Blue Seal Ice Cream Okinawa: Why You Need To Try Okinawa’s Most Famous Ice Cream

There are some foods that become permanently linked to a destination in your mind. For us, Blue Seal Ice Cream is Okinawa.

By the end of our family trip, I don’t think a single day had passed without all of us eating at least one Blue Seal scoop. If I’m honest, it was usually two or three scoops! Whether we were exploring Naha, visiting attractions or simply looking for a way to cool down in Okinawa’s heat and humidity, it very quickly became part of our daily routine.

If you’re visiting Okinawa for the first time, here’s everything you need to know about the island’s most famous ice cream.

What Is Blue Seal Ice Cream?

Blue Seal is an ice cream brand that was founded in Okinawa shortly after World War II, in 1948.

It was originally created to serve American military personnel stationed on the island, and in fact when it was first opened the people of Okinawa weren’t allowed to eat the ice cream at all. It was only in 1963 that the operation of the brand was moved to Urasoe City, and the general Okinawan public were able to buy the ice cream for the first time.

Blue Seal ice cream has since become one of Okinawa’s most recognisable food experiences. The quality is exceptional, and what makes it unique is that they manage to blend American-style recipes with traditional Okinawan and Japanese ingredients.

Today you’ll find Blue Seal stores throughout Okinawa, ranging from dedicated ice cream parlours to smaller kiosks and concession stands. It doesn’t matter how big the store you buy it from, we tested so many that I can tell you that the ice cream tastes exactly the same!

At this point I truly believe that trying Blue Seal is just as much a part of an Okinawa trip as visiting Churaumi Aquarium or relaxing on the beach!

Why Is Blue Seal So Popular?

Part of the appeal of Blue Seal ice cream is simply the variety of flavours available. There are over 30 standard flavours that you will find year-round, but there are also seasonal and limited-edition monthly specials available all the time.

Alongside classic flavours such as vanilla and chocolate, Blue Seal is famous for incorporating local Okinawan ingredients into its ice cream. Many of the flavours you can buy in Okinawa can’t easily be found elsewhere in Japan: this is no accident, it helps ensure that visiting Blue Seal is a fun and must-do experience for visitors.

The colourful displays and huge flavour selection also make choosing an ice cream surprisingly difficult. For us, that meant going back again and again to try as many flavours as possible! Plus the retro feel of the stores and the branding only enhance the visual appeal.

Must-Try Blue Seal Flavours

There are over 30 Blue Seal flavours, and between the four of us, we managed to eat almost all of them! Some of our favourite flavours that I would recommend trying, and that I would love to eat again, are:

Beni Imo (Purple Sweet Potato)

This is probably Okinawa’s most famous ice cream flavour. And it’s a flavour you can only get on the islands! Made using Okinawan purple sweet potato, it has a distinctive colour and a sweet, slightly earthy taste that is uniquely Okinawan. The vibrant colour also looks great!

Okinawan Salt Cookies

One of the most popular flavours available, and a personal favourite! I fell in love with Okinawan salt cookies, and they taste even better in ice cream. The combination of creamy ice cream and slightly salty cookie pieces works incredibly well.

Mango Tango

Okinawa is famous for its tropical fruit and the mango flavour is a refreshing choice on a hot day. If you’re looking for something sweet, fruity, and refreshing then this is the best choice.

Blue Wave

This was my boys favourite flavour, and the one I could guarentee they were going to order every single day. It has a signature blue colour, which is the flavour of Japanese ramune soda, and a yellow swirl running through it. The yellow is a tangy pineapple ice cream.

Shikuwasa

Made using Okinawa’s native citrus fruit, shikuwasa offers a light and refreshing option that feels perfect for the island climate. This is almost sorbet-like in its lightness, but still rich and creamy at the same time.

Almond Pistachio

Another one of my favourite flavours. This has a pale green colour and combines the earthy, nutty taste of pistachio with sweeter almost chunks.

Where Can You Find Blue Seal?

Honestly? You can find Blue Seal ice cream almost everywhere. There are 3 stores on the main shopping street in Naha alone!

During our trip we spotted Blue Seal stores throughout Okinawa, including in Naha, shopping areas, tourist attractions and roadside locations. In fact, we spotted one on the roadside on route to Sunset Beach, and the boys got so excited and shouted for us to pull over.

Some of the larger branches offer extensive menus with dozens of flavours, while smaller kiosks typically stock a more limited selection. Part of the fun is simply keeping an eye out for the familiar blue logo while exploring the island.

Blue Seal is such a ubiquitous simple of Okinawa that you can buy Blue Seal souvenirs, t shirts, and other goods in almost every souvenir store.

Is Blue Seal Worth Trying?

Absolutely. Is it the greatest ice cream in the world? With hindsight and objectively, maybe not, but at the time it was the best thing we’d ever tasted! And I still look back and miss some of these rich creamy flavours.

But actually, that’s missing the point.

Blue Seal is part of the Okinawa experience.

Trying local flavours, cooling down after a day of sightseeing and watching your children spend far too long deciding which flavour to choose all become part of the memory of visiting Okinawa.

Final Thoughts and Further Reading

Blue Seal quickly became one of our favourite parts of visiting Okinawa.

The boys loved trying different flavours, we loved discovering some of the more unusual Okinawan options and it became a small tradition that we looked forward to every day.

If you’re visiting Okinawa with kids, I’d strongly recommend making time for at least one Blue Seal stop. And don’t be surprised if one stop quickly turns into daily stops (especially if your kids like ice cream as much as our boys do!)

And before you know it, you’ll be wondering whether you’ve actually spent more money on ice cream than proper meals!

Still planning your Okinawa adventures? Check out more of our guides and reviews to help you make the most of your trip:

👉 Okinawa with Kids: The Ultimate Family Guide (2026)
👉 Things To Do In Naha Okinawa With Kids: Best Family-Friendly Attractions
👉 Where to Stay in Okinawa with Kids: Naha vs Beach Resorts (2026 Guide)
👉 American Village Okinawa With Kids: Is It Worth Adding To Your Itinerary?

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