5 Recommended Hokkaido Desserts

Hokkaido has the highest number of dairy cattle in Japan. Because of that, they have established a reputation for desserts that use fresh milk. Here are 5 recommended locations where you can find Hokkaido desserts.

1. Gyokusuien: Yuki Moe Parfait

Gyokusuien is a Japanese tea store, established in 1933. They have various teas in store, selected by a professional Japanese tea instructor. Yuki Moe Parfait is their original dessert. Underneath the rich milk ice cream there is green tea ice cream, red beans from Tokachi in Hokkaido, and Hokkaido brown rice. It has a sophisticated sweetness and is very easy to eat. “Milk ice cream is richer during winter,” say fans of this product. A standard size portion is 380 JPY and the deluxe size is 470 JPY. They also offer the perfect winter dessert, Yuki Moe hot parfait (490 JPY), in which you can enjoy the contrast of the cold ice cream with hot cookie and houjicha (roasted green tea). Open hours are 9:00 am - 6:00 pm on weekdays, and 9:00 am - 4:00 pm on Saturdays. Gyokusuien is closed on Sundays.

Gurunavi, Inc.

1. Gyokusuien: Yuki Moe Parfait

2. Rokkatei Maruyama-cho Cafe: Yukiyakonko Majirikkenashi

Yukiyakonko Majirikkenashi is a cafe owned by Rokkatei. Rokkatei is a brand known for Marusei Butter Sandwich, a typical Hokkaido souvenir product. Although items like seasonal desserts and monthly special pizza are popular, the soft-serve ice cream products are very famous for their rich taste. Of all the soft-serve ice cream products, the most popular kind is Yukiyakonko Majirikkenashi (280 JPY incl. tax). "Yukiyakonko" is the name of a popular souvenir product with a black cocoa biscuit sandwich that has white chocolate inside. The cute patterns they carve into the biscuit are pictures of snow falling down from the night sky. Soft-serve ice cream is layered on top of this biscuit sandwich to create a dream dessert, which is popular among both travelers and locals. Open hours for the café are 10:30 am - 6:00 pm. They are open 7 days a week, but the closing time may vary depending on the season, so please check the available information if visiting in the afternoon.

Gurunavi, Inc.

2. Rokkatei Maruyama-cho Cafe: Yukiyakonko Majirikkenashi

3. Maruyama Pancake: Pancakes

Maruyama Pancake became very popular for its delicious and fluffy pancakes. The pancakes they offer contain ricotta cheese, which creates a creamy sensation. The item in the picture is the Pancake of Angels (1,400 JPY). It is one of a series of combos that comes with a drink, and there are other options like the Pancake of Devils and the Pancake of Fairies. They also have the Pancake Meal combo which comes with salad and soup. Open hours are from 11:00 am - 6:30 pm, however pancakes may run out, so get there early if you want to be sure of having these delicious pancakes. This cafe is closed every Wednesday, and it is wise to check beforehand to avoid special holidays.

3. Maruyama Pancake: Pancakes

4. Dessert de ROMAN Sumikawa Store: Chocolate Mont Blanc

Dessert de ROMAN is famous in Hokkaido as the origin of the ganache chocolate mont blanc. This dessert was invented by a chef who trained in Ginza. He was encouraged to try and make mont blanc with chocolate by his friend. The chocolate cream fully covers the cake until the sponge of the cake is hidden. High quality chocolate of Hokkaido is used for this dessert, which perfectly matches the ganache of the cake. Open hours are 9:00 am - 9:00 pm Monday to Saturday, and 9:00 am - 8:00 pm Sunday.

Gurunavi, Inc.

4. Dessert de ROMAN Sumikawa Store: Chocolate Mont Blanc

5. Patisserie YOSHI: Macaron

Patisserie YOSHI is a local dessert shop in one of Sapporo's residential area, Nishino. This beloved shop has been popular since their opening 10 years ago. Macarons are one of their most popular items. There are 17 flavors like caramel, raspberry, pistachio, peach, English tea, and many more to choose from. It is baked carefully to create a crispy sensation with a trailing softness. Including the cakes they offer, a characteristic of the confectioneries in this store is their high quality taste and design. Some reviewers have written that it was as “beautiful as jewelry.” Please enjoy this stylish dessert created by the collaboration of skill and high-grade Hokkaido ingredients. Their regular holidays are every Tuesday and every third Monday. The store is open from 9:00 am. Ice creams and crepes are sold until 6:00 pm and baked goods are sold until 7:00 pm. *The photo is for illustrative purposes.

Sunny Ripert/Wikimedia Commons

5. Patisserie YOSHI: Macaron

The dairy and agriculture industry in Hokkaido is the largest in Japan, so fresh ingredients can be obtained with ease. The quality ingredients are crafted into masterpiece sweets by the delicate palette of professionals. Please experience the beautiful, sweet taste of Hokkaido.

*Please note that the information in this article is from the time of writing or publication and may differ from the latest information.