Okashi no Yakata no Akutsu has been operating in Obihiro’s Taisho Honcho area since the 1930s.
We visited on a weekday morning, but customers began arriving as soon as the doors opened. The crowd was surprisingly varied, from regulars who appeared to live nearby to business travelers stopping in while still dressed in their suits.

▲Okashi no Yakata no Akutsu

It is easy to understand the shop’s broad appeal. Around 100 different sweets are available at any given time, and almost everything is remarkably affordable.
For more than 90 years, the shop has been there for local residents on birthdays and celebrations, as well as ordinary days when they simply feel like something sweet. It is a true neighborhood confectionery, woven into the everyday life of Obihiro.

▲ Located along National Route 236

Third-generation owner Mitsuyoshi Akutsu explained how the business has changed over the years.

“When my grandfather first opened the shop, it specialized in traditional Japanese sweets. He mainly sold wagashi, along with mochi for celebrations and other special occasions. My father later transformed it into a Western-style confectionery, and we have continued in that form ever since.”

▲The showcase is lined with colorful fresh pastries

▲A wide variety of macarons, including chocolate, framboise, and vanilla

One of the first things likely to surprise visitors is the price. Puddings cost just 190 yen, macarons are 200 yen, and slices of strawberry shortcake start at 270 yen.
The combination of quality and affordability reflects a genuinely customer-focused approach. It is easy to see why generations of local families have continued to love this shop.

▲ Baked goods like cookies, madeleines, and florentines are also available

▲Just looking at the shortcakes makes you excited

Among the shop’s many tempting creations, Milk Road remains its best-known specialty. First introduced around 40 years ago, it continues to attract loyal fans today.
It is available exclusively at Okashi no Yakata no Akutsu, making it a particularly special souvenir from Obihiro.

▲Milk Road (230 yen)

“When my father converted the business into a Western-style confectionery, he wanted to create a signature sweet that people would associate with our shop,” Akutsu explained.
“I was told that Milk Road was inspired by an illustration by Ikuo Sonoda, an artist who lived in nearby Memuro. That same artwork is still used on the packaging.”

▲ Milk Road in the front. "Ezo Murasaki Tsutsuji (240 yen)," in the back, featuring ganache sandwiched in a cocoa sponge, is also popular.

Milk Road consists of a soft, buttery sponge cake topped with creamy white chocolate. Its gentle sweetness and simple flavor seem to capture the peaceful rural scenery of Tokachi illustrated on the package.
The sponge is exceptionally light and almost melts away in the mouth, while the white chocolate adds a smooth, milky richness. It is comforting, nostalgic, and easy to understand why so many customers return for it year after year.

The shop does not have an eat-in area, so everything is available for takeout only. Even so, its fresh cakes and pastries are well worth adding to your order.
Each one has a refined sweetness that feels satisfying without being overly heavy.

▲From left: Gokuraku Pudding (190 yen), Savarin (320 yen), Choux Premium (340 yen)

When we asked the staff to name the shop’s three most popular fresh sweets, they recommended Gokuraku Pudding, Savarin, and Choux Premium.
The standout for us was Choux Premium. This double-cream pastry combines a flaky, Danish-style shell with both whipped cream and custard.
The first bite was surprising in the best possible way. Rather than making the cream intensely sweet, the shop keeps it light and lets the rich, fragrant pastry provide much of the flavor.
The result is balanced, elegant, and surprisingly refreshing, with no heavy sweetness lingering afterward. Cream puff fans should not miss this one.

▲Kita no Ishidatami (Northern Cobblestone, 60 pieces) 1,550 yen

Another popular choice is Kita no Ishidatami, a box of smooth, bite-sized nama chocolates. The name means “Northern Cobblestones,” a reference to their neat, stone-like shape.
Okashi no Yakata no Akutsu offers the kind of flavors that have quietly become part of everyday life in Obihiro. The shop is also conveniently located about a 15-minute drive from Tokachi-Obihiro Airport.
The famous confectionery brands featured in guidebooks are certainly worth visiting, but discovering the sweets that local residents regularly buy is another rewarding part of travel.
Stop by for an Obihiro souvenir, a snack for the road, or simply a well-earned treat for yourself.

All prices include tax.
Information in this article is current as of August 2025. Please check the official website for the latest details before visiting.

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