Cool down with icy and melting Kakigori
Experience sophisticated Kakigori in Nara, where the deity of ice resides
Kakigori, often translated as “shaved ice” in English, is a popular summer sweet in Japan. For many Japanese people, Kakigori, with its vivid colors of green, blue, yellow or red, might be remembered as an essential accompaniment to the summer festivals in their childhood. The Kakigori that exist today, however, have evolved to become something completely different, and this evolution is seen in Nara, another old capital of Japan, with even a longer history than Kyoto.
A 20cm transparent ice cube is set on a special ice shaving machine, and once the machine starts spinning, hundreds of fluffy, cotton-like thin pieces of shaved ice fall into the bowl. The maker then forms the shaved ice into a mountain-like shape and puts a variety of toppings and syrups on the top while adding sweet syrups and fillings, such as fresh fruits, cream or jelly.
In Nara, there are a number of places which serve Kakigori. Every shop employs their utmost ingenuity to create their original and unique Kakigori in an almost limitless combination of fruits, syrups, and fillings. Some look elaborate and elegant, while others, using matcha green tea and anko (sweet bean jam), have a traditional Japanese appearance. Chefs specialized in French or Thai cuisine use their knowledge and skills into forming a Kakigori bowl, and some women who used to be Kakigori fans went on to open their own Kakigori shops.
Creative Kakigori producers are not the only the reason why Nara has become famous for this cool food; there is a historical and
spiritual background, too. In ancient times, people made special storage places where ice which formed naturally in the cold, mountainous areas during the winter season was stored until the following summer. This storage for ice was called “Himuro.”
Large holes were made in the shadowy mountain areas and were covered tightly with thatch or other materials. The temperature inside was kept as low as possible so that ice could be stored for long periods of time across the seasons. In the times when people didn’t have electricity, ice was such a valuable material to keep people cool in the hot season, and only a handful of high-ranking people, including Emperors, were allowed to enjoy this special treat.
You can easily imagine what a serious challenge it was for those who were responsible for keeping the ice “alive” throughout the seasons. The existence of two Himuro Shrines in Nara probably attest to how serious their concern was. One is in Nara Park and the other sits quietly in the mountain of Tenri, and deities are enshrined at both as the protectors of ice. No wonder Kakigori from Nara is special as this Kakigori culture is blessed and protected by the deities!
Nara is home to many world-famous cultural heritages such as the Big Buddha at Todai-ji Temple and the world’s oldest wooden structure of Horyu-ji Temple. And today, Kakigori has become another big reason for many people to visit Nara to enjoy yet
another cultural heritage that tastes sweet and cool.