Hello, there. While wandering Ebisu-bashi-suji near Namba, I spotted a little shop selling ice Lollis and popped in. It turned out to be Hokkyoku Café, a proper local favorite. In fact, it was picked as one of Tabelog’s Top 100 in the ice & gelato category in 2023. If you like retro sweets and simple, honest flavors, this place is a lovely little detour.
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Why Hokkyoku stands out
Hokkyoku is a long-established café that opened in 1945. It’s best known for its handmade ice Lollis — crafted one at a time — and for keeping things simple: no unnecessary additives, just a proper old-fashioned treat. In 2023 the shop was even recognized in Tabelog’s “Top 100” for ice and gelato, proving it’s well loved by locals and visitors alike.
Layout
The ground floor is where they sell ice Lollis from a chilled display. The second and third floors are a cozy café serving sweet treats like anmitsu, zenzai and cream soda — perfect if you want to sit down away from the hustle and bustle of the arcade.
What flavors they sell
At the counter you’ll find a simple, nostalgic menu. Prices listed on the day I visited were very reasonable (example prices shown below).
Ice Lollis (on sticks): azuki, milk, cocoa, matcha, pineapple, orange — around ¥190.
Mixed juice — around ¥210.
Lemon, strawberry — around ¥220.
Cup ice cream: milk, mango, hyuganatsu — around ¥350; mixed juice cup about ¥380.
The clever stick — small detail, big difference
One quirky thing about Hokkyoku’s ice Lollis is the stick. Look carefully and you’ll see the wooden stick is inserted at about a 15° angle, not straight. That clever little trick helps spread the weight so the ice doesn’t collapse or drip as easily — which is particularly handy on warm days. The sticks are made from cypress (hinoki) wood, and, amusingly, some regulars keep the sticks to reuse as bath scent sticks!
Tasting notes — what I tried
I opted for the slightly unusual cocoa flavor, while my friend picked the classic milk. These are proper ice Lollis — Hokkyoku freezes them at -24 degrees for two hours, so they’re rock-hard at first. The cocoa was gently sweet rather than overly saccharine, more like a cocoa-flavored candy than a creamy ice-cream. Even as it softened a little in summer heat, the angled stick helped keep the bar tidy and easy to eat.
Getting there
From Namba Station (Exit 1) it’s a 2-minute walk. Enter the arcade and it’s immediately on your left. Super easy to slot into a day of shopping or street-food hopping around Namba.
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