Hokkaido souvenirs, especially sweets, are constantly being updated with new products, and they're all delicious, so it's hard to decide which one to buy!

In times like these, why not go back to basics and choose some nostalgic Hokkaido sweets?
So this time

(1) Sold for over 30 years
(2) They advertise on television, radio, and in newspapers throughout Hokkaido.
I've gathered together some famous Hokkaido sweets that meet the following criteria as closely as possible.

<Table of Contents>
1. Old Man of the Mountain
2. Northman
3. Shiroi Koibito (White Lover)
4. Marron Colon
5. Marusei Butter Sandwich
6. Great Plains
7. Asahi Bean
8. Wakasaimo
9. Kusataro
10. Yoitomake
11. Scaled Dumpling
12. Trappist Cookies
13. Introducing traditional yokan (sweet bean jelly) from long-established shops.
13-1. Gokatteya Yokan
13-2. Mitsuishi Yokan
13-3. Shibetsu Yokan (sweet bean jelly)
Summary

First up is "Yama Oyaji" from the long-established Sapporo shop, Senshuan.

The jingle that begins with "Here he comes, the old mountain man..." is famous and known by virtually every resident of Hokkaido.

These rice crackers are printed with a cute image of a bear carrying a salmon tied to a bamboo leaf while skiing.
It may look hard at first glance, but it breaks easily with a crisp, crunchy texture.

The gentle flavors of butter and milk are so delicious that you'll want more, and it's a treat we recommend to everyone.

5-pack: 280 yen (tax included), 10-pack (2 packs of 5): 740 yen (tax included), etc.

Click here for details.

Another of Senshuan's signature works is "Northman".

This is a pastry made with smooth red bean paste from Hokkaido-grown adzuki beans, wrapped in pastry.
The pie is quite moist. The red bean paste has a moderate sweetness.

While it may seem like a rather unremarkable souvenir from Hokkaido, its understated nature is precisely what makes it so versatile. It has earned immense trust from the people of Hokkaido as a confectionary that is sure to please anyone, anytime.

1 piece: 162 yen (tax included)

Click here for details.

This is the quintessential Hokkaido souvenir!

Photo by Wikipedia/small wing

"Shiroi Koibito" is a confection consisting of langue de chat cookies generously filled with white chocolate.
When it was first released, it was only sold in Hokkaido, but now it can be purchased at local product exhibitions and through mail order.

Even though I didn't eat it all the time when I lived in Hokkaido, I feel a wave of nostalgia whenever I receive it as a souvenir now that I live away from Hokkaido. I wonder if that's because of the TV and radio commercials?

From Ishiya Confectionery's official YouTube channel

Regardless of what the locals might say, "Shiroi Koibito" is a masterpiece with an exquisite balance of cookie and white chocolate, and just the right size for each piece!

9 pieces, 576 yen (tax included)

Click here for details.

"Marron Colon" is the signature product of "Amatou," a long-established shop in Otaru founded in 4.

Three layers of shortbread cookies are stacked together, and the sides are coated with cream.
The main ingredients are almond, cheese, cocoa, and walnut, but there are also a wide variety of other flavors such as matcha, black tea, and strawberry.

Since it's made up of three layers of shortbread, it's a bit tough to break by hand, but it has a crispy yet soft texture and an overall light taste.

The perfect size for when you want to enjoy a leisurely tea time.
The retro feel of the packaging design is also very characteristic of Otaru.

1 piece: 195 yen (tax included)

Click here for details.

Photo by Wikipedia/Dddeco

This is another absolute classic Hokkaido souvenir. It's a famous Hokkaido confection that rivals "Shiroi Koibito" in popularity.
Because their store locations are limited to certain areas, this is a sweets shop that people in Hokkaido would be happy to receive as a gift.

While "Shiroi Koibito" has a light feel, Rokkatei's "Marusei Butter Sandwich" is heavy in both taste and quantity, as it adds butter and raisins to white chocolate.

While primarily sold only within Hokkaido, it can also be purchased through mail order.
In 2016, a sister product, Marusei Butter Cake, went on sale and is also gaining popularity.

4 pieces for 500 yen (tax included), 10 pieces for 1300 yen (tax included), etc.

Online shopping site

This is another confection from Rokkatei in Obihiro. The name and packaging are Japanese-style, but it's actually a madeleine.
These round madeleines are made with plenty of butter from Hokkaido.

The dough is moist, and it's a simple baked good with a light texture despite the rich buttery flavor, but apparently it took more than two years to perfect.

I absolutely love this snack, but it seems to be overshadowed by other products and isn't as well-known as it could be. I really hope it becomes more popular!

4 pieces for 500 yen (tax included), 12 pieces for 1700 yen (tax included), etc.

Online shopping site

When it comes to famous sweets from Asahikawa, it's "Asahi Mame" from Kyosei.

This is a bean snack made with soybeans from Hokkaido and beet sugar.
The packaging, which has remained unchanged for a long time, has a retro feel to it.

Also, the fact that there are a few matcha-flavored beans mixed in with the white beans is a nice touch!

Actually, I ate Asahimame for the first time in decades in order to write this article, and I felt that the beans were somehow crispier and had a lighter texture.

It might be being improved little by little.
These simple bean snacks are so delicious you won't be able to stop eating them once you start, and they're reasonably priced too.

120g bag: 237 yen (tax included), 300g bag: 594 yen (tax included), etc.

Click here for details.

Wakasaimo, a famous confection from Toyako Onsen, is a Japanese sweet made to resemble a roasted sweet potato.

The sweet potato is represented by bean paste made from large fuku beans from Hokkaido and finely shredded kelp.
Furthermore, we brushed the surface with egg and soy sauce and baked it, giving it a texture similar to sweet potato skin.

The unique combination of firm white bean paste and soy sauce flavor is a taste that divides opinions, but "Imoten," which was first released in 1968, tastes just like real sweet potato tempura and is a popular confection that rivals the original!

5 pieces for 540 yen (tax included), 10 pieces for 1,080 yen (tax included), etc.

Click here for details.

"Kusataro," a famous confection from Muroran, is a mugwort bun from Kusataro Honpo.

Although it wasn't advertised in a flashy way, it became popular in Hokkaido after being served as an in-flight snack on JAL in the 1990s, and then as a treat for the Emperor and Empress during tea in 2007.

When you open the package, the scent of mugwort fills the air.
The deep green color of the manju (sweet bun) comes entirely from mugwort grown in Lake Toya. When you break it in half, you'll find it's packed with mugwort fibers.

We also insisted on using ingredients sourced from Hokkaido.
Currently, it's only available at a limited number of stores, but you can purchase it anytime through mail order.

1 piece: 170 yen (tax included), 6 pieces: 1,002 yen (tax included)

Click here for details.

Photo by Wikipedia/Dddeco

This is the signature product of "Mitsuboshi," a long-established shop in Tomakomai, a roll cake covered entirely in haskap jam.

"The most difficult-to-eat sweets in Japan"

It is also known as [another name], but is now sold in a convenient, pre-cut state.
Half sizes are also available.

It's easy to forget because of its appearance and how difficult it is to eat, but I think it deserves a lot of credit for raising the profile of haskap, a fruit that grows only in the Yufutsu Plain and was practically unknown in Japan.

One bottle: 680 yen (tax included), Yoitomake Hanbunko (half size): 315 yen (tax included)

Click here for details.

Takahashi Shoji's "Fukagawa Specialty Uroko Dango" is a triangular steamed dumpling.

It was created to commemorate the opening of the JNR Rumoi Line, which started from Fukagawa Station. Even now, about 100 years after its release, it continues to preserve the original taste.
The name "Uroko" comes from the scales of herring that were brought in from the Rumoi coast.

It has a pleasant texture and is said to be similar to "Uiro," a famous confection from Nagoya.
When you actually eat it, it's a little softer and lighter than uiro (a type of Japanese confectionery).

Vacuum-packed 10 pieces, 630 yen (tax included), etc.

Click here for details.

Until the 1970s, when various famous confections such as "Shiroi Koibito" and "Marusei Butter Sandwiches" appeared, "Trappist Cookies" made by the Trappist Monastery of Our Lady were the representative confection of Hokkaido.

These cookies, baked using plenty of fermented butter—a rarity in Japan—are made at the Trappist Monastery, "Our Lady of the Lighthouse," a men's monastery located in Hokuto City.

Even now, with the souvenir scene in Hokkaido becoming more vibrant, the traditional flavors that are made with care remain a trusted taste both within and outside of Hokkaido.

3 sheets per pack x 12 packs, 734 yen (tax included), etc.

Click here for details.

From left to right: Mitsuishi Yokan / Gokatteya Yokan / Shibetsu Yokan

These are all classic, long-established souvenirs from Hokkaido.

13-1. Gokatteya Yokan (Sweet Bean Jelly) - Established in 1870 (Meiji 2)

First up is Gokatteya Honpo's "Gokatteya Yokan".
This yokan (sweet bean jelly) is made with kidney beans, which are commonly used in boiled beans, and it has a memorable, rich, traditional yokan flavor.

The unique, round, mini-sized can was designed to prevent you from getting your hands dirty while eating.

Gokatteya Yokan (sweet bean jelly) round tin, 1 piece, 206 yen (tax included), etc.

website

 13-2. Mitsuishi Yokan (Sweet Bean Jelly) - Established in 1910 (Meiji 43)

Next up is "Mitsuishi Yokan" from Yagi Confectionery.

This uses adzuki beans from Tokachi.
Compared to Gokatteya Yokan, it's lighter and has a smoother texture, similar to mizuyokan (water yokan). This one is also available in a round tin.

Mitsuishi Yokan (sweet bean jelly) - 1 round tube, 205 yen (tax included), etc.

website

 13-3. Shibetsu Yokan (Sweet Bean Jelly) - Established in 1927 (Showa 2)

Shibetsu Yokan Honpo's "Shibetsu Yokan" is also a type of yokan (sweet bean jelly) made from kidney beans, just like Gokatteya Yokan.

The light sweetness and rich bean flavor are in perfect harmony.

Shibetsu Yokan (sweet bean jelly), bite-sized, 1 piece, 162 yen (tax included), etc.

website

Summary

What did you think?
Because Hokkaido is such a vast prefecture, it's difficult to introduce all of its famous sweets! That's what I, the author, realized once again.

Whenever you travel to Hokkaido, you'll naturally want to try the latest and most talked-about sweets, but if you occasionally choose a nostalgic, traditional confection like this, you might hear some interesting stories from people with ties to Hokkaido!

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