A couple's trip in Asakusa. After eating sukiyaki, we stopped by a place called "Nakamata" for dessert. They had ice cream-filled "monaka" which was perfect for dessert after the meal. They had a variety of ice cream flavors to choose from. I went with azuki bean flavor, which was very Japanese and delicious. The combination of crispy monaka shell and ice cream was excellent. The size was perfect for eating on the go.

I visited "Asakusa Chouchin Monaka" in Asakusa, Tokyo for a standing meal. The shop is located on the approach to Sensoji Temple, after passing through Kaminarimon Gate. It was still hot in November, so I decided to take a break and try their Monaka ice cream. Matcha, black sesame, and red bean flavors were available, each priced at 350 yen. While there was nothing particularly special about them, enjoying them in this setting made them taste delicious and enjoyable. The small portion sizes made it easy to finish quickly.

"Ice cream filled in a traditional crispy Monaka shell. You can choose from 6 different ice cream flavors, but I recommend the matcha flavor. After ordering, they place the Monaka on a tray on the counter, so you can take your time to put away your money without feeling rushed."

I was torn between choosing red bean or soybean flour, but ended up buying the soybean flour. Red bean is commonly found in convenience stores, and after taking a bite, I found that the outside was crispy while the ice cream inside was soft and creamy. The black syrup served as a nice accent, making it a delightful monaka ice cream that doesn't get boring even as you eat through it. Definitely a repeat purchase! ✨✨

On Sunday during the Bon festival, at Asakusa's Nakamise Street, it was scorching hot like a endurance contest. The humidity and heat were intense. It was definitely shaved ice time! The plum sauce here looked delicious, but my daughter who loves strawberries chose the strawberry shaved ice. Yes, just a regular shaved ice. But the lady generously poured syrup over it! So happy! And this heat was the perfect spice! Eating regular shaved ice at this timing was revitalizing! We sat on a stone in the shade. This stone, is it a heated floor...?? My butt is hot! But anyway, the shaved ice was incredibly delicious...!

I tried the recommended Chochin Monaka gourmet guide in Asakusa. I chose four flavors: matcha, vanilla, kinako, and black sesame. The atmosphere around the Kaminarimon gate was cute and perfect for Instagram. The generous amount of crispy ice cream inside was appealing. Personally, I found the kinako flavor to be the most delicious.

While strolling around Asakusa and enjoying some food, I tried the recommended Chochin Monaka from a friend. The Monaka was incredibly crispy and delicious. Inside the Monaka, there was ice cream which paired perfectly with it! I definitely want to eat it again.

While walking along Nakamise Street in May 2009, I came across a shop selling ice cream-filled dorayaki (Japanese pancake sandwiches) called "Asakusa Chochin Monaka." I decided to buy the strawberry flavor, which was a seasonal limited edition. They also had a mango cream flavor available. Each dorayaki cost 300 yen. This shop seemed to specialize in ice cream-filled dorayaki, as they only had a small selection of regular dorayaki. The dorayaki had a chouchin (lantern) design on the outer layer. The skin was crispy and the ice cream was delicious, but I thought 300 yen was a bit expensive for this treat. Overall rating at the time of posting: 3.26

After the rain stopped, it was humid and I felt like eating something cold. I bought a pricey chouchin manju and it was delicious. The ice cream and the skin were both tasty with the right amount of sweetness and a crispy texture. Thank you for the meal.

I bought the sakura manju. It was just right being sandwiched in the manju. It was not too sweet and delicious.

Well, well!

After enjoying a refreshing cold matcha drink, I felt like having ice cream or soft serve. As I wandered around Nakamise Street, I came across a unique shop that not only served soft serve but also ice cream. According to the Nakamise website, it is the only specialty shop for "monaka" in the whole country. They offer ice cream monaka that you can enjoy on the spot, as well as monaka with red bean paste that makes a great gift. The ice cream monaka is a modern twist on the nostalgic treat that used to be found in old candy stores. The flavors available are vanilla, matcha, red bean, kinako (roasted soybean flour), black sesame, purple sweet potato, and strawberry, all for 330 yen each. I personally like vanilla, but since I was in Asakusa, I decided to try the red bean flavor! The shop doesn't have seating, so I had to enjoy my treat outside. The ice cream monaka was smaller than I expected, palm-sized, and could probably be eaten in one bite if you try hard enough. The surface of the monaka had the words "chochin monaka" written in a charming font. I took a bite and found the thin crispy shell and the refreshing red bean ice cream quite enjoyable. It was simple and tasty. Personally, I thought a richer ice cream would complement the thin shell better, but perhaps the light flavor is intentional since they operate year-round in this style. Overall, it was a pleasant treat. Next up on my food adventure, I'll replenish with some meat!

While strolling in Asakusa, I found this place towards the end of Nakamise Street. Despite the cold weather, I decided to try their famous Monaka ice cream! I chose the Asakusa Chochin Monaka (Kinako) flavor priced at 330 yen. The size was quite small and the taste was really just average. It felt like a typical tourist spot ice cream with a slightly disappointing flavor. It was delicious, but just too ordinary. Thank you for the meal! ( ´ ▽ ` )ﾉ

I visited the Kaminarimon Gate in Asakusa after a long time. I had a red bean ice cream sandwich for 300 yen at "Asakusa Chochin Monaka" in Nakamise. I had ramen for lunch, so this was definitely the right choice for dessert! The light and crispy outer layer, the red bean ice cream with a refreshing sweetness that's not too heavy. It's delicious! Dorayaki is also delicious, but the ice cream sandwich is also great. Thank you for the meal.

On November 13, 2016, it was a warm day after a long time, so I was in the mood for ice cream. For a snack, I chose a chou-chin monaka ice cream from Nakamise. I was torn between red bean and soybean flour, but in my mind, chou-chin monaka ice cream equals red bean, so I ordered that. The monaka part was light and crispy. The red bean ice cream was soft and fluffy, with a mild sweetness that made it easy to eat. Despite the long line, I was a bit bothered by the fact that only one lady was handling the customer service, making the wait time quite long.

Asakusa, Sensoji Temple, Nakamise Street. It's a bit far from Kaminarimon, towards the end, about a 5-6 minute walk. They have Kinako (soybean flour) ice cream mochi? And also chochin (lantern) mochi? The chochin mochi is shaped like a lantern (Kaminarimon) and filled with ice cream. It's about the size of your palm. The mochi is crispy and delicious! It's crispier than I imagined. This time I chose kinako flavor. There's a marble-like black syrup inside, which adds a nice touch. Without it, it might be a bit bland. The black syrup is not as sweet as regular store-bought ice cream, and it doesn't overpower the kinako flavor. Kinako lovers will be satisfied! They also have other flavors like vanilla, black sesame, matcha, and even sweet potato or maple. There are plenty of ice cream options inside the Asakusa Temple grounds, which is a bonus for ice cream lovers! There was only one lady running the shop. When I was looking at the menu outside, she kindly invited me inside to choose. That makes sense, to not disturb passing customers. Next time I go, I want to try different flavors. But I definitely want to have kinako again. It's a bit small, so you could probably have two.