Tenmonkan Mujaki Main Store

Located in the heart of Kagoshima, the Tenmonkan Mujaki Main Store is famed for creating the beloved shaved ice dessert known as "Shirokuma" since 1949. Named after its bear-like appearance when viewed from above, due to the strategically placed fruit toppings resembling a polar bear's face, this dessert has been a staple in Kagoshima's culinary scene.

Shirokuma is the brand known for freshly shaved ice that melts in your mouth, combined with homemade milk syrup that provides a refreshing sweetness. Find this treat all year-round, not just during summer, along with the other shirokuma fans who can’t get enough of its bright and cheerful look. Prices weight in at 750 yen for the standard version, Shirokuma decorated with cherries, mandarin oranges, and other colorful fruits. The menu also includes 13 variations, such as the Chocolate Shirokuma and the Uji Kintoki, both also priced at 900 yen, which are highly recommended for their rich, bitter chocolate and luxurious use of Uji green tea, respectively.

The Shirokuma comes in a whopping, generous size, approximately 15 cm in diameter and 18 cm in height, making it a challenge for one person to finish. For those who find it a bit too large, there is a smaller version available called the Baby Shirokuma.