Cross the Honmachi intersection from Inuyama Castle Town, which is crowded with tourists, and go a little further on Inagi Kaido (Inagi Highway), where you will find a pure white square building. Inagi Kaido was a road connecting Nagoya Castle and Inuyama Castle during the Edo period (1603-1867). The building stands out a bit from the surrounding buildings, many of which have a historical appearance.

This is YEH ice cream, an ice cream specialty store that opened in July 2022. There is also a small signboard on the outer wall that says "ICE CREAM".

"YEH ice cream" is a shop where you can taste handmade ice cream that sticks to seasonal ingredients. This time, we asked Mr. Matsuda, the owner, about his commitment to ice cream and recommended flavors.

From a Grocery Store to an Ice Cream Specialty Store,
Impact of COVID-19

YEH ice cream opened in Inuyama in July 2022 and is operated by Mr. and Mrs. Matsuda, who used to run a general store in Nagoya. There was a cafe in one corner of the general store, and it seems that coffee and ice cream were served there.

-Why did you decide to open an ice cream specialty store?

Mr. Matsuda:"The COVID-19 has had a big impact. My lifestyle has changed a lot, and I thought I'd start over again. Also, I used to go overseas to buy general goods, but since the pandemic hit, I can't go there often. My wife and I love ice cream, and when we went to America to buy miscellaneous goods, we used to go to an ice cream shop at least once a day. Since we also sold ice cream at the grocery store, I thought I would try my hand at manufacturing it from scratch and decided to specialize in ice cream.

The glass door in the store is the same as the one in the previous general store. Next door is a children's clothing store run by his wife.

-Please tell us why you chose Inuyama.

Mr. Matsuda: "When I opened the general store, there were many customers who came from Gifu, and I used to live in Minokamo, so I chose Inuyama because I thought it would be easy to come from both Nagoya and Gifu. Even though I run a store as a couple, my wife also does children's clothing. Currently, we basically run this store (YEH ice cream) on weekdays, and the children's clothing store next door is open only on weekends."

Carefully Selected Seasonal Ingredients!
Flavorful Homemade Ice Cream

There are always 10 flavors of ice cream. The flavors change depending on the season.

At YEH ice cream, both ice cream and cones are handmade. The ice cream is basically egg-free, so if you have allergies, you can order it in a cup.

-Tell us about your commitment to ice cream.

Mr. Matsuda: "We are particular about selecting ingredients. We only purchase items that we feel are good in our own hands. We also use seasonal ingredients. We have chestnut kinton ice cream in the fall and winter, and we get the paste from a Japanese confectioner in Yaotsu and knead it into the ice cream. The high proportion of paste makes the flavor of the chestnuts so strong that it is said to be like cold kuri-kinton (Japanese sweets made by chestnut paste). The Earl Grey tea leaves are used in large quantities, so even though it is ice cream, it has a very good aroma and is very popular.

Also, the cycle of making ice cream is one of our specialties. Basically, I'm trying to get rid of it in 3 days. It is said that ice cream does not have an expiration date, but the flavor and aroma of ice cream deteriorate over time. About two days a week I make sure to prepare the ice cream thoroughly, but even if I start working at around 3:00 in the morning, it won't be finished until night. ”

There are two sizes, single and big, and you can choose single, double, or triple.

-What is the best-selling ice cream?

Mr. Matsuda:“Earl Gray and cream cheese are popular items on the regular menu. The cream cheese is kneaded in so much that you wonder if it’s okay to put in so much, and the organic olive oil and black pepper are added to finish. In the past, some people chose triple cream cheese (laughs). We also adjust the taste of our signature milk flavor according to the season, such as using more milk in winter.

-Isn't it difficult to develop a new menu for each seasonal ingredient?

Mr. Matsuda:“Honestly, it is quite difficult. When we served pear ice cream in the past, it was common to use sorbet for pears, but we wanted to serve milk-based ice cream, so we had to go through a lot of trial and error. Pears have a weak taste and easily lose to milk. We made the product over and over again to achieve a balance that would bring out the aroma and taste of the pears."

Original key chain in collaboration with the brand chi-bee

-Is there anything you would like to try in the future?

Mr. Matsuda:“There are many things I want to do. Currently, I am working on opening an online shop and selling ice cakes. When it comes to ice cakes, the major ice cream brands are the mainstream, so I would like to create fashionable ones. I also want to develop new flavors. For example, I think it would be interesting if ice cream that we cannot imagine what it tastes like, such as ume plum and kelp ice cream. There are flavors that I have tried in the U.S. that I would like to incorporate into my own ice cream, so I would like to continue to create a variety of ice cream flavors.

Recommended Flavors

At YEH ice cream, you can always enjoy 10 types of ice cream, including regular and seasonal menus. I got 3 ice creams this time. Also pay attention to the unique naming.

oh,MATCHA

A rich taste that uses plenty of Nishio matcha from Nanzanen. This is a local ice cream made with millet dumplings, a specialty of Inuyama. The moment you put it in your mouth, you can feel the elegant scent of matcha, and it goes perfectly with the chewy texture of millet dumplings and the flavor of mushrooms! You can enjoy matcha and Japanese sweets at the same time, and it is also recommended for tea time.

YEH milk

Luxurious milk ice cream with plenty of high quality fresh cream. The perfect balance with milk gives it a rich flavor with a refreshing aftertaste. It goes well with handmade corn made from rice flour, and it seems that you can eat as much as you want.

Chestnut Kinton (seasonal)

Double YEH milk (bottom) and chestnut kinton (top)

Chestnuts from Yaotsu Town, Gifu Prefecture are carefully pasted by a Japanese confectionery shop. It has a smooth mouthfeel, and you can also feel the warm and gentle sweetness of chestnuts. I'm convinced that it is said to be "cold chestnut kinton"!

Try Out the Seasonal Ingredients
and New Flavors
at YEH ice cream!

YEH ice cream is a shop where you can enjoy exquisite ice cream made with carefully selected seasonal ingredients. It's close to Inuyama Castle Town, so why not stop by when you're sightseeing in Inuyama?

You can enjoy flavors that are perfect not only for summer, but also for winter. Be sure to check out ema'sroom for children's clothing on weekends!