Hirosaki's ice cream specialty store "Soma Ice Cream Shoten" (Kado, Hirosaki, TEL 0172-32-6816) started operations this season on April 8.

The store is nicknamed "Akudo no Ice" and is popular with the locals, and is open only in the summer from April to September. The opening of business in April is known as a tradition to announce the arrival of spring in Hirosaki, and there are many locals who look forward to it.

Kazuo Soma, the owner of the shop, smiles, saying, "I do the same every year." According to Soma, from this season, the price of ice candy products will be raised by 10 yen due to the rise in raw materials due to the influence of typhoons last year and the new manufacturing machinery.

The product lineup includes milk candy (milk, strawberry, melon, matcha, coffee, chocolate, 80 yen or more), azuki candy (90 yen), clinking chilled ice (80 yen ~), milk sorbet (80 yen ~), shake ( From 280 yen, Sunday (280 yen), cup milk ice for takeaway (450 yen), cup sherbet (350 yen).

On the first day of opening, shoppers lined up. It is said that fans of pilgrimage to the holy land of the cartoon "Flying Witch" also visited. "I was in the manga last year after the winter holidays. I still don't know what the reaction will be, but I was surprised to see some fans from Chiba," Soma said.

Business hours are from 8:00 to 18:00.