Here we introduce recommended sweets made with carefully selected ingredients and methods, found in southwestern Okayama Prefecture (Kasaoka City, Ibara City, and Asakuchi City). From gelato directly from farms to ice cream shops that are only open at night, and parfaits and smoothies overflowing with fruit, we present a diverse and unique lineup!
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Okayama Prefecture is located in the Center of Western Japan and is known as the "Land of Sunshine" due to its warm climate and little rain throughout the year. It's conveniently located halfway between famous tourist destinations like Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima! It's also the gateway to Shikoku via the Seto. Okayama is also known as the "Fruit Okayama," and the fruits that are sun-drenched in the warm climate of the Setouchi are of the highest quality in terms of sweetness, aroma, and flavor. You can enjoy seasonal fruits such as white peaches, Muscat grapes, and Pione grapes! Okayama is also home to world-class tourist spots, including Okayama Castle, Okayama Korakuen Garden, one of Japan's three most famous gardens, and Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, which boasts history, culture, and art!
1. Gelateria Luho(Kasaoka City)
With just one sip of the freshly squeezed milk, you'll experience a refreshing taste that isn't too sweet, yet the rich, deep flavor of the milk itself spreads throughout your mouth. The perfect balance of sweetness and tartness, along with the refreshing aroma of the blueberries, harmonizes beautifully with the rich milk, creating an absolutely perfect combination.
Opened in 2023 in a residential area, "Gelateria Luho" is a gelato shop directly operated by a farm in Kasaoka City. The shop is adorned with heartwarming photos of cows, and the cows' numerous awards are also showcased.
They always have about 10 kinds of gelato and sorbet (sherbet) on offer, and the flavors change from time to time. It's also nice that they have refreshing sorbets for those who don't like milk. You can choose between a cone or a cup.
Among the many items on the menu, the recommended item is their signature "Freshly Squeezed Milk." So this time, I chose a double scoop of "Freshly Squeezed Milk" and "Blueberry."
In addition to the outdoor space, there is also an eat-in area inside the store.
[Gelateria Luho ]
Location: 161-3 Takumi-cho, Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture Prefecture
Opening hours: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM *Please check our official Instagram for opening hours during the winter season.
Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Parking: Available
2. Hana Terrace ( Asakuchi City ) - hana terrace（Flower Shop & Café）
hana terrace（Flower Shop & Café）, Asakuchi City , is a flower shop with an attached cafe. It's a stylish space filled with rare varieties of flowers, where you can relax and enjoy the sights.
The cafe space features counter seats facing the wall and a large table in the Chuo. The seating arrangement makes it easy to relax even if you're dining alone.
Here, homemade trifles made with seasonal fruits are very popular. When I visited in early August, they had melon and peach trifles available, and they said that grapes and figs would be featured later.
The dessert I had this time was "Melon Trifle." Fresh melon, a flavorful sorbet made solely from melon, homemade milk ice cream, yogurt cream, moist butter cake, mango sauce, and refreshing mint jelly are beautifully layered together. Each bite offered a changing taste and texture, making it a dish that could be enjoyed without getting bored until the very last bite.
[hana terrace（Flower Shop & Café） ]
Location: 808-1 Kamogata, Kamogata-cho, Asakuchi City Okayama Prefecture
Opening hours: 10:00 - 17:00
Closed on Tuesdays
Parking: Available
3. Suzuka Ice Cream Club(Kasaoka City )
Suzuka Ice Cream Club , which opened in the summer of 2025 at the Kasaoka Shopping Center in Yonbancho, Kasaoka City , is a take-out ice cream shop that is open from evening until late at night.
The shop owner, a huge ice cream lover, has researched trends and local flavors from all over Japan to develop over 15 different menu items. These are all based on their signature fresh milk soft serve ice cream, topped with a variety of colorful toppings.
For example, the menu features a variety of unique items, such as "Condensed Milk Strawberry" made with fresh fruit, the playful "Pachi Pachi," and the popular No. 1 "Oreo."
My recommendation is kiwi. The juicy flesh and refreshing tart sauce go perfectly with the soft serve ice cream.
The shop also has photo spots, so you can quickly take cute pictures. There's a large shared parking lot, so it's also recommended to enjoy your meal in the comfort of your car.
[ Suzuka Ice Cream Club]
Location: 8-7 Okayama Prefecture, Kasaoka City Prefecture
Opening hours: 18:00 - 24:00
Closed on Tuesdays (occasional temporary closures may occur)
Parking: Available
4. Fruit Shop Nishijima(Kasaoka City )
" Fruit Shop Nishijima, " a beloved fruit shop in front of JR Kasaoka Station for four generations, reopened in 2021 with a juice stand, offering fresh fruit drinks unique to a fruit shop. It's also popular for takeout, making it perfect for enjoying on the go.
They offer fresh juices and smoothies made with the most delicious seasonal fruits. When we visited in August, the menu included watermelon juice, peach juice, as well as classic mixed juices and banana juice.
I chose the "Pineapple Coconut Smoothie" this time. The sweet and sour, refreshing taste of pineapple, combined with the sweet aroma of coconut, makes for a drink that perfectly captures the feeling of summer. It made me feel like I was in a tropical paradise.
[ Fruit Shop Nishijima ]
Location: 17-8 Chuo , Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture
Opening hours (juice stand): 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
*The fruit shop is open from 8:30 to 18:00.
Closed on Thursdays and other irregular days.
Parking: Available (1 space)
5. Tokuyama Farm Ice Cream Workshop (Ibara City)
Ibara City's Bisei-cho is known for its beautiful starry skies and abundant nature. You can enjoy handmade gelato made with raw milk from cows raised at Tokuyama Ranch, located on the Bisei Takaharu at an altitude of 400m, at the ice cream workshop on the same premises as the Hoshi no Sato Aozora Market .
The shop offers freshly made gelato every day, using ingredients sourced from Bisei Town and Okayama Prefecture . This time, I had a double scoop of "Milk" and "Peach." The "Peach" flavor contains chunks of frozen peach, offering a luxurious texture. The "Milk" flavor has a clean aftertaste, highlighting the gentle sweetness of the raw milk.
They also have a variety of other playful flavors, making you want to come back again and again.
[Tokuyama Farm Ice Cream Workshop]
Location: 45-1 Nishimizusuna, Bisei-cho, Ibara Ibara City, Okayama Prefecture
Opening hours: 10:00 - 16:00
Closed on Tuesdays (Open only on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays in January and February)
Parking: Available
6. Seaside Cafe Hidamari ( Asakuchi City)
"Hidamari," a seaside cafe located in Yorishima-cho , Asakuchi City, is a cozy cafe that serves lunches and sweets made with locally sourced ingredients.
Recently, a "lemon parfait" made with "Mitsuyama lemons," a specialty product of Asakuchi City, has been attracting attention locally.
This refreshing lemon parfait features a delightful lemon sherbet and fizzy homemade lemonade jelly, allowing you to enjoy a different lemon flavor with every bite. The crisp acidity and just the right amount of sweetness are perfect for beating the summer heat. It was a refreshing treat that could be enjoyed to the very last bite. The lemon parfait will be available until this year's supply runs out.
You can also enjoy seasonal sweets such as shaved ice made with peach compote.
[Seaside Cafe Hidamari]
Location: 398-4 Okayama Prefecture Asakuchi City, Okayama Prefecture
Opening hours: Weekdays 10:00-16:00, Saturdays and Sundays 11:00-16:00
Closed on: Mondays, Thursdays, and the second Sunday of each month
Parking: Available
Win amazing prizes in our digital stamp rally!
The six shops introduced here are also participating locations in the currently running "Gurutto Ikasa Digital Stamp Rally 2026".
This event involves using your smartphone to visit designated spots in the Ikasa region (Kasaoka, Ibara, Asakuchi, Satosho, and Yakage areas) and collecting digital stamps for a chance to win local specialties and other fantastic prizes. You can enter the drawing with just three stamps, and the more stamps you collect, the better the prizes you can win.
Event period: August 1st (Sat) - October 31st (Sat), 2026
Enjoy a sweets tour while collecting stamps on your smartphone and be sure to enter the raffle. Why not make your summer and autumn drive through the Ikasa area even more enjoyable with some delicious sweets?
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