No travel would be complete without souvenirs– from the trusty keychains to fridge magnets, T-shirts, and postcards, name it, all souvenir shops all over the world have them. But more than these tangible items, why not bring home snacks as souvenirs too? Aside from being affordable, snacks are also a great way to introduce the food culture of the country you’ve been to. Plus, they’re available anywhere – from convenience stores to groceries!
If you’re traveling to Hokkaido soon, keep an eye out for these yummy snacks. Check out these tasty Hokkaido snacks that make you want to hoard more!
Shiroi Koibito
Shiroi Koibito is probably the most popular souvenir snack you’ll find in Japan. It’s a tiny cookie made with two buttery langue de chat cookies sandwiching a decadent chocolate filling. It’s so popular that there’s even a Shiroi Koibito Park that you can actually visit in Hokkaido. Come to see how their cookies are made at the factory tour and hoard these cookies at their shop too.
Sapporo Okaki Oh! Yakitoukibi
Did you know that Hokkaido’s corn crops are some of the best in the world? That’s why they also sell corn-flavored snacks in the form of Yakitoukibi. This snack is made with crunchy Hokkaido-grown rice and sweet corn and is sweet and savory to the taste. You can get these snacks when you visit Sapporo Odori Park. It’s only available in Hokkaido, so make sure to bring home some.
Jaga Pokkuru
Jaga Pokkuru is like a blend of french fries and potato chips. This crisp and savory potato snack are made with 100% homegrown potatoes in Hokkaido. The salt used to flavor the snack is from Okhotsk. It’s a delicious snack packed with Hokkaido’s unique flavors. You can only get it in Japan!
LeTAO
Aside from snacks, Hokkaido is also home to the best-tasting pastries. Check out the main shop of LeTAO in Otaru, where you can buy delectable pastries like cheesecakes, biscuits, cream puffs, and a selection of desserts. Its most popular product, the Double Fromage Cheesecake, is a mix of Hokkaido cream, Italian mascarpone, and Australian cream cheese. It’s light and airy, perfect for dessert.
Rokkatei Marusei Butter Sand
Another longtime Hokkaido favorite is Marusei Butter Sand– a buttery biscuit with Tokachi’s butter-based cream, white chocolate, and raisins. It’s a classic souvenir that’s been around since the 70s and is loved for its vintage-style packaging. They also sell an ice cream version of it, available in Obihiro Main and Obihiro Nishi-Sanjo branches.
Hori Corn Chocolate
Have you ever tried a snack that’s a combination of corn and chocolate? This surprisingly good Hori Corn Chocolate is a must-try in Hokkaido. It’s a crisp sweet corn snack wrapped in white chocolate with a slightly sweet and creamy flavor. You can get these in gift boxes perfect for souvenirs.
Royce Potato Chip Chocolate
World-class chocolate brand Royce offers a unique snack in the form of potato chip chocolate. Though it’s not a likely combination, you’ll get hooked with the perfect blend of the slightly salty potato chip and semi-sweet chocolate coating. This Japanese snack is more expensive than others, but it’s definitely worth the price.
Hokkaido Kaitaku Okaki
Rice cracker fans would definitely like Hokkaido Kaitaku Okaki, a famous rice cracker snack from Hokkaido. It’s made with locally grown mochi rice, Hokkaido salt, and seafood caught from the island. This savory snack comes in different flavors. Choose from squid, Hokkai shrimp, hair crab, sea urchin, salmon, scallop, octopus, salted cod roe, and kombu that are packed with umami. It’s best paired with an alcoholic drink.
Sapporo Agricultural College Milk Cookies (Kinotoya)
Enjoy this melt-in-your-mouth biscuit carefully created with Hokkaido wheat and butter from the farms of Hokkaido. It’s milky and buttery in taste, best eaten with tea. It’s made in Sapporo which is known to be the sweets capital of Hokkaido. If you want to get these as souvenirs, get them in the special book-style packaging available in select Kinotoya stores.
Yubari Melon Steam Cake
This fluffy and tasty sponge cake is a Hokkaido snack you shouldn’t skip. It’s delicious in every bite, with a surprise dollop of melon pudding in the middle. Having the right amount of sweetness, this fresh steam cake is just a delicacy you’d want to bring home with you. It’s available for 12 pieces per box.
Find more Hokkaido specialties to try when you visit Japan soon! Book your activities for a hassle-free trip on KKDay.
