(Photo by Shoji Kudaka/Stripes Okinawa)
It wasn’t until I came across an Instagram post that I learned a famous Hawaiian ice cream brand had made its way to Okinawa last year.
Coconut Glen’s is famous for its coconut milk-based vegan ice cream, earning a spot on the best ice cream list by Condé Nast Traveler in 2014.
Despite the Okinawa branch’s proximity to Araha Beach, I was completely unaware of it every time I’d drive in that area.
Perhaps the exterior of the shop, with its white walls and slight beach shack vibes, blended in too well to expose the creamy delights within.
Another reason why I might not have noticed it is because, like many Okinawans, I’m also not a big ice cream enthusiast. This fact may surprise you, but according to a survey by the Japan Ice Cream Association, among 52 other major cities, Naha residents spent the least amount of money on ice cream last year. About 10,146 yen on average, compared to 16,531 yen spent in 2025 by the leader of the board, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa.
On the rare occasion that I am in the mood for a chilly treat, I usually go to my beloved local franchise Blue Seal.
Despite all of this, I was intrigued by the post about Coconut Glen’s and was intrigued to taste its “new type of vegan ice cream” made with coconut milk and other organic ingredients. The founder, Glenn Simkins, is a former Michelin-star chef, so I was looking forward to tasting something different than the standard dairy-based ice cream.
Planning to enjoy my ice cream near the beach, I parked at Araha Koen and made the short walk up to the ice cream shop.
With a variety of flavors I’d never seen before, including “Lemon & Cherry,” “Lychee Hibiscus,” “Lilikoi,” “Coffee Toffee, “ and Ginger Lemongrass,” I had many options to consider.
The friendly employee explained that I could order up to three flavors at varying prices. One flavor for 600 yen, two flavors for 900 yen, three flavors for 1,200 yen.
Since it was my first time, I was planning to order just one flavor, but I ended up ordering two. I picked “Lemon and Cherry” and “Lilikoi” since they were at the top of the flavor list.
It was my plan to take photos of the ice cream at Araha Beach with coconut trees in the background. To make the food fit in the location, for 300 more yen, I had my ice cream served in a coconut cup.
My order was ready in a few minutes, and I hurried to the beach with a coconut cup in my hand.
After a few quick camera shots, I finally tasted a spoonful and was instantly hooked.
The “Lemon and Cherry” had a restrained sweetness with a touch of bitterness and sourness. “Lilikoi” had a nice mixture of sweetness and sourness. What I liked about both was that they didn’t sit heavy on my stomach at all, perhaps one of the benefits of a non-dairy ice cream.
I dug both flavors, and it took me just about five minutes to finish. As I was enjoying my last scoop, my only regret was not making it a triple.
Coconut Glen’s (Photo by Shoji Kudaka/Stripes Okinawa)
Coconut Glen’s Okinawa | Araha Cafe
GPS coordinates: 26.304590, 127.759617
Hours: Open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Mon. – Fri.), 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (weekends)
AloJapan.com