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Sorry guys, but no more pick-and-mix cups, cones or parfaits of tantalizingly delicious Häagen-Dazs ice cream will be available in Japan as of Friday, the last of the well-known brand’s outlets is scheduled to close up on April 25.

Though you’ll no longer be able mix your favorite flavors into a cup of scrumptiousness at a Häagen-Dazs-branded shop, the purveyor of pleasurable experiences (or so the ads tell us) will continue to sell pre-packaged offerings at convenience stores and supermarkets throughout the country.

So I can still get Häagen-Dazs at the supermarket, what’s the big deal you ask? Well, the brick-and-mortar locations carried flavors and creations not available in off-the-shelf form.

No longer will you able to enjoy the brand’s green tea-flavored ice cream with rice flour dumplings and sweat red bean paste. Hold it! Maybe we’ve discovered the reason they needed to close down!

green tea
Or perhaps it was because purple-fleshed sweet potato (murasaki imo) wasn’t a big seller?

potato
I doubt it. Just because my own palate isn’t sophisticated enough to enjoy such tongue-tantalizing temptations is hardly reason to condemn the Japanese market team at the flavor research lab.

If you want to get your last fix of store-original creamy stuff, head to the brand’s last shop in Shin-urayasu, Chiba, where they are having a cup-of-three-favorites-for-500-yen special through the 25th. For an additional 100 yen you can a whipped cream topping.

Häagen-Dazs will continue to operate a location at the Gotemba Premium Outlet Mall; however, it only sells pre-packaged servings at discounted prices; no sundaes, cones, or other store-only creations are available.

If you need your ice cream in a waffle cone or served with a side of brownies, not to worry; Baskin-Robins, Cold Stone Creamery, Blue Seal, and Ben & Jerry’s are still around and more than happy to provide a fix for your cravings.

Die-hard fans shouldn’t give up hope, however, as other global brands such as Wendy’s and Burger King have all picked up stakes at one point, only to make comebacks a few years later.
[ Read in Japanese ]