Japan's ice cream market booms, imports from South Korea triple

As Japan's ice cream market continues to expand, imports of South Korean ice cream have been rising sharply, KOTRA said.

According to the Japan Ice Cream Association, ice cream sales on a manufacturer shipment basis totaled 645.1 billion yen (6.0944 trillion won, about $4.03 billion) for the period from April 2024 through March 2025 — a 6.1 percent increase from the previous year and a record high. A household expenditure survey by Japan's Statistics Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, covering households of two or more people, showed that the ice cream expenditure index stood at 106.1 percent, outpacing the overall food expenditure index of 105.5 percent.

Demand for "winter ice cream" has also taken hold. A key driver has been the wider adoption of open-display showcases at convenience stores and improvements in product placement, making ice cream accessible year-round.

Limited-edition premium products and seasonal menus tied to winter events such as Christmas and Valentine's Day have also fueled the trend, with the concept of "a small luxury unique to this time of year" gaining traction among consumers. The shift is reflected in premium brand sales: Haagen-Dazs posted sales of 55.6 billion yen in 2025, up 13 percent from the previous year, marking a record high for the second consecutive year.

Established long-selling brands are also evolving to ride the premium and experiential trend. Lotte's "Yukimi Daifuku" has found new popularity with a product — Yukimi Daifuku Choco Sakusaku — that adds a crispy texture to the brand's signature chewy rice cake.

New products launched in spring reflect a range of attempts to meet shifting consumer tastes. Lotte introduced its first new brand in a decade, "Asia ni Koishite" ("Falling for Asia"), centering on an Asia travel concept with flavors including brown sugar oolong milk tea, almond tofu and jasmine milk tea. Morinaga's "PARM Peach & Earl Grey" and Meiji's "Essel Super Cup Blueberry Rare Cheese" are among other products blending cafe-style desserts with ice cream.

South Korean ice cream is also spreading rapidly through offline retail channels, including convenience stores and large discount stores. Products with distinctive visuals and concepts — among them Heart Tiramisu, Tteomeokneun Yogurt Ball and Merongba — are on sale at Seven-Eleven, Aeon and other retailers.

Japan imported 1,735 tons of ice cream from South Korea in 2025, a 315.7 percent increase from the previous year and the highest growth rate among all import sources, according to the Japan Ice Cream Association. South Korea ranked second among import countries, behind New Zealand, which led with 3,432 tons.

A representative of a Korean food distributor in Nagoya, identified only as Company N, told KOTRA that inquiries from distributors interested in Korean desserts, including Korean ice cream, have been coming in steadily. "Yoajung has already entered the Nagoya market and is gaining popularity," the representative said.