Upscale Kakigori for Beating the Summer Heat

Kakigori, or Japanese shaved ice, is a beloved summer treat across Japan. Kato's Dining Bar at the Hotel New Otani in Akasaka and Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse in Nihonbashi have taken kakigori to the next level with their beautiful, chic reinterpretations of this summer classic. Stop by for a relaxing, refreshing break on a hot day.

Enjoy a shaved ice masterpiece at Kato's Dining & Bar

Known for its upscale kaiseki course meals, Kato's Dining & Bar also hosts a lovely afternoon tea time that features a range of traditional Japanese confections. During the summer months, kakigori is added to the menu for a limited time. Five flavors are offered: matcha, wasanbon, blancmange, strawberry, and melon. Wasanbon is a fine-grained Japanese sugar typically used for sweet-making, and blancmange is a French dessert usually made with milk or cream and flavored with almond. Each kakigori is made from natural ice brought in from Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture, flavored with syrup made by the hotel's patisserie, and topped with a delicate French macaron.

Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse offers an exquisite pairing of matcha and chocolate

MANUFACTURE À TOKYO, the main store of famous Parisian chocolaterie Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse in Japan, was the first of Alain Ducasse's stores to be opened outside France. Both a factory and boutique, it specializes in crafting unique chocolates, sweets, and desserts. In 2018, kakigori was offered on a seasonal basis, and it was such a hit that the "Kakigori Matcha et Chocolat" version will be available again this year from mid-June. Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse creates shaved ice like you've never seen it before: creamy matcha ice cream and rich chocolate are encased in a matcha granita, making for a truly unique and luxurious reinterpretation of this crowd favorite.

Photo by Pierre Monetta

KATO'S DINING & BAR

Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse Manufacture à Tokyo