Soft serve – or sofuto kurīmu as it’s called here – has been a part of Japanese culture since the 1950s, when it first appeared at a Tokyo amusement park and quickly won the hearts (and taste buds) of the country.

Over the years, Japan has turned this cold treat into something close to art: smooth, creamy, and impossibly light.

It’s available just about everywhere – from busy street corners to quiet mountain shrines – in popular flavors like matcha, black sesame, yuzu, and even sweet potato.

But the one flavor that always seems to elude me is coffee. When I do find it, it’s usually by chance – at a small café or a countryside ice cream stand – and it tastes just glorious!

Done right, it’s not too sweet with just the right hint of bitterness, and that unmistakable roasted coffee bean aroma. It’s one of those fleeting Japanese treats I’ll remember long after I’ve left.