Too Late for Summer? Shaved Ice Shop Openings Begin in April

Review Co., Ltd. (Osaka City, Chuo Ward / President: Shigeo Fujimoto) conducted an analysis of opening trends and regional patterns for 185 stores nationwide whose names include keywords related to shaved ice, based on nationwide restaurant opening data, ahead of July 25's 'Kakigori Day'.

During summer, popular shaved ice shops often attract long lines, and limited-time menus featuring seasonal fruits become hot topics. Every year, many people visit renowned shops across the country in search of the perfect kakigori.

In recent years, shaved ice has evolved from being seen as simply 'something to eat on a hot day' to a 'summer dessert worth visiting a shop specifically for its unique offering,' with specialty stores now appearing in various regions.

However, when do these shops actually open?

Many people may assume, 'Since it's a summer product, most shops probably open in summer.' Yet, analyzing opening data reveals a slightly different trend.

Peak Openings in July, But 'Summer Preparation' Starts in April

Analysis of opening dates for 185 stores nationwide showed that July had the highest number of openings with 39. This was followed by June with 36 and April with 27.

That July had the most openings is a natural result considering shaved ice is a product with high summer demand. However, the fact that April ranked third in openings was a particularly notable finding in this analysis.

While there's a general perception that shops open 'once it gets hot,' in reality, many stores begin operations as early as spring.

This suggests that shaved ice shops are not opening after summer begins, but are instead making strategic preparations well in advance.

Reasons Behind Opening Before Summer's Peak

Several factors may explain the April opening timing.

The Golden Week holiday period, starting in late April, is a major spring break when many people go out.

Temperatures gradually rise, increasing demand for cold desserts. Opening around this time may aim to attract customers and boost brand awareness before the peak summer season.

Additionally, new stores don't always stabilize operations immediately after opening. Time is needed to fine-tune menus, improve operations, and build positive word-of-mouth.

Therefore, it's reasonable to consider that shops open several months before the busy summer season to establish a solid operational foundation.

This data suggests that shaved ice shop openings are driven not by 'aligning with summer,' but by 'preparing for summer.'

Tokyo Leads, Shaved Ice Shops Spread Nationwide

By prefecture, Tokyo had the highest share at 9.7%, followed by Osaka Prefecture at 7.0%, Chiba and Aichi Prefectures at 6.5% each, and Ibaraki Prefecture at 5.9%.

Tokyo's lead can be attributed not only to its large population and food service market but also to an environment that readily embraces new desserts and specialty stores.

Moreover, the presence of Chiba, Aichi, and even Ibaraki in the top rankings shows that shaved ice shop openings are not limited to urban areas but are spreading across the country.

These results indicate that shaved ice has become a staple summer dessert deeply rooted in various regions, with store expansion progressing in diverse areas.

Timing Behind the Rise of Summer's Popular Shops

A key finding from this analysis was that, contrary to the image of 'summer products opening in summer,' openings actually begin in spring.

Opening a store requires various preparations—not only securing a location and building the shop, but also hiring and training staff, developing menus, and coordinating with suppliers.

Furthermore, it's not guaranteed that a new shop will immediately attract many customers. Time is essential to improve operations through repeated business days and to build local recognition.

The data shows a trend of increasing openings from April, continuing through June and July.

This pattern reflects business owners' strategic approach: rather than starting operations after summer begins, they are systematically building their stores in preparation for the peak season.

For a highly seasonal business, an opening strategy aligned with rising demand may be crucial.

What Data Reveals About Seasonal Business Trends

This survey analyzed the opening dates of stores whose names include 'kakigori,' 'ice shop,' or 'ice confection.'

The results show that even shaved ice shops, which attract attention in summer, begin opening in spring, not summer.

Opening data reflects business owners' decisions on 'when to open.' By analyzing opening timing, we can uncover market dynamics and business strategies behind seasonal products.

Review Co., Ltd. leverages nationwide store and corporate data to provide valuable information for sales activities and market research, while also communicating insights that visualize market changes.

Going forward, we will continue to share industry trends and new discoveries through data analysis.

<Survey Overview>

Target Data: All entries as of June 2026

Target Region: Nationwide

Target Businesses: Stores with 'kakigori,' 'kakigōri,' 'ice shop,' or 'ice confection' in their name

Number of Stores Surveyed: 185 (openings as of June 2026)

Method: Data compiled and aggregated by Review Co., Ltd. based on business opening information from local governments nationwide

Data Notes: Due to varying publication formats and collection methods among government agencies, paper, PDF, Excel, and other sources were independently database-ized. Duplicate entries and inconsistent naming were removed before aggregation.

Analysis Completion Date: Analysis and aggregation completed on July 8, 2026.

◾️ About YOROZU DATA

The data used in this release is provided through 'YOROZU DATA (Yorozu Data),' a data platform operated by Review Co., Ltd.

YOROZU DATA is a database service that allows users to search for store and corporate information nationwide, including restaurants, beauty salons, and pharmacies. It is used for creating sales lists, marketing, market research, and store expansion planning. The restaurant opening data used in this release is also available on YOROZU DATA.

Account registration is free, and users can access needed data at their desired timing.

YOROZU DATA

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[About Review Co., Ltd.]

<Company Name> Review Co., Ltd. (Review)

<Representative> CEO and President Shigeo Fujimoto

<Location>