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Ice manufacturer Shogetsu Himuro is preparing to ship naturally frozen ice from mountain spring water throughout Japan beginning February.
Slowly frozen natural ice from Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, which is finely formed and tastes clean, is popular among fans of shaved ice and whiskey and shochu drinkers who like their drinks served “on the rocks.”
Company president Masao Yoshiara noted that natural ice does not ruin the taste of alcoholic drinks.
It also produces shaved ice that is fluffy and pleasant in the mouth.
On Dec. 22, the company began drawing the spring water to form ice ponds that cover an area of about 1,000 square meters.
Each ice block measures 77 cm by 50 cm and weighs 48 kilograms.
The two ice ponds can produce a total of 4,800 blocks.
Shogetsu Himuro has operated in the Yamakubo district here since 1894.
