You can find just about anything in Japanese convenience stores, including training gyms, although it's their armory of limited edition sweets and treats that often steal the show. In the past custard pudding-filled Chinese-style buns and pink Kirby meat buns have grabbed a lot of attention, but it's often the bread and ice cream section of Japanese convenience stores that offers the most gluttonous sense of fulfillment. Fortunately a new item bridges those two aisles in one delectable treat---Melon Bread Ice Cream!

If you're not familiar with melon bread (melon pan), it's a type of sweet bun, popular in Japan for it's rocky shape that resembles a cantaloupe. They're made from a rich dough covered in crispy cookie dough, and although the name originally only referred to the aesthetic, in recent years melon flavoring and fragrance have become more popular. There are several varieties which include cream filling and chocolate chips, but the street corner food stands have taken to selling ice cream sandwiches made from the sweet bread to great success. Now Japanese convenience stores Family Mart, Circle K, and Sunkus are taking note, and stocking their ice cream sections with a new vanilla custard ice cream filled melon bread treat.

As you can see, the outside resembles a traditional serving of melon bread, and is even sprinkled with melon bread cookie flakes to give the doughy shell a melon aroma and flavor. Inside is a smooth custard-based vanilla ice cream that feels all too luxurious for 180 yen.

Even in the current cold weather, these are some of the best ice cream treats available at Family Mart, Circle K, and Sunkus, so pick one up today if you have a chance--although it's getting tougher to find them.