From March 26 to March 30, 2026, Kyoto will host its first-ever ice cream festival - the Ice Cream Expo "Aipaku Premium KYOTO 2026" at Kyoto Kanzyo-kan "Miyako Messe."
The ice cream expo "Aipaku," beloved nationwide as a paradise for ice cream lovers, makes its debut in Kyoto, a city rich in history and culture. For five special days, the event brings exclusive limited menus and popular regional ice creams available nowhere else, adding even more color to spring in Kyoto. As an upgraded Premium edition, this is a ticketed event with an admission fee (700 yen advance tickets, 800 yen same-day tickets).
A Special Ice Cream Experience in Premium Kyoto
Kyoto is a special city where thousand-year history and the beauty of four seasons breathe together - a place where simply walking soothes the soul.
This event features over 140 types of ice cream from 31 brands, including previously popular shops and rare ice creams only available locally. The ice cream selection was carefully curated by ice cream specialist "Iceman Fukudome" and members of the die-hard ice cream enthusiasts group "Japan Ice Mania Association." They independently selected appealing ice cream menus from across the country. Sales of trending ice creams and event-exclusive menus are also planned. For ice cream lovers, these are five unmissable days immersed in ice cream. Be sure to visit "Miyako Messe" with friends and family. Product details and participating shops will be announced on the official website and social media from February 24 onward.
Enjoy Kyoto Tourism and Events in the Heart of the Ancient Capital
Kyoto, the ancient capital, is Japan's representative tourist city where thousand-year-old streetscapes harmonize with natural beauty that changes with each season. Spring brings cherry blossoms, summer brings fresh greenery, autumn brings fall foliage, and winter brings snowy landscapes - each visit offers different emotions. It's a place where special moments flow, where simply walking through alleys while experiencing traditional culture, cuisine, and crafts soothes the heart. "Miyako Messe," located in Kyoto's Sakyo-ku Okazaki area, serves as a hub where visitors can fully experience Kyoto's charms while connecting tourism with events. Particularly in late March when the event takes place, cherry blossoms bloom along the nearby canal and at Heian Shrine, marking one of the year's most spectacular seasons.
Popular spots including Heian Shrine, Okazaki Park, museums, and the zoo are all within walking distance, offering both Kyoto-esque scenery and lively atmosphere simultaneously. Excellent access from Tozai Line "Higashiyama Station" (approximately 8-minute walk) makes it easy to combine with sightseeing.
About Aipaku Premium
This time, "Aipaku" is powered up as "Aipaku Premium." While maintaining the concept of a "paradise space for ice cream lovers," the content becomes even more substantial:
- Packed with entertainment elements related to ice cream
- Comfortable eat-in space available within the venue
- Admission fee (date-specific): Adults (elementary school age and above) 700 yen (advance tickets), 800 yen (same-day tickets), Seven Ticket advance/same-day common tickets 700 yen, preschool children free
Pursuing a Paradise Space for Ice Cream Lovers
Beyond enjoying carefully selected excellent ice creams from across the country, the event simultaneously hosts "ICECREAM HOLIC," themed around "ice cream you can't eat."
"ICECREAM HOLIC"'s concept is "non-melting magic that colors me." Handmade artists and variety artists sell works themed around ice cream. It's a special event that adds fashion elements to daily life alongside enjoying delicious ice cream.
Recruitment of participating artists, brands, and companies for "ICECREAM HOLIC" is underway. Please contact us regarding entry methods.
◆Take-Out Welcome! Aipaku Original Insulated Bag (with Dry Ice)
At "Aipaku," you can enjoy ice cream at the venue, but for those who want to "take home as souvenirs and eat leisurely at home," original "Aipaku" insulated bags (with dry ice) are sold for take-out. The price is 600 yen (tax included). Perfect as souvenirs for friends and family who couldn't come to the venue together, or for yourself. You can enjoy the "Aipaku" atmosphere at home. Additionally, if you bring your own insulated bag, you can purchase dry ice only (180 yen). Take-out with non-insulated eco-bags is not recommended as it leads to ice cream quality deterioration. Those wishing to take out should purchase insulated bags at the venue or bring insulated bags.
About Japan Ice Mania Association
The Japan Ice Mania Association is an organization that operates to spread the appeal of ice cream and contribute to the development of Japanese ice cream culture and industry. Under the concept "Cool Ice Japan," they also work on regional revitalization through regional ice creams. Centered on successful examinees of the "Ice Mania Certification" test, over 13,500 members belong nationwide (as of 2025), and they develop diverse projects including planning and operating the "Aipaku" event pursuing a paradise space for ice cream lovers, and hosting "Ice Mania Meetings" for tasting new ice creams. Representative Director Iceman Fukudome serves as an ice cream critic, and since the association's founding, together with members, has promoted ice creams throughout Japan.
Official Site: Japan Ice Mania Association: http://www.icemania.jp/
About Iceman Fukudome
Ice Cream Critic / Representative Director of Japan Ice Mania Association. Born in 1973 in Adachi-ku, Tokyo. Consumes over 1,000 types of ice cream annually. Started activities as a convenience store ice cream critic in 2010, later establishing the Japan Ice Mania Association. Presides over "Aipaku," Japan's largest ice cream event, and appears in numerous TV shows and magazines as an ice cream specialist. Also writes columns for ice cream industry papers and authored "Nihon Natsukashi Ice Taizen" (Japan Nostalgic Ice Encyclopedia) published by Tatsumi Publishing, actively working as an "ice cream specialist" across multiple fields.
Event Overview
- Name: Ice Cream Expo "Aipaku Premium KYOTO 2026"
- Dates: March 26 (Thursday) to March 30 (Monday), 2026
- Hours: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (Extended until 7:00 PM on March 27 (Friday) and 28 (Saturday))
- Venue: Kyoto Kanzyo-kan "Miyako Messe"
- Address: 9-1 Okazaki Seisho-ji-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City
- Access: Approximately 8-minute walk from Kyoto Municipal Subway Tozai Line "Higashiyama Station"
Kyoto City Bus Routes 32, 46, etc. "Okazaki Park, Rohm Theatre Kyoto / Miyako Messe" - Admission:
[Date-Specific Advance Tickets] Elementary school age and above: 700 yen
[Date-Specific Seven Ticket Advance/Same-Day Common Tickets] Elementary school age and above: 700 yen
*Also available at "Seven-Eleven" stores on the day
[Same-Day Tickets] Elementary school age and above: 800 yen *Sales only at venue. Cash and cashless payment accepted
*Preschool children accompanied by guardians free. Entry by preschool children alone not permitted.
Purchase tickets at nearby "Seven-Eleven" multi-copy machines for reservation and printing with no handling fee.
https://7ticket.jp/s/113764 (Handling fees apply when purchasing via this URL)
※Exclusive sales on "Seven Ticket" from February 16 (Monday), 2026, 10:00 AM
- Take-out: For those wishing to take ice cream home, "insulated bag + dry ice" sold at venue
- Organizer: "Aipaku Premium KYOTO 2026" Executive Committee
- Planning: Japan Ice Mania Association, Ice Cream Lover Co., Ltd.
*Changes to business days, hours, event content, etc. may occur depending on circumstances. Thank you for your understanding.
Sponsor Company Recruitment Notice
Having established a solid position as Japan's largest ice cream festival, "Aipaku" will again scale up this year for the event. Over five days, this event anticipates 50,000 visitors, centered on F1 layer (women aged 20-34) and F2 layer (women aged 35-49).
Past events saw numerous media interviews and live broadcasts, with endless lines at popular shops. During this waiting time, visitors naturally encounter the large vision screen, enabling effective corporate PR. Furthermore, reaching a combined 450,000 social media followers including Aipaku official accounts and event supervisor Iceman Fukudome, wide-ranging promotional effects are expected.
We hereby recruit sponsor companies to achieve event success and enrich value provision to visitors. Beyond booth exhibitions, we offer diverse sponsorship plans including CM broadcasting on the vision screen, sampling implementation, official website banner placement, and logo display on venue signage panels. Through collaboration with companies across industries beyond just ice cream, we wish to make this event a place of new value creation while providing participants with even more moving experiences.
We respectfully request your agreement with this event's purpose and sponsorship support. Sponsorship funds will be allocated to event operation expenses. Please feel free to contact us regarding details.
Please check the "Aipaku" official website for specific products and overview.
- "Aipaku" Official Site: https://www.i-89.jp
- X: https://x.com/i89fes (Hashtag is #あいぱく)
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/i89jp
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/i89fes
- Online Store "Aipaku" ONLINE: https://www.i-89.shop/
