[steven]

If we're talking about ice cream consumed at home,then it's my opinion that Japan is a joke when compared to America. You have basically two choices: hagen dazs or cheap brands. I'm sure haagen dazs tastes better than the cheap stuff, but it certainly doesn't justify the price. With that said, if you want to have flavors other than chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry then you'll have to get haagen dazs. Aside from straight ice cream, they have different ice cream snacks such as things resembling dove bars and the like. I used to love ice cream in America and now I hardly ever eat it. I'm sure if I lived in or near a big city I'd have more flavors to choose from, but as it is my perspective is based on the inaka. From what I can tell, people here don't eat ice cream every day at all. It might be something eaten as a snack or dessert after working the rice fields or some special occasion like that, but I don't see people eating ice cream too much here. It should be noted that the sizes of the cartons of ice cream are completely different. I never bought haagen dazs in California because it was too expensive there, too... but regular ice cream cartons were about a half gallon where as the Japanese ice creams that you normally see would probably fit in a coffee cup. If you get off-brand ice cream then they have semi-decent sizes, but you're looking to spend around 400-500 yen I believe. In California it was usually less than $2 for a half gallon. I guess dairy is more expensive in Japan... even though I have a milk factory about a hundred feet from my apartment.

There are also popsicle like things and plenty of them, but again, the variety does't come close to that in America. Although the watermeon popsicles wth chocolate seeds are great!

As far as eating ice cream when you're out goes... lately baskin robins has come about around here and people do like to eat that. I think it's pretty good, but again it's totally over priced (just like it was in America). I'd almost argue that buying Baskin Robins doesn' differ too much from buying Haagen Dazs though! As far as soft serve ice cream goes, Japan is king. In America I've had 3 flavors (not including frozen yogurt): Vanilla, Chocolate, and Vanilla/Chocolate swirl. In Japan I've had ALL kinds of flavors and plan to eat more. I've even had bamboo flavored ice cream!

Has anyone tried the new Black Thunder ice cream by the way? I was actually surpised. The candy is just whatever, but the ice cream was pretty good.