雪塩 国際通本店

This time I visited Kokusai Dori in Okinawa, specifically to check out a locally famous souvenir shop called "Shio-ya." This shop is quite recognizable on Kokusai Dori, and you can often see many tourists standing at the entrance with ice cream in hand. However, I want to point out that the location marked on Google Maps is incorrect; the store is actually next to the Grand Nikko Naha hotel, and the street view on the map is outdated. I suggest that anyone wanting to visit can refer to the actual location I explored this time.

As the name suggests, Shio-ya specializes in "various salts," and the variety is truly surprising. Inside the store, there are all kinds of flavored salts, suitable for sprinkling on grilled meat, pairing with salads, and unique salts infused with flavors like plum powder, citrus, herbs, and matcha. Each type can be smelled or tasted. They even offer desserts and cookies made with these salts, where the sweetness is mellowed by the salt, making it less cloyingly sweet. Personally, I find them more enjoyable than typical Japanese souvenir cookies.

The most interesting item they sell is their vanilla ice cream, which comes with a whole row of small jars of flavored salts for you to use as you wish. You can sprinkle each type of salt on the ice cream to try different flavors. After trying several, my favorites were the citrus salt and matcha salt. The citrus salt adds a refreshing aroma to the ice cream, while the matcha salt provides a subtle tea flavor with a hint of saltiness, complementing the vanilla taste well. The balance of the cold ice cream with a touch of salty sweetness really makes you want to take another scoop.

Overall, Shio-ya is an intriguing and creative little shop, perfect for buying souvenirs or just to experience the combination of ice and salt.