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CITY FEATURE

HOKKAIDO

Meet places that feel distinctly Hokkaido.

FEATURE 10

Places in HOKKAIDO

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Specialty Foods

Kamaei

Otaru-shi

Otaru kamaboko fish cakes, handcrafted since 1905 — Founded in 1905, Kamaei has crafted kamaboko fish cakes in Otaru for over a century. At its factory shop in Sakaimachi, visitors can buy freshly made kamaboko, including the popular bread-wrapped Pan Roll.

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Japanese Sweets

Numanoya

Nanae-cho

The original Onuma dango, made since 1905 — Founded in 1905 in front of Onuma Koen Station, Numanoya created the original Onuma dango for travelers arriving by train. The bite-sized dumplings, offered in red-bean and sesame varieties with soy sauce, are still made in the traditional boxed style today.

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Kunimare Sake Brewery

Mashike-cho

Japan's northernmost sake brewery, brewing since 1882 — Founded in 1882 in the herring port of Mashike, Kunimare is Japan's northernmost sake brewery, using underground water from the Shokanbetsu mountains. Visitors can tour the Meiji-era brewery buildings and shop for its signature sake at the on-site store.

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Dai-ichi Takimotokan

Noboribetsu-shi

Noboribetsu's oldest hot-spring inn, welcoming guests since 1858 — Founded in 1858, Dai-ichi Takimotokan is the oldest inn in Noboribetsu Onsen, tracing its roots to a bathhouse Kinzo Takimoto built for his ailing wife. Guests can soak in free-flowing hot-spring water drawn from Jigokudani in its vast bathing halls.

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Chikurouen Azumaya Sohonten

Kushiro-shi

Kushiro soba tradition, handed down since 1874 — Founded in 1874 as a soba stall in Otaru, Chikurouen Azumaya Sohonten later moved to Kushiro and became a wellspring of Hokkaido's soba culture. Its famous rankiri soba, bound with egg, is served in a historic building overlooking a Japanese garden.

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Japanese Sweets

Hakodate Senshuan Sohonke

Hakodate-shi

Hakodate's oldest confectionery, making sweets since 1860 — Founded in 1860, Senshuan Sohonke is Hakodate's oldest confectionery and the origin of the Senshuan shops found across Hokkaido. Its signature butter-and-milk senbei cracker, Ganso Yama-oyaji, has been loved for generations.

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Japanese Sweets

Gokatteya Honpo

Esashi-cho

The famous round-tin yokan from the historic port town of Esashi — Founded in 1870 in Esashi, a town that flourished on herring fishing. Its signature maru-kan yokan — a sweet bean jelly pushed up from a round tin and sliced with a string — is one of Hokkaido's best-loved confections.

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Gotoken Honten

Hakodate-shi

Hakodate's grand old Western-style restaurant, serving since 1879 — Founded in 1879 in the port city of Hakodate, Gotoken helped introduce Western cuisine to Japan. Its heritage curry and classic French-style dishes are still served in a historic building that recalls the city's early international days.