Doshisha 2020 Electric Shaved Ice Tool Review: fluffy ice at home, with a few catches

I bought this Doshisha 2020 electric shaved ice machine because I was tired of those cheap crunchy snow cone makers that spit out ice gravel. I wanted that soft, fluffy, almost snow-like ice you get in good shave ice shops or in Hawaii. This model kept popping up in videos and forums, so I bit the bullet even though the price is clearly on the high side for what is basically a kitchen gadget.

After a few sessions, I can say it actually does what it promises on texture. The ice that comes out, when you dial the blade correctly, is very fine and fluffy, not chunky cubes. It packs nicely into bowls and holds syrup pretty well, as long as you don’t drown it and then walk away for ten minutes. In terms of result in the bowl, it’s way better than any cheap manual crank machine I’ve used before.

That said, it’s not perfect. You can feel that the machine is designed for people who are ready to fuss a bit: you have to use the included molds or similar blocks, adjust the blade as the ice shrinks, and you really want to think ahead and keep a stash of frozen blocks. It’s not like tossing a handful of ice cubes in and pushing a button. If you’re lazy about prep, this can get annoying pretty fast.

So overall, my first impression is: solid shaved ice quality, but with some quirks and extra steps. If you’re expecting a compact, plug-and-play toy, this will feel bulky and fussy. If you really care about the softness of the ice and don’t mind some prep and storage space, it starts to make sense, even if the price still stings a bit.

This is where things get a bit tricky. The shaved ice quality is good, no question. But when you factor in the price, the plastic build, and the extra costs (like a voltage converter if you’re using a 100V model in a 120V country, and extra molds if you want more than two ice blocks at a time), the value starts to feel a bit borderline. You’re paying a premium mainly for the texture of the ice, not for a luxury build or a complete kit.

On the plus side, if you regularly buy shaved ice outside, this can save money over time. A few summers of heavy use for a family and friends, and you’ve basically covered the cost compared to buying from a shop. The machine doesn’t use a crazy amount of power, and regular ice from your freezer is cheap. Syrups are also inexpensive if you don’t go crazy with fancy brands. So in terms of running cost, it’s low once you own the unit.

On the downside, for the same amount of money, you can get other kitchen appliances that feel more solid and versatile, like a good blender or stand mixer. This machine has one job: shave ice. It does that job well, but if you’re tight on budget or space, it’s hard to justify unless you really care about this specific treat. Also, the fact that extra molds can be pricey is a bit of a slap in the face. Having to pay a lot just to get more plastic cups feels cheap from the brand.

So value-wise, I’d rate it as “pretty solid if you’re serious about shaved ice, just okay if you’re casual”. If you just want occasional icy drinks and don’t care about texture, a cheaper ice crusher or a strong blender might make more sense. If your goal is soft, fluffy shaved ice that’s close to what you get in Hawaii, then the price hurts but is somewhat justified by the results.

The first thing you notice when you pull this out is the size. On paper, 7.48 x 9.06 x 14.96 inches doesn’t sound insane, but on a normal kitchen counter it looks like a small coffee machine or a compact blender with a tall top. If you have a small kitchen or limited storage, this is not something you’ll want to leave out all year. I ended up giving it a dedicated shelf in a pantry because it took too much space around the sink and cutting board area.

The design itself is clearly inspired by the old-school shaved ice machines, which some people will like. It has that vertical body where you clamp the ice block inside and then lower the top. In practice, it’s functional: gravity helps keep the ice against the blade, and the shaved ice falls neatly into your bowl. But it also means the machine is tall and a bit awkward to move around. You need enough vertical clearance under your cabinets, especially when you open the top to insert the ice block.

Controls are very basic: there’s a knob to adjust the blade and a simple on/off. I actually prefer that to a bunch of useless modes. The adjustment knob is the key part: turn it one way for finer flakes, the other way for coarser ice. It takes a few tries to find your sweet spot, and you do have to tweak it as the ice block shrinks. That’s where the design shows its slightly fussy side: it’s not a set-and-forget appliance. You’re basically babysitting the ice for the best texture.

In terms of looks, it’s fine but not premium. It doesn’t feel like a cheap toy, but it also doesn’t look like a high-end metal appliance. If you care a lot about aesthetics, this is more “functional gadget” than “showpiece”. For me, that’s okay: I care more about the ice it produces than how Instagram-friendly it is, but it’s worth mentioning if you’re picky about how your kitchen gear looks on the counter.

Most of the outer body is plastic, and you can feel that right away when you pick it up. At around 2.2 pounds, it’s surprisingly light for the size. That’s nice when you’re moving it in and out of a cabinet, but it also means it doesn’t have that solid, heavy feel of commercial machines. When it’s running, the base stays reasonably stable, but you’ll still want to keep a hand on the machine or position it so it doesn’t slide around on a very smooth counter.

The plastic thickness is decent but not impressive. Some parts, like the top cover and the ice holder area, feel a bit thin for the price. You can tell this is not built like a tank. If you’re gentle and you’re not slamming the lid or forcing the mechanism, it’s fine. I wouldn’t hand this to small kids unsupervised, though, just because the combination of moving blade and light plastic doesn’t scream “indestructible”. The blade itself, though, feels sharp and solid, and that’s what matters most for the actual performance.

Cleaning-wise, the materials are easy enough to wipe down. There are no weird fabric parts or complicated crevices, but you do have to be careful around the blade. I usually unplug it, remove what’s removable, and just wipe the rest with a damp cloth. The plastic doesn’t stain easily from syrups, which is a plus, but I wouldn’t leave sticky syrup splashes on it for days. It’s still plastic, so over time that kind of neglect will make it look tired.

Overall, the materials get the job done but don’t match the price tag. For what you pay, I would have liked thicker plastic or more metal in key structural areas. As long as you treat it as a home appliance and not like a rugged commercial machine, it should hold up, but I wouldn’t say it feels premium. It’s more in the “pretty solid but be a bit careful with it” category.

I’ve used the machine regularly for a few weeks, including one long kids’ party session, and so far nothing has broken or loosened. The motor still sounds the same, the blade adjustment is still smooth, and there are no cracks in the plastic. For normal home use—weekend treats, occasional parties—it seems to cope just fine. It doesn’t feel like it’s on the edge of failing every time you turn it on.

However, you can tell it’s not built for heavy commercial-style abuse. The light plastic housing and relatively thin lid don’t give the impression that this would survive daily all-day use in a shop. If you’re the kind of person who tosses appliances around, slams lids, or stores things badly, I can see this developing issues over time, especially around hinges and moving plastic parts. Treat it gently, and I think it will last a reasonable number of seasons.

The blade is the one part I was watching closely. After several uses, it’s still sharp enough to make fine ice without struggling. I haven’t had to adjust anything beyond the normal knob movement. I do make sure to dry things properly and not leave it sitting in a damp, sticky mess, because moisture plus sugar plus metal is never a good combo. Keeping it clean and dry should help the blade and interior parts last longer.

If I had to sum up the durability feeling: it’s decent, but it doesn’t inspire total confidence like a heavy-duty metal machine would. For home use, a few times a week in summer and occasionally in other seasons, I think it’s fine. I wouldn’t buy it expecting to run a stand with it, and I’d be careful if kids are the main operators. There’s better long-term build quality out there, but usually at a much higher price.

This is the part where the Doshisha machine actually justifies itself. In terms of pure ice quality, it’s very good. When you use the included molds with clear, well-frozen blocks, the machine produces soft, powdery ice that feels close to fresh snow. It’s not crunchy like typical snow cone ice. If you dial the blade fine enough, you can literally scoop it with a spoon and it packs in the bowl like wet snow. That’s exactly what I was looking for.

Speed-wise, it’s much faster than any manual crank I’ve used. For a single serving, you’re talking maybe 20–40 seconds depending on how fine you go and how big you want the portion. For a kids’ party, I was able to keep a steady flow going, but I did end up shaving ice almost non-stop for about an hour. So it’s not slow, but if you’re serving a crowd, be prepared to stand there and work. The motor holds up fine over longer use; it got a bit warm but didn’t smell or feel like it was struggling.

The trick is the blade adjustment. You need to:

• Start a bit coarser so the machine bites into the ice block.
• Gradually tighten (finer) as the block gets smaller.
• Stop and re-adjust if the ice starts coming out in chunks instead of snow.

Once you get the hang of that, the consistency is very stable. If you’re too rough or try to force it, you’ll get uneven texture, but that’s more user error than the machine failing. It’s definitely one of those tools where your technique matters.

The one downside performance-wise is that the ice melts pretty quickly once you pour syrup, simply because it’s so fine. That’s not really the machine’s fault; that’s just how fluffy shaved ice behaves. You need to eat it right away and fill the bowl well. Overall, if your main criteria is “Can it make soft shaved ice like in Hawaii?”, then yes, it handles that part very well.

Out of the box, the Doshisha 2020 shaved ice tool is pretty straightforward. You get the main unit, the adjustable blade system already installed, and two plastic ice cups/molds. That’s it. No fancy extras, no starter syrups, nothing like that. The manual is mostly in Japanese on a lot of versions, but there are enough diagrams that you can figure things out, and there are tons of videos online showing how to use it. Still, for the price, I would have liked clearer multilingual instructions and at least a bit more guidance on recipes and ice prep.

The two ice cups are both a good thing and an annoyance. Good, because they’re the right size and shape to give you those nice cylindrical blocks that the machine handles best. Annoying, because two molds is not much if you’re hosting people. I quickly realized that for a small party, you need a batch system: freeze, pop the block into a zip-top bag, refill the mold, repeat. After one afternoon of doing that, I had a drawer full of ice pucks and things were smoother next time. But that’s planning, not spontaneous.

One important point if you’re in North America: a lot of these units are 100V Japanese models. The listing says 120V, but many buyers, including me, used a voltage converter to be safe. That’s an extra cost and one more box on your counter. The machine doesn’t draw a crazy amount of power in practice, but you still need to think about where you’ll plug it, especially if you already have a bunch of appliances fighting over the same outlet strip.

Overall, in terms of pure presentation, it’s pretty bare-bones: machine + 2 molds. No nonsense, but also nothing that makes you feel like the brand tried to make the experience smoother. You’re paying mainly for the shaving mechanism and the texture it can produce, not for a full kit or fancy packaging or a super polished user guide.