Blue Seal Ice Cream, Chatan, Okinawa

Classic Okinawan ice cream served in late night diner option

If there are as many dental clinics as there are convenience stores in Japan, one wonders how Okinawan ice cream chain Blue Seal fairs by comparison? (It feels like “Blue Seal” branches are everywhere in these parts.) This branch of Blue Seal Ice Cream is located just off the busy Route 58 in Chatan a few hundred meters from American Village. Why this particular branch of Blue Seal? Well, because it was a bastion of shining lights at a time when nearly everything else in the area seemed to be closed. This was pushing midnight on a Wednesday. In fact, we pulled up to Blue Seal at around 11:30 simply because it was open and we were hungry, tired, and fed of up driving. Even at this late hour, staff didn’t appear to be annoyed as they tried to make ready for closing (although our ice cream cones were served in double quick time - 350 yen). Most of the parking for this branch of Blue Seal is out the back, if we consider the front to be that facing Route 58. This is a fairly large branch which actually has the feel of a diner, with booths by the windows that front the main road. The decor continues with the “diner” vibe with black and white tiled flooring and rich red sofas and chars. At the time of visiting it was myself and travel partner and a group of young Chinese tourists. As well as the usual mad array of ice creams served at any branch of Blue Seal in Okinawa, the branch on Route 58 also has a food menu that includes burgers, hot dogs and pasta dishes. All in, this Blue Seal could serve as a late night (for these parts) food / snack option when everything else is closing. In the dark you can’t miss it for it’s two large, neon-lit ice cream cones on either side of the building. Oh, and as with many shops and services in Okinawa there's one of the photo boards outside of this Blue Seal which you can stick your head into and have you picture taken looking like an ice cream server from the 1950s. As you do. Hours: Sun - Thurs: 10:00 - 24:00 Fri - Sat 10:00 - 25:00 (last orders for hot food from 24:30)