Blue Seal is Okinawa’s most iconic and beloved ice cream brand, a cheerful, retro-American institution found across the islands. Originally established in the late 1940s to supply the US military bases, its slogan ‘Born in America, raised in Okinawa’ captures its heritage — a fusion of American-style ice cream with distinctly Okinawan and tropical flavours. Alongside familiar favourites, Blue Seal is famous for local and exotic varieties such as beni-imo (Okinawan purple sweet potato), Okinawa salt cookie, sugar cane, mango, ube, and various tropical fruits, all displayed in colourful array. With its bright, nostalgic 1950s-diner styling, Blue Seal’s shops and parlours are a fun place to cool off, and you’ll spot the brand everywhere from standalone stores and the flagship parlours to supermarkets and Naha Airport. Trying a scoop of a uniquely Okinawan flavour like beni-imo is a tasty, colourful and quintessentially local treat — perfect in the island’s warm climate.
🗓️ At a Glance
| Location | Across Okinawa |
| Hours | Shop/parlour hours (some late) |
| Admission | A few hundred yen per scoop |
| Time needed | A quick treat |
| Best time | Year-round; great in summer |
What to Try
- Uniquely Okinawan flavours like beni-imo purple sweet potato.
- Tropical fruit, sugar cane and Okinawa salt cookie.
- Retro 1950s-American diner styling.
- Parlours, shops and even airport outlets.
Combine Your Visit
- Combine with Kokusai-dori in Naha.
- Pair with sata andagi doughnuts .
- Read our Okinawa overview .
Getting There
- On foot: parlours and shops islandwide.
- In Naha: find parlours along Kokusai-dori and at the airport.
Tips
Try a uniquely Okinawan flavour like beni-imo purple sweet potato, Okinawa salt cookie or sugar cane rather than a standard flavour. Visit one of the retro diner-style parlours for the full experience, it’s a perfect way to cool off in the island heat, and you’ll find outlets everywhere including Kokusai-dori and Naha Airport.
