Toriton: Locals love their ice cream made from local ingredients in the Motomachi area
- Exclusive ice cream available only at Toriton, made with Oshima milk and various Oshima ingredients
- There is a huge variety of ice cream flavours
- To continue making lots of delicious ice cream is also good for the island's society
Shima no Ice Cream Toriton(literally The Island’s Ice Cream Toriton), opened on December 2014 in the Motomachi area, which is in the center of Oshima island.
In March 2011, the owner returned to Oshima after the Great Tohoku Earthquake. Upon returning he worked at a farmer’s market near the airport called Buratto House, where he was in charge of making ice cream. After working there for a while, he started thinking about experimenting with all sorts of flavours, and the kids that frequented the market also said they wanted to try different types of ice cream. That’s when he started thinking about opening his own store.
After that, he got himself an ice cream maker at a good price, and also found a space that matched all the criteria he was looking for. That’s when he knew the time was right to open his own ice cream parlor: Toriton.
Exclusive ice cream available only at Toriton, made with Oshima milk and various Oshima ingredients
The owner is really picky about what goes into his ice creams. All his ice creams are made using Oshima milk, made right here on Oshima island, and he tries to use as many local ingredients as he can. He also wants his ice creams to be enjoyed by both locals and tourists alike, so they can discover all the great produce the island has to offer.
Take melon ice cream for example. he has experimented with prince, cantaloupe, yuubari, and other melon varieties, and he ultimately came across a local variety called new melon, which he found works best for melon ice cream. He hopes people will discover this local speciality through his ice creams.
It has a specific aroma that he has not been able to find in any other melon variety. It’s popular with his customers and when he tells them the story behind the flavour, they often ask to see if they can buy this type of new melon to take home. And then there’s passion fruit, another one of the island’s main produce. The ice cream he makes from it is also popular. The owner is happy that he's able to provide a means where people can discover new local ingredients through his ice creams, which in turn leads to them buying the actual produce itself.
There is a huge variety of ice cream flavours
The owner wants his customers to enjoy picking flavours, and when there are many to choose from you can also experiment with different combinations. What’s more, the kids love it. Back in the day there were dagashi shops (shops selling cheap candy) in all regions of Japan. They left everlasting childhood memories. Yet these days there are much fewer places where kids can gather the way we did at the dagashi shops. His hope is that this shop will provide a place for kids and locals alike to hang out.
With such a huge variety to choose from, you can mix and match flavours like the photo to the right.
From top: Ashitaba (a local herb), Anno sweet potato, and strawberry. All 3 flavours were made using locally grown ingredients. The flavour of the ingredients are strong but not overpowering, and as it’s not too sweet, these ice creams are great for people of all ages. DIY toppings for the ice creams are available too.
To continue making lots of delicious ice cream is also good for the island's society
Oshima milk is delivered every day. The owner thinks about the importance of using fresh, reliable ingredients to provide his customers with delicious ice cream.
Information
Access
It takes 12 minutes by car from Okata port
It takes 8 minutes by car from Oshima airport
