Harajuku and Omotesando are a place for trendy cafe’s, coffee shops and shops. Especially near the Jingumae area of Shibuya.
And there are numerous shops that people line up for nearly an hour just to get a taste of what is being offered.
Near Omotesando Hills and Meiji-Jingu Station is an ice cream shop that you will find a line that extends far, so far that you think it’s for the nearby clothing shops but it’s actually for a shop called ROLL ICE CREAM FACTORY in Shibuya.
I experienced this phenomenon of trendy places around the area, the last was at Rainbow Pancakes. But the line for ROLL ICE CREAM FACTORY still continues and hasn’t died down.
So, why all the hype?
Well, ROLL ICE CREAM FACTORY is a shop that sells rolled ice cream. Popular in New York City that people often visit 10Below Ice Cream, ICE NY, Pink Bear Ice Cream and Steam Rice Roll, Blossom Ice Cream, Roll’n Chill, Juicy Spot Cafe, to name a few.
But in Japan, the concept was introduced at one of the more trendiest locations on the planet.
Image Source: https://rollicecreamfactory.com/
The experience is quick. Select your ice cream flavor, ingredients, toppings and sauce and you are good to go. But because there is a line, you are more than likely tempted to go with the recommended combinations and really, you can’t go wrong with the combinations offered.
They take the ice cream, in melted format and poured into a surface that is 14 degrees F (-10c). They then chop the ingredients into the ice cream and spread it to the surface. Think of it like spreading frosting on a cake. But once everything is spread out, using their spatula, they break apart the ice cream and roll it.
Add the toppings and sauce and it’s good to go.
If I have any advice, prepare to wait in line up to two hours. When I waited, it was 55 minutes. Second, only line up if you are willing to spend as much as a dish you would eat at a restaurant. This is no old school Thrifty’s ice cream where prices are cheap, nor are you going to get big portions for the average price. Last, if you haven’t gone to the bathroom yet before heading out to ROLL ICE CREAM FACTORY, go to the bathroom first (you can use the bathroom at Omotesando Hills shopping center) and then head to ROLL ICE CREAM FACTORY (as there is no bathroom at this establishment).
The other thing is if you are there during the winter, have a good jacket on because it can get very cold (and windy).
The more I waited, the more I started to wonder if the bear image on the sign was similar to the bear Monokuma on “Danganronpa”. But I will return to ROLL ICE CREAM FACTORY when the lines die down a bit and I can take better photos (similar to my experience at Rainbow Pancake).
Anyway, for those willing to take on the line challenge for a taste of ice cream from ROLL ICE CREAM FACTORY, the place opens at 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
