Shirokuma, a local sweet of Kagoshima Prefecture, is now known as a summer tradition in southern Kyushu, and is characterized by a mountain of shaved ice topped with fruit and other toppings and a generous dollop of sweetened condensed milk. The local sweet "Shirokuma" was invented by the founder Takeshi Kubo in 1947, shortly after the end of World War II, and was first sold in 1949. The name "Shirokuma" comes from the fact that when the shaved ice is viewed from above, the arrangement of the fruits resembles a white bear.

The one Kagoshima dessert that should be on every visitor‘s bucket list is of course the Shirokuma. Creamy shaved ice is topped with fruit and a generous amount of sweetened condensed milk to create an irresistible dessert loved by locals and visitors of all ages. Tenmonkan Mujaki is said to be home to the original Shirokuma, and is very popular among tourists for its fluffy shaved ice and large selection of fruits.

Kagoshima’s climate is warm and with a lot of bright sunny days. This is why locals and tourists alike have taken a great liking of slushes. This dessert place gives its guests an overview of Kagoshima’s vibrant agricultural produce – as fruits, beans, and everything in between combine to create a deliciously satisfying mix of sweet, cool, and candy-sweetness just like a kindergarten coloring book.

Kuroshima (literally “polar bear”) is a shaved ice cone invented by a local restaurant in the city called Tenmonkan Mujaki in 1947. On top of the melt-in-your-mouth shaved ice are sweet condensed milk and fruit like cherries, raisins, Japanese oranges. When is was first invented, it was said that the toppings made it look like a polar bear, hence the name Kuroshima.

It is “Shiro-Kuma(=white bear)” which use homemade milk and fruits. This “Tenmonkan MUJAKI” store created the origin of the classic sweets of Kagoshima, and you can also try here a rich variety such as “Chocolate Shiro-Kuma” and “Pudding Shiro-Kuma ” etc. All of them look very tasty, so it’s hard to choose.

This establishment has been around for at least 72 years and is credited for setting the trend for this popular dessert in the region. The flagship store is located in the shopping district of Kagoshima city center.

Tenmonkan Mujaki in the downtown shopping district is the most famous shirokuma purveyor, though cafes and restaurants throughout the city offer their own versions of the classic dish.

So this was in every single guide of the city, and we decided we’d try. Their main shaved ice is called Shirokuma (or White Bear) and it’s a big one. But let me tell you as a story.

Located at Tenmonkan in downtown Kagoshima, Mujaki is a historic shop under Shirokuma no honke serving kōri shirokuma as Kagoshima specialty. ■ Approximately 9 minute walk