Nikko, an area just less than two hours north of Tokyo on the Limited Express Tobu-railway line, has been famous in Japan for more than a century, providing a respite for cooling off and immersing in nature, during Tokyo's hot and humid summers.

One means for cooling off is ice. During winter, Nikko's good-quality natural mountain spring water and traditional methods are used to make hard, highly transparent ice.

These are preserved, and in June, as the height of summer approaches, Tokyo escapists and other visitors enjoy shaved ice products called "Kakigōri," made with this carefully-chiseled and crafted natural ice. Because of the pure, mineral-rich water, Nikko's Kakigōri is characterized by a soft, delicate, cotton candy-like texture, and subtle sweet flavor.

Currently, only a few traditional purveyors are left in Japan producing and selling natural ice, but there are three in the Nikko area! These are...

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