As the temperature rises, people are missing "Garigarikun," and on April 30, " Garigarikun Kiwi" went on sale, attracting a lot of attention from consumers. GARIGARIKUN is easy to bite into and leaves a refreshing aftertaste in the mouth. To begin with, how and where is that taste and texture created? Isn't this curious?


... If you're curious, the En-Eat editorial staff will make sure you are. We took a five-hour round trip (yes, five hours round trip!) to the Garigarikun factory in Honjo City, Saitama Prefecture. We went on a field trip to the Garigarikun factory in Honjo, Saitama Prefecture.

Here we are at the Honjo Senbon Sakura "5S" Factory!

It takes about 30 minutes by cab from Honjo Station on the JR Takasaki Line. We arrived at the "Honjo Senbon Sakura '5S' Factory" located in Honjo City. Expectations were high for this new and large facility with Garigarigi-kun decorating the walls. What kind of fun things are waiting for us inside?


Let the factory tour begin!

What surprised me when I saw the inside of the factory was its bright atmosphere. The secret of the brightness is that the entire floor is a "soda blue" color. The company calls this color "Garibi Blue," in reference to the name of the Garigarikun brand. This "Gari Blue" color is also used for the work uniforms of the employees, creating a calm atmosphere.

The tour inside takes about 35 minutes. The tour took about 35 minutes, and we were shown the four stages of ice cream production in order: ice cream mix production, shaved ice production, molding, and packaging and shipping.


This is how Garigarikun is made!

Let me briefly explain the manufacturing process of Garigari-kun. First, the "ice cream mix," which is the source of the "soda blue" color, is produced. After mixing water, sugar, fruit juice, and other ingredients, the mixture is made smooth and pasteurized. The "aging room" is where the tanks are placed to cool the "ice cream mix. Each tank holds 8,000 liters of ice cream mix, enough for about 100,000 bottles of Garigari-kun! And they still have room to add more tanks. We have a feeling that the popularity of "Garigari" will continue to grow!


And there are two types of this "ice cream mix": a "dark-colored" one and a "light-colored" one. Did you notice this when you were eating it? Actually, Galigari-kun has a two-layer structure, and the reason for this is the order in which these two types of "ice cream mixes" are put in.


The first thing to put in the mold is the "light-colored ice cream mix. This is the outer layer of ice cream candy, which is the "shell" that keeps the shape of the skinny boy. Next, the dark-colored ice cream mix is put into the mold. This is mixed with shaved ice to make shaved ice, which is the inner part of the skinny boy. It is "shaved ice," but it does not crumble easily and is easy to eat. The secret behind the texture of GARIGARIKUN is this two-layer structure! It looks like a simple ice cream, but it is actually elaborately made. The reason why it is loved by both children and adults seems to be hidden in such depth.




Once the "Garigariki-kun" shape is made, the ice cream sticks are inserted before hardening. The machine randomly inserts the sticks so that even the employees do not know which ones are the "winners. The ratio of "winners" is also a secret. Well, the En-En-Eating editorial staff is always looking into things when they are curious, and like our 7-hour investigation of the " eyebrowed koala," it looks like we are about to take on another major challenge!


Once the contents are firmly set, they are pulled out of the molds and placed into packages. The factory produces a whopping 2.5 million "GARIGARIKUNE" a day! The factory works around the clock to sort, box, and ship these 2.5 million bottles to consumers throughout Japan. The demand for "Garigarikun" is so great that it is not just a product.



Time for tastings and souvenirs at the end of the tour

The tour concludes with time for tasting, taking pictures, and purchasing souvenirs in the rest hall. The brightly colored illustrations of Garigari-kun and his friends are painted all over the walls, creating a bright and fun space.

Each person can choose their favorite flavor of ice cream for the tasting. I chose "Garigarikun Mikan Sour," which was released in January 2013. So that's how this texture is created. It tasted even better when I ate it while thinking of the manufacturing process. Please read about this flavor in a past En-Eating article.




Don't forget to make a wish after eating. If you write your wish on the "wish stick" and successfully throw it into the mouth of "Garigari-kun Daibutsu," your wish may come true! The company not only pursues good taste, but also a sense of fun. It seems that Akagi Nyugyo's corporate culture is one of the reasons why Garigari-kun has been loved for so long.


In addition, we took a commemorative photo with Garigarikun, tried the "Smell Detection Quiz," and checked out the limited-edition goods at the souvenir shop. It was so much fun! Thank you very much!






GALLIGARIKU was made under thorough hygiene control

What particularly impressed us this time was the thorough cleanliness of the factory. According to the pamphlet, the hygiene management system is "comparable to that of a pharmaceutical company. Indeed, the work clothes covering the entire body and the multiple inspections seemed to leave no room for bacteria or foreign substances to get in. It is thanks to this thorough control that GARIGARIGI-Chan is so delicious and safe to eat. On top of that, it is surprising that the product is still priced at about 60 yen per piece.


In summary, even if reservations are difficult, I'd still like to go there somehow! A place where you can fall in love with "Garigari-kun" even more!

The Honjo Senbon Sakura "5S" Factory is full of fun for both adults and children. The problem is that reservations are not easy to make, but there is a possibility that there will be cancellations. If you are thinking of going, please check the "Availability" on the official website frequently.

Enjoy learning and eating. After a fulfilling tour of the factory, you will surely fall in love with Garigarikun even more!

So, Garigarikun, we look forward to seeing you again this summer! First, get your hands on Garigarikun Kiwi, which goes on sale April 30!