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The standard Asahikawa sightseeing souvenirs are ramen, seafood, and sweets
Meat such as Genghis Khan and pork bowls, fresh seafood, and fresh vegetables from the land of Hokkaido… One of the things that almost all visitors to Hokkaido look forward to is the gourmet food in Hokkaido.
As we have mentioned in the past, Asahikawa has a lot of soul food that we highly recommend you to try.
And it is not only the food that makes you want to eat, but also the gourmet foods of Hokkaido that make you want to buy them as souvenirs for your family and friends.
The most popular souvenirs of Hokkaido include fresh ramen noodles, fresh seafood, and sweets and confections that will please everyone.
Quoted：ROYCE’
Among the “sweets” are the nationally famous “Shiroi Koibito” by Ishiya Seika, “raw chocolate” by ROYCE, and “Kaitaku Okaki” by Kitakarou, to name just a few.
Asahikawa’s Unexpectedly Famous Sweets
If you have come all the way to Asahikawa in Hokkaido, we would like you to take home some of Asahikawa’s sweets as a gourmet souvenir!
However, it is sad to say that many of the famous Asahikawa sweets are still not well-known throughout Japan.
Even at Hokkaido product fairs, there are not that many sweets from Asahikawa.
So, among Asahikawa’s famous sweets, which we recommend you to try when sightseeing in Asahikawa, and which we confidently recommend as souvenirs, we would like to introduce 5 famous sweets carefully selected by local people!
Five famous Asahikawa sweets recommended by locals with confidence
Etude Confectionery “Lunchtime Pudding”
The first sweet we would like to introduce is the extremely popular “Lunchtime pudding” from the famous Asahikawa confectionery store “Etude”.
This product was voted the most popular pudding in Japan in the “Pudding Hall of Fame 2006” held at “Tokyo Sweets Republic” in Ikebukuro and “Kobe Sweets Harbor” in Kobe City, the largest theme park of sweets in Japan!
The pudding is made from Hokkaido ingredients and is the result of repeated trial and error.
The smooth texture of the pudding slowly melts in your mouth, and at the same time, the sweetness of the eggs and milk fills your mouth.
The packaging, which is reminiscent of a milk bottle, is also very cute to look at, and is very popular as a souvenir among the locals, many of whom buy it in bulk.
Nowadays, catalana (iced baked pudding of Italian origin) made from the very popular noon pudding is also available, so when you come to Asahikawa, please try the catalana along with the freshly made pudding.
In addition to pudding, etude is also very popular for its baked goods and cakes.
One product that I personally recommend is the Asahikawa Souffle.
The soufflé and cream melt softly in your mouth, but if you eat it half-frozen, you can enjoy it like ice cream.
There are also other unique products that can only be purchased here, such as “Sake jerry” and “Sake Castella Yoridore,” both made with Asahikawa’s local sake “Kokushi Musou,” so they are recommended as souvenirs that only Asahikawa can offer!
Marukita Confectionery “Kuromame Dorayaki” (black bean dorayaki)
Next, we would like to introduce a long-established confectionery shop, “Kashidokoro Marukita,” established in 1903.
In Hokkaido, Japanese sweets similar to dorayaki filled with red bean paste are called “Chuka (Chinese style) manju,” and the longest-selling item at Marukita is the “Chuka manju Marukita-yaki,” a crescent-shaped Japanese confection filled with red bean paste.
Quoted：美味いっしょ北海道
It has also become a local staple for sweets for legal ceremonies.
The store also sells a variety of Western-style confections and seasonal baked goods, and is loved by local residents for a wide range of purposes.
Quoted：美味いっしょ北海道
One of the reasons why Marukita’s sweets are loved is the warm, reassuring flavor that preserves the same old taste with a somewhat nostalgic, handmade appearance of both the sweets and the packaging.
The cute handwritten signboard in the store also catches the eye.
Quoted：美味いっしょ北海道
Marukita’s one of the most popular products is the Kuromame Dorayaki!
These dorayaki are made by selecting the largest of Hokkaido’s black beans, which are cooked to perfection, tossed in agar, and sandwiched together.
The dorayaki skin is so fluffy that it almost resembles sponge cake, and the black beans used in place of red beans are not too sweet.
It is a popular sweet even among those who do not usually enjoy red bean paste.
The Sun Kuroudo “Kuranama”
Quoted：the sun蔵人
Roba Confectionery is one of Asahikawa’s confectionery shops that has long been loved by the locals.
This famous store offers a lineup of unique confections made with Hokkaido ingredients.
In fact, Roba Confectionery operates several sweet brands with different concepts, but the one that has been leading in popularity in recent years is “Kuranama” by The Sun Kuroudo.
Quoted：the sun蔵人
The Sun Kuroudo is particular about using local Asahikawa ingredients in abundance and displaying freshly made products in the store.
You may be able to get freshly made sweets that still have a slight warmth to them, something you cannot experience at other souvenir shops.
The most popular product, “Kuranama,” is characterized by its softness, which is hard to believe it is a cookie!
Baked with 100% Hokkaido flour and beet granulated sugar, these cookies are an exquisite sweet with a moist texture that cannot be tasted anywhere else, matched perfectly by the melted raw chocolate.
Although the cookies are large in size, they are thin and have just the right amount of sweetness, making them easy to eat.
There are two types: “Kuranama Black,” which contains bitter raw chocolate, and “Kuranama White,” which contains white raw chocolate.
These are popular products with many repeat customers.
Quoted：the sun蔵人
Although there is only one store, the building is also very special.
The stone building, made of approximately 3,000 pieces of Biei soft stone created by the eruption of Mt. Daisetsuzan, was built to modern architectural standards while retaining its Meiji-era appearance, and has a somewhat warm atmosphere that retains its old-time charm.
The second floor is a self-café space where you can enjoy your purchases, and coffee and mineral water are free!
You will be tempted to linger in the cafe.
L’Hôtel de Kita Club “Cornette”
Quoted：ロテル・ド・北倶楽部
Next, we would like to introduce another brand, L’Hôtel de Kita Club, also operated by Roba Confectionery.
Founded in 1989, L’Hôtel de Kita Club is a brand modeled after a Scandinavian hotel and based on the concept of making sweets based on seven atmospheric themes.
The names of the sweets are also somewhat modern and unique, such as “Western castella” and “Chocolate Ball”.
Over the years, these sweets have become popular as small errands and gifts.
Quoted：Good!Hokkaido!
This time, we would like to introduce a product that can only be found in L’Hôtel de Kita Club’s stores, the “Cornette”!
The cornette is a long, thin, crispy pastry filled with custard cream and topped with a dusting of powdered sugar reminiscent of snow, making it a very pretty looking pastry.
The pie is very filling, yet surprisingly inexpensive at only 110 yen per piece!
The standard is with custard, but the cornette with chocolate cream is also popular.
One of the reasons for L’Hôtel de Kita Club’s popularity is that you can sample most of their products at the store!
And since you are even offered tea, you may find yourself reaching for it and eating too much!
While tasting in moderation, be sure to visit the store to try the freshly made cornette.
We also recommend it as a hidden tourist spot in Asahikawa.
Tsuboya “Kibana”
Quoted：壺屋オンラインショップ
Last but not least, we would like to introduce Tsuboya, a long-established confectioner in Asahikawa that is celebrating its 90th anniversary.
Tsuboya is a very long-established confectioner founded in 1929.
The company has continued to grow since the popularity of “Tsubo-Monaka,” which is based on the motif of the “Tsubo (vase)” used in the company name, and now sells not only Japanese sweets but also Western-style confectionaries.
Tsuboya’s commitment is to “expressing an image of the hometown”.
In addition to using many ingredients produced in Hokkaido, Tsuboya also focuses on “local confections” with motifs of flowers, trees, snow, and other northern landscapes and customs.
Among such “local confections,” the nationally famous “Kibana,” a famous confectionary that has won the Monde Selection Gold Award for 31 consecutive years, is one of the most famous.
The name comes from diamond dust, a natural phenomenon that can be seen in Hokkaido.
The secret is the crispy almond galette and the white chocolate in between.
The sweetness of the white chocolate blends well with the crispy texture, which is different from that of cookies.
The satisfying yet easy-to-eat size (7 cm in diameter) and sweetness that is not too strong go well with both coffee and tea, and there are probably not many locals who have never had them.
It is a famous confectionery loved by men and women of all ages for a long time.
Recently, strawberry and milk chocolate flavors have been introduced, as well as miniature sizes that make great souvenirs.
When you come to Asahikawa, enjoy the local sweets!
How about the 5 best sweets in Asahikawa?
After filling your stomach with ramen, Genghis Khan, and sushi, it’s time for another round of sweets!
Please enjoy the local sweets that only visitors to the area can taste.
And of course, don’t forget to pick up some souvenirs!
For Hokkaido activity experiences visit Basho Trip
