Where the concierge points people first
- Gelateria Theobroma — The gelato counter of chocolatier Kotaro Tsuchiya's Theobroma, near Yoyogi-Hachiman. Unsurprisingly, the chocolate flavors are the reason to go. (35.6687, 139.6899)
- Premarche Gelateria — A small Naka-Meguro shop with a rotating list built on Japanese seasonal produce, including some flavors that sound odd and turn out not to be. Handy for a walk along the Meguro River. (35.6433, 139.6994)
- Giolitti Cafe Yurakucho — A Tokyo outpost of the historic Roman gelateria, in Yurakucho. The pick for anyone who wants to compare Tokyo's gelato against a Roman benchmark without leaving the Ginza side of town. (35.6744, 139.7638)
- 中村藤吉抹茶本店銀座店 — Nakamura Tokichi, the Uji tea house, in Ginza. Not a gelateria as such, but its matcha sweets and ice are the reference point for how green tea should taste. (35.6833, 139.7500)
The rest of the gelato shops in Tokyo — every one we hold
- Asatte no Gelato (35.7272, 139.7659)
- Bel Amer (35.6714, 139.7659)
- Donatello's (35.6876, 139.7022)
- FLOTO (35.6792, 139.6919)
- Fun Ice (35.6729, 139.6912)
- Gelateria e Cioccolateria Preferita (35.6283, 139.6859)
- Gelateria Italiana Ciao (35.6202, 139.7063)
- Gelato Bravo (35.6468, 139.7030)
- gelato Giannini (ジェラート ジャンニーニ) (35.6357, 139.7055)
- Gelato Mammamia (35.7086, 139.7714)
- I’m mikan (35.7151, 139.7919)
- Kii Stand (35.6821, 139.7646)
- L'ibisco (35.6715, 139.7669)
- Mom and Pop's Gelato (35.6605, 139.7299)
- Premium Mario Gelateria Shinjuku Isetan (35.6915, 139.7042)
- Slow Gelato (35.7161, 139.7663)
- Yayoi Tokyo (35.6461, 139.6705)
- グルグルジェラート 谷中銀座店 (35.7277, 139.7651)
- ジェラテリアアクオリーナ (35.6380, 139.6909)
- マリーズ (35.6909, 139.7927)
- マリオジェラテリア (35.6731, 139.7693)
Japan grades ice cream by law, and the label tells you which grade
Japan's food-labeling rules sort frozen desserts by milk content. Aisu kurīmu (ice cream) must contain at least 15% milk solids including 8% milk fat; aisu miruku needs 10% and 3%; rakuto aisu can have as little as 3% milk solids and is often made with vegetable fat. Gelato is naturally lower in fat than ice cream, so good gelato can legitimately be labeled aisu miruku. It is the rakuto aisu label, on a supermarket tub, that marks the cheap stuff.
Questions people ask
What are the best gelato shops in Tokyo?
Gelateria Theobroma for chocolate, Premarche Gelateria in Naka-Meguro for seasonal Japanese flavors, Giolitti Cafe in Yurakucho for the Roman style, and Nakamura Tokichi in Ginza for matcha.
How can you tell if gelato is made on site?
Look for flat surfaces or covered steel tins rather than tall glossy heaps, and colors that match the fruit: pistachio should be dull greenish-brown, not bright green. A list that changes with the season is another good sign.
How many gelato shops are there in Tokyo?
Num's directory maps 25 gelato shops in Tokyo, clustered around Shibuya, Meguro, Ginza and Yanaka.
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