Among the many tourist destinations in Hokkaido, Otaru City is particularly popular. Surrounded by the sea and mountains, yet possessing a nostalgic atmosphere, it is a highly recommended tourist spot where you can feel nature and history at the same time with every step you take.

There are many recommended sweets shops in Otaru's tourist area.

This time, we'll introduce a carefully selected range of sweets shops, from those popular with tourists to those bustling with locals.

Whether you have a sweet tooth or not, when you visit Otaru, be sure to stop by one of the sweets shops!

Table of contents
1. Also famous as a souvenir! LeTAO's Double Fromage
2. Kitakaro's Baumkuchen "Fairy Forest" - fluffy and moist!
3. Rokkatei's "Butter Sandwiches" are loved by everyone from children to adults.
4. Enjoy the rich and creamy "Cream Zenzai," a long-time favorite, at Amatou!
5. Fluffy and soft Andelis "Pudding Daifuku"
6. For traditional "panju" (a type of sweet bun), go to Kuwadaya!
7. Perfect for matcha lovers! Chawawa's super rich "Matcha Soft Serve Ice Cream"
8. If you want to eat sweet potato and soft serve ice cream, you have to play rock-paper-scissors.
Final thoughts

When it comes to souvenirs from Otaru, the most representative is the Double Fromage cheesecake sold by LeTAO.

This cheesecake, known for its miraculous melt-in-your-mouth texture, is packed with the bounty of Hokkaido.

With just one bite, it melts in your mouth, completely changing your perception of cheesecake.

The two layers of cheese bring out the individual characteristics of each, and when combined, they create a delicious cheesecake with an exquisite melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Double Fromage is available in both a fresh type that can be eaten on the spot and a frozen type that can be shipped.

For those who want to eat it on the spot, there's a cafe on the second floor of the LeTAO flagship store where you can enjoy it with a drink.

Whether as a souvenir or for your own enjoyment, we recommend the Baumkuchen sold by Kitakaro.

This Baumkuchen is made using a unique method, resulting in a moist texture that melts in your mouth.

We use flour, eggs, and water from Hokkaido. And using these ingredients, each and every Baumkuchen is made with meticulous control over everything from the thickness of the dough to the degree of baking, using the skills of master bakers, resulting in the moistest Baumkuchen in Japan.

If you want to taste a Baumkuchen made with carefully selected ingredients and crafted by a dedicated artisan, try Kitakaro's "Forest Fairy."

Even locals have been eating this sweet treat since childhood: the "Butter Sandwich" from Rokkatei.

These biscuits are made with Rokkatei's special flour, combined with white chocolate, raisins, and 100% fresh milk butter.

The raw milk used is, of course, from Hokkaido.

Another feature is that it can be stored for about 9 to 10 days in a cool place below 25℃.

The moist biscuit, rich white chocolate, fresh milk, and raisins for added texture make this a truly delicious treat.

You can really feel the richness on your tongue.

Amatou's "Cream Zenzai" is a dish that locals often visit the shop to eat.

This is a traditional "cream zenzai" with soft-serve ice cream, red bean paste, and mochi, but the soft-serve ice cream is very rich and pairs perfectly with the red bean paste and mochi!

This is what you call incredibly delicious.

Our "Cream Zenzai" also comes in flavors such as strawberry and soy sauce, so please give them a try.

A small sweets shop called "Andelis" is located halfway up a hill, about a five-minute walk from the tourist spot, the Fairytale Crossing.

This is a hidden gem of a sweets shop that isn't often discovered by tourists.

My recommendation is the "Pudding Daifuku," which features pudding and fluffy whipped cream wrapped in a mochi dough.

One bite and it's so impactful that it completely changes your perception of daifuku (rice cake filled with sweet bean paste).

The moderately sweet pudding and fresh cream are in perfect balance, and they also work wonderfully with the surrounding sponge cake.

I was amazed by how soft it was; it crumbled when I held it in my hand.

If you want to experience something truly moving, give it a try.

Kuwataya Honten is located on the first floor of the Otaru Canal Terminal, which is a repurposed former Mitsubishi Bank Otaru branch.

Built in 1923 (Taisho 12), you can enjoy sweets while feeling the atmosphere of the past.

Kuwadaya's "panju" is very famous, but I think many people who are hearing about it for the first time can't imagine what "panju" is, so let me introduce it to you.

This is Panju. All the ingredients, including wheat and bean paste, are sourced from Hokkaido.

These bite-sized sweets have a crispy exterior and a chewy interior, and come in a variety of flavors including red bean paste, cream, and chocolate.

Since it's made with less sugar, I think even people who don't like sweet desserts will be able to enjoy it.

This delicious sweet treat can be enjoyed not only as a dessert after a meal, but also when you're feeling a little peckish.

On sunny days, you can also enjoy your meal on the outdoor terrace.

For matcha lovers, I recommend Chawawa's matcha soft serve ice cream.

This shop is famous for its incredibly rich matcha soft serve ice cream.

This soft-serve ice cream captures the full aroma of matcha, resulting in a rich flavor that makes you feel like you're eating matcha itself.

Its green appearance is beautiful, and the moment you put it in your mouth, it's like a field of matcha flowers? No, a whole tea plantation unfolds before you.

In addition to matcha soft serve ice cream, they also offer warabi mochi (bracken starch dumplings) and matcha lattes, making it a must-visit sweets shop for matcha lovers.

"Janken" is located along the North Canal in a building that exudes the warmth of wood, and the interior also has a gentle atmosphere.

For "rock-paper-scissors," I recommend soft-serve ice cream and sweet potato.

The soft-serve ice cream is incredibly rich and melts smoothly in your mouth. With each bite, you'll be increasingly captivated. It's perfect as a dessert after a meal.

Sweet potato is a popular item, so it may sell out.

When you visit, be sure to try the soft-serve ice cream and sweet potato before they sell out.

There is seating available inside the shop, so you can relax and enjoy your sweets at your leisure.

Final thoughts

Otaru boasts numerous sweets shops, from well-known establishments to those beloved by locals, but we've carefully selected eight of the best to introduce to you.

The pudding mochi and panju that I introduced are sweets that can only be enjoyed in Otaru, so please try them when you visit Otaru.

In addition, if you're having trouble choosing souvenirs or just want to take a short break, please refer to the sweets shops we've introduced.

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