster? Grab the Cone
If you see a Cremia poster outside a shop, don’t hesitate. Buy one. You might not see another for days.
The Best Cremia Ice Cream We Had: Nakamise Shopping Street, Tokyo
On our Tokyo leg, we strolled down Nakamise Shopping Street in Asakusa. Then we saw it. A Cremia poster outside Funawa Patisserie Marche. We practically cheered.
We went straight for the pure chocolate. Deep, indulgent and silky. Paired with that buttery cone, it was perfect. Hands down, it’s the best ice cream we had in Japan.
Expect to pay around ¥650 a cone, but prices vary from shop to shop.
Quick Tips for Your Cremia Hunt
- Search クレミア on Google Maps for better results.
- Cross-check the NISSEI list with recent Google reviews.
- Look out at tourist spots and train stations – vendors love these areas.
- Buy it when you see it. Trust me on this one.
