Ryupin is a popular shaved ice shop located in Onna Village. Its popularity stems from its overwhelmingly large portions of shaved ice piled high and generous toppings of tropical fruits. This voluminous appearance and the tropical toppings that are so typical of Okinawa have made it famous, attracting attention and even being featured on national television programs.

Its easy accessibility is another key point. Located inside the Onna no Eki Nakayukui Market, it's easy to drop by and perfect for a break during your sightseeing in northern Okinawa. In this article, we'll introduce you to Ryuhyo!

1. Ryuhyo's menu

Let's take a look at the menu right away. At Ryuhyo, you can enjoy "cool sweets" such as tropical juices, smoothie sherbets, and ice cream champuru, centered around "shaved ice" known as Ice Mountain. The signature menu item, Ice Mountain, can be broadly divided into two genres, even though it's simply called "shaved ice."

▲Menu from the time of the interview. Prices have since changed.▲

First up are the fruit-based shaved ice desserts. The menu features a wide variety of tropical fruits as toppings, including mango, pineapple, passion fruit, and strawberries. All the fruits are primarily sourced fresh from local farmers in Okinawa Prefecture (the types and origins of the fruits may vary depending on the season).

Fresh mangoes and strawberries are only available during their harvest season; mangoes are available from around July to September, and strawberries from around December to May.

Another genre is zenzai. But when we say zenzai, we mean "Okinawan zenzai," which is shaved ice topped with red beans and mochi balls. Starting with the classic brown sugar shaved ice zenzai, the menu includes purple sweet potato, taro, jimami (peanuts), and brown sugar syrup and kinako (roasted soybean flour), offering a taste of Okinawa.

1-1. Popular Menu Ranking

Among the fruit-based and zenzai-based options, the most popular is "Tropical Fruit (1,880 yen)".

This luxurious treat features 3 to 4 kinds of fruit, topped with homemade yogurt condensed milk and ice cream. The variety of fruits keeps it interesting, ensuring you won't get bored and can easily finish it all.

Just as popular as tropical fruits, the most popular item during the summer is "Mango (2,980 yen)".

A luxurious shaved ice dessert topped with generous chunks of mango. The refined sweetness of the mango, the sweet and sour taste of the homemade yogurt condensed milk, and the creaminess of the ice cream will soothe your tired body on a hot summer day.

Next, the "Taro & Black Sugar Syrup & Kinako Zenzai (1,100 yen)" remains a perennial favorite.

It enjoys overwhelming support from locals and boasts the number one spot in popularity for "zenzai" (sweet red bean soup) style shaved ice.

Looking at the price alone, I thought, "It's a bit expensive for shaved ice..." but when I saw the shaved ice that arrived, I understood. The mountain of shaved ice was so large that it would take family or friends to share it and finally finish it. In fact, the shop recommends sharing it among 2-3 people.

This generously sized shaved ice actually embodies Ryuhyo's philosophy. Their idea is to create a memorable shaved ice experience, not one where each person eats their own individual serving, but rather one that can be shared and enjoyed by family, loved ones, and friends. This is why they've been serving these heaping portions of shaved ice since the shop opened in 2005.

2. The appearance of the eat-in space

Ryuhyo's shop is located roughly in the middle of the food court outside Onna no Eki Nakayukui Market, to the right of the entrance leading indoors. It's easily recognizable by its tropical exterior, which looks like something you'd find on a Hawaiian beach. The system is that you order your desired menu item at the counter, pay, and then wait for it to be served.

In front of the shop, there is a shared eat-in space at Onna no Eki Nakayukui Market, where you can enjoy shaved ice.

It's thoughtful that there's a space in front of the store where you can dispose of melted shaved ice and spoons.

Here's a little insider tip: the peak time is from 13 PM to 16 PM. Apparently, many customers come for dessert after lunch. If you want to avoid the crowds, it's best to aim for a time other than early afternoon.

By the way, while the shaved ice is certainly delicious, the staff's pleasant service is also one of Ryuhyo's charms. Their cheerful and always-smiling service is highly praised in online reviews. With shaved ice and such uplifting service, your body tired from the Okinawan heat is sure to be refreshed.

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