After an hour of being rocked on a boat from Takamatsu port, I reach my goal. Among all the islands of the Seto Inland Sea, Shodoshima Island is a particularly popular tourist destination.

I’m welcomed by the mascot character of Shodoshima Island, “Olive Shima-chan”.

“Step further and you will find what you’re looking for,” I thought I heard it say!

So, I head inside the tourist center.

Ta-dah! This is Shodoshima Island’s local sweet: “Ice cream with extra virgin olive oil”… and a pinch of salt.

Cool, oily… and then they somehow combine! At first, I tasted the ice cream and olive oil separately, but as the ice cream melted in my mouth the combination turned into a superb blend. The salt accentuates the sweetness, and I felt I could get addicted…

Extra virgin olive oil refers to it being like “olive juice” in that it’s made by just pressing the fruit.

Best used unheated, it can of course be enjoyed as a dressing as well as poured on bread, meat, fish or even ice cream, among others.

Of course, it goes without saying that I bought some extra virgin olive oil before returning home.

How about discovering a new way to enjoy olive oil on Shodoshima Island?

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Tonosho Port Tourist Center
Location: 6194-10 Tonosho-cho, Shozu district, Kagawa prefecture
Open: 8:00-18:00 (Cafeteria open until 15:00)
Closed: Open year round
Tel: 0879-62-1666
Setouchi Finder Photo-writer: Izumi Furukawa