When you think of a Japanese convenience store, a big-name chain like Lawson, FamilyMart or 7-Eleven might come to mind but for many locals, there’s nothing quite like the charm of a smaller chain like Seicomart. Born in Hokkaido in the ’70s, Seicomart is still predominantly limited to the prefecture, but the chain has also expanded into the mainland of Honshu, with stores in Saitama and Ibaraki prefectures. That’s great news for fans of the chain like our reporter Masanuki Sunakoma, who’s within easy driving distance of a branch in Ibaraki, as he gets to feel like he’s taking a trip to Hokkaido without even leaving the mainland.
The big advantage of visiting a Seicomart is the exclusive products that fly the flag for the northern island of Hokkaido, and on his most recent visit to the chain, Masanuki came across one that’s been causing a stir online. ▼ “Nomu Choco Mint“ “Nomu” means “to drink”, and with this being a choc-mint ice cream-flavored beverage, it’s said to be like drinking an ice cream. Making it even more special is the fact that it contains hakka (Japanese mint) grown in Takinoue, Hokkaido, a town that’s also known as “the village of fragrance” due to its flourishing wood and herb industries.
▼ Takinoue has been cultivating Japanese peppermint for over 100 years and accounts for about 90 percent of the country’s production. Seicomart’s Choco Mint Ice Cream is a cult product loved for its flavor and homegrown heritage, and .
