Japan’s largest ice cream factory is so popular it holds a Willy Wonka-esque lottery to get in.
popsicles
If you don’t know what “nettori” means in Japanese, you definitely will after eating this ice cream.
Used Pikachu Garigari-kun sticks are being bought for over 140 times the cost of a new box of the frozen treats.
Lucky buyers will also score the chance to win a limited-edition collectible Pokémon trading card.
Consider this your treasure map to the wonders hiding in Japanese convenience stores’ cooler cases.
When you’re a little kid, any slightly long object turns into your own personal phone. The remote control, a banana, maybe even a sausage have all served as substitute talking devices for children not quite old enough to have their own fully-functional mobile device. But frozen treats, no matter how perfectly sized, have always been out of reach as a play phone, transforming into a puddle of sticky goo before the purple dragon had his turn to talk. But now you can be the envy of all those 5-year-olds yammering like fools on their pickle phones with the icePhone case that looks like a real crunch bar or popsicle.
In the wake of its limited edition corn soup-flavoured brethren, a new Garigari-kun popsicle is rumoured to be hitting Japan’s freezers any day now. There has yet to be any official announcement from the famous popsicles’ maker Akagi, but one netizen recently spotted what looks like an ad for, of all things, a potato stew-flavoured ice cream. More details after the jump!















Pikachu to cuddle with kimono-clad beauty on Tokyo street as part of flower art event
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan
61-year-old Japanese fisherman falls off boat and defies odds to swim to safety
Police in Japan warn of scam artists posing as cops to collect fines for breaking new bike rules
Day 2 of our quest to visit all the Pokémon manhole covers in Tottori【Photos】
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
We eat 13 of the most highly recommended sushi items at Sushiro and pick the best of the best
I Hate You: Japan’s anime-style mobile romance game starring girls who will never, ever love you
Our top 3 cafes in Azabudai Hills, Tokyo’s newest and possibly swankiest shopping complex
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Injuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flaw
Lawson convenience store at popular tourist site is one of the most unusual in Japan
Japanese trains in Sapporo might be better than those in Tokyo, thanks to one special feature
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
Japanese government wants overseas anime market to roughly triple in 10 years, but are they crazy?
Starbucks Japan releases FIVE new Frappuccinos in a day, and we try them all in 90 minutes
Japanese bento shop sells croquettes for 13 cents, but are they any good?
30 Pikachus want to share a Tokyo hotel room with you that has separate Grass, Water, Fire spaces
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Day 2 of our quest to visit all the Pokémon manhole covers in Tottori【Photos】
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
We eat 13 of the most highly recommended sushi items at Sushiro and pick the best of the best
I Hate You: Japan’s anime-style mobile romance game starring girls who will never, ever love you
Our top 3 cafes in Azabudai Hills, Tokyo’s newest and possibly swankiest shopping complex
Yoshinoya invites you to give the gift of beef bowls this Mother’s Day
‘Parasyte’ opening gets re-animated in the style of the original manga【Video】
Hayao Miyazaki gifts autographed Ghibli anime cel to president of France[Photo]
Kinotake Mother AI developed to study Japan’s divide between chocolate cookie snacks
Learn Japanese through ridiculous manga: Two Piece 【Episode #1】
Learn Japanese through ridiculous manga: Death Vote 【Episode #6】
Upgrade your hairpin arsenal with Japanese kanzashi shaped like samurai swords and rifles
We try a dish from Japan’s Michelin-starred ramen restaurant…at the convenience store!