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Even if enjoying gourmet foods isn't your primary objective for a trip to Hokkaido, you should definitely take the opportunity to try sweets that are native to this area. Hokkaido confectionery is a perfect gift from Japan, and it is often said that many Japanese tourists who visit Hokkaido, even flight attendants, buy at least one of these before taking their journey back home.
There are tons of Hokkaido sweets that have gained a large popularity domestically and globally. In this article, we would like to show the 15 most popular confections from Hokkaido. Make sure to read this blog post when you visit Hokkaido!
How we decided
- Hokkaido SpecialtiesProducts feature local stars like dairy, wheat, melon, potato, or corn from Hokkaido.
- Iconic PopularitySelections are top-ranked favorites among locals, tourists, and even flight attendants.
- Unique TextureEach treat delivers a standout feel—crispy, melty, creamy, or chewy perfection.
- Flavor HarmonyIngredients blend sweetly and subtly, highlighting Hokkaido's natural richness.
Shiroi Koibito - Sandwich Cookie
Best of the best, an ultimate standard Hokkaido sweet, the regular top three snacks in Hokkaido…, Shiroi Koibito has many favorable bywords and is no doubt in the Hokkaido snack’s Hall of Fame. It is a langue de chat cookie that is filled with a square-cut white chocolate. Its soft and crispy texture and delicate sweetness is definitely a must-try. Shiroi Koibito offers two variations: White (white chocolate) and Mix (assortment of white and black chocolates).
Pros
- Soy tare savory-sweet deep
- Crunchy rice light corn kernels
- 10-bag portion control
Cons
- Single flavor available
Marusei Butter Sand - Sandwich Cookie
Recognized as a flagship product of Hokkaido confection maker Rokkatei, the Marusei Butter Sand sandwich cookie is another prominent Hokkaido sweet. What makes this product excellent is its contrast of biscuit and cream filling: the biscuit has a pleasant moist feeling when you bite it, with a mild sweetness, while the sour-sweet cream is made with white chocolate, butter, and raisins. Enjoy its unique but matching flavor and texture.
Rokkatei Marusei Butter Biscuit Cookies
Rokkatei Marusei Butter Biscuits became a huge hit among Marusei Butter Sand sandwich cookie fans, and a single bite will reveal why. These biscuits offer a delightful and perfectly crispy texture with just the right balance of buttery and sweet flavor—they are not overly sweet, allowing the prominent notes of butter and rich aroma to shine. These biscuits are 100% local to Hokkaido, with each one uniquely printed with the Banseisha’s company seal. If you are looking for a new afternoon snack, these treats pair perfectly with a cup of coffee or tea.
Pros
- Rum-brandy spiced cream rich
- Plump raisins add chewiness
- Hokkaido butter decadence
Cons
- Short expiration few days
- Cream melts in warm ship
Jaga Pokkuru - Potato Snack
This potato snack is a relative newcomer in the history of Hokkaido confectionery, but it has become one of the most popular snacks that was repeatedly out-of-stock in the past. Jagga Pokkuru features an irresistible crispiness and mild saltiness with a punch of kombu umami. The word “Pokkuru” derives from an Ainu (the native people of Hokkaido) term Koropokkuru, a legendary fairy who is said to bring happiness.
Pros
- Crispy butter aroma prominent
- Balanced sweet without excess
- Individually wrapped fresh
Cons
- Small 12-piece count
- Potential allergens: Wheat, egg, milk, almond
Royce Nama Chocolate - Raw Chocolate
If your favorite snack is chocolate, you should not miss Royce’s raw chocolate. The water and raw cream composition is carefully calculated to make this chocolate extra-creamy and silky-smooth so that you will never forget its unique texture when you have your very first bite. Royce Nama Chocolate has many taste variations, but it is highly recommended that you try the No.1 popular Au Lait flavor first.
Royce Potato Chip Chocolate - Chocolate Potato Chip
These treats use thinly-sliced fresh potatoes that are immediately deep-fried, resulting in a genuinely rich potato flavor and an awesomely crispy texture. The chips are crinkle-cut to tangle better with the milk chocolate coating, which is applied only to one side. This deliberate coating allows you to enjoy the wonderful difference in taste and texture between the salty, crispy chip and the sweet, rich chocolate. Many consumers who try this excellent balance of flavors find they simply cannot stop eating them. Now it is your turn to discover this highly addictive snack.
Pros
- Salty crisp chips sweet chocolate
- Crinkle-cut for texture contrast
- Addictive one-side coating
Cons
- Not for basic sweet/salty
- No Ziplock, hard to store
Sapporo Agricultural College - Milk Cookie
Sapporo Nogakko (Agricultural College) Milk Cookie is made with fresh butter and flour produced in Hokkaido. Like many Hokkaido sweets, this cookie has a rich milky flavor without being too heavy. It has a pleasant melty texture and you can enjoy this without chewing it. This cookie is the best choice for those who wish to experience the original taste of the ingredients.
Pros
- Milky buttery
- Light flaky not too sweet
- Gold medal quality award
Cons
- Single flavor available
- Potential allergens: Flour, butter, eggs
Hanabatake Bokujyo Nama Caramel - Raw Caramel
Perfectly handmade by artisans, this raw caramel provides an extremely soft and melty texture not found in conventional caramel. It is made with a premium fresh cream from Tokachi, one of Hokkaido's greatest dairy production sites. What you may not know about this dessert is that it won a Grand Gold Prize from the Monde Selection for 10 consecutive years (between 2011 and 2020).
Hokkaido Yubari Melon Cake - Castella Cake
Yubari Melon Castella Cake is an interesting modern twist on a traditional sweet, taking the classic Castella cake to new heights. Yubari Melon, a brand fruit in Hokkaido, is well-known for its mellow flavor and refreshing aftertaste. By combining a traditional castella batter with delicious Hokkaido Yubari Melon juice and butter from Hokkaido's famous dairies, this moist cake has the deep and refreshing flavor of melon and a lovely orange color. You can enjoy a slice as a snack whenever you are feeling a little hungry, or bring it out when you are entertaining guests with tea and coffee. This unique cake is unlike anything you have had before!
Pros
- Yubari melon infused fluffy
- Traditional castella moist crumb
- Hokkaido fresh fruit essence
Cons
- Requires self-cutting
- Potential allergens: Wheat, dairy, egg
Shinori Hakodate Cheese Tarts - Cream Cheese Tart Cakes
Hakodate Cream Cheese Tarts are an incredibly decadent snack that anyone who loves custard cream will instantly fall for. These soft tarts feature a slightly firm, cake-like crust filled with a delicious, rich combination of high-quality cream cheese from Hokkaido's famous dairies and silky smooth homemade custard. The manufacturer is particular about using ingredients sourced from the cool, natural plains of Hokkaido, including the wheat, flour, cheese, milk, butter, and eggs. Enjoy the great taste of natural Hokkaido ingredients and smooth, delicate custard with these wonderful tarts.
Pros
- Creamy Hokkaido cheese custard
- Silky smooth homemade fill
- Use Hokkaido ingredients
Cons
- No box, not for gifts
- Potential allergens: Wheat, dairy, egg, soy
Letao Double Fromage - Cheese Cake
What is the best cheesecake in Hokkaido? When you ask a question like this, most Japanese will answer LeTAO Double Fromage. As its name indicates, this Hokkaido cheesecake has two different layers of rare cheese and baked cheese. It is difficult to resist this combo of rich Hokkaido dairy cream, slightly sour Australian cream cheese, and delicate Italian mascarpone cheese.
North Colors Additive-Free Hokkaido Okaki - Corn Rice Crackers
North Colors Additive-Free Hokkaido Okaki Corn Rice Crackers are a delightful Japanese snack made from the finest domestically grown rice and corn, and crafted without the use of any additives. These okaki rice crackers offer a unique taste experience, as they are made using rice cultivated only in Hokkaido, which is a rarity for rice cracker (senbei) snacks. You can fully enjoy the pleasant combination of the distinct richness of Hokkaido rice and the enchanting sweet flavor of the corn in every bite. Once you try this snack, which is rich in natural flavor, it is guaranteed to become your new favorite!
Pros
- Pure rice-corn sweet natural
- Additive-free healthy crunch
- Hokkaido grown ingredients
Cons
- Pack of 3 basic
- No Ziplock, hard to reseal
Sapporo Okaki Oh! Yakitokibi - Corn Snack
An irresistible combination of crispy okaki crackers and yakitokibi (grilled corn; a standard street food in Sapporo) allows you to experience sweetness and saltiness at the same time. Designed to enjoy the corn, this snack contains the real dried corn seasoned with a sweetened soy sauce. What’s more, even the rice crackers include a corn paste.
Pros
- Soy tare savory-sweet deep
- Crunchy rice light corn kernels
- 10-bag portion control
Cons
- Single flavor available
Wakasaimo - White Bean Paste Cake
A roasted sweet potato snack without using sweet potato. Sounds odd? This snack recreates the taste and texture of sweet potato without containing any. Here is the trick: the paste is made of quality Ofuku beans (white kidney beans) and it contains kombu that recreates the potato’s stringy fiber. This paste is wrapped with egg seasoned with sweet soy sauce, and the egg coating is similar to the skin of the sweet potato when roasted.
Yamaoyaji - Semi-Western Rice Cracker
Maybe Yamaoyaji is less popular than the top three sweets described above nowadays, but it is still regarded as one of the classic types of Hokkaido confectionery for decades. This is a semi-foreign cracker that is made of butter, milk, egg, flour, and shiratamako (glutinous rice flour), and has a crunchy texture. Each cracker has a picture of a bear with a salmon on its back and a pair of skis on its legs.
