Himitsudo

Anyone who thinks that traditional Japanese sweet shops are a dying breed should pay a visit to this charming Yanaka eatery, which only opened a couple of years ago. Himitsudo specialises in kakigori shaved-ice desserts, prepared with a traditional handle-operated machine and served with one of 132 ‘secret’ seasonal toppings (the selection changes daily). Even diehard fans might be surprised by some of the concoctions on offer here – pumpkin cream and mango-yogurt are just two of the unorthodox toppings we've come across – and Himitsudo is unusual in that it keeps serving kakigori throughout the colder months too. If you're going during the summer, be warned that the shop is extremely popular, and on busy days customers can expected to be allocated a numbered ticket for entry.