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How Japanese Chill: Top 5 Quirky Hokkaido Soft Serve Ice Cream Flavors!

How Japanese Chill: Top 5 Quirky Hokkaido Soft Serve Ice Cream Flavors!

Last updated: 24 February 2021

When thinking of Hokkaido soft serve ice cream probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind! Rather, images of skiing and wilderness might be first.

Even for Japanese, cows leisurely grazing in the vast, rolling landscape - this is what many people imagine Hokkaido is like. Indeed, Hokkaido's natural scenery is incredible.

Having a colorfully decorated sweet at a stylish café in Tokyo might be nice, but eating soft-served ice cream while being surrounded by nature’s beauty is something special indeed. And Hokkaido's unique flavors make an even more rich experience!

Table of Contents
  1. 1. Loved by Locals, Made by an Agricultural School: Tsukisup Flavored Hokkaido Ice Cream! (Sapporo)
  2. 2. Ranch-Style Yamanaka Dairy Farm's Hokkaido Soft Serve Ice Cream: Enjoy While Viewing Otaru Canal (Otaru)
  3. 3. Niseko Takahashi Ranch Milk Studio: In idyllic view of Mt. Yotei, visit for supreme sweets! (Niseko)
  4. 4. Lake Hill Farm: Exquisite Hokkaido Gelato with a Soothing Pasture View! (Lake Toya)
  5. 5. Naturally Flavored Hokkaido Ice Cream at Biei Farm: Fostered by Nature (Biei)

1. Loved by Locals, Made by an Agricultural School: Tsukisup Flavored Hokkaido Ice Cream! (Sapporo)

Hokkaido soft-serve ice cream (from 160 yen) with a light texture that gently melts in your mouth. It is as if you are eating Hokkaido milk!
Hokkaido soft-serve ice cream (from 160 yen) with a light texture that gently melts in your mouth. It is as if you are eating Hokkaido milk!

During the dawning age of Hokkaido’s central city, Sapporo, Hakko Gakuen was established to train excellent agricultural leaders.

The Hokkaido Agricultural Technical College Farmer’s Market located on the property of Gakko Hojin Hakko Gakuen Hokkaido Nougyou Senmon Gakko (Hakko Gakuen Agricultural Technical College), known for its experience-based education, sells many handmade and processed vegetables and livestock products.

With silos and other buildings, it gives off a ranch-like appearance. One of the signature dishes is the Hokkaido soft serve that’s only available from late April to early November (small, 160 yen; large, 270 yen, cocoa waffle, 290 yen).

Tsukisup Milk processed on campus (200 ml, from 160 yen) and Drinkable Yogurt (200 ml, 210 yen) is so good that you want to have it at your hotel
Tsukisup Milk processed on campus (200 ml, from 160 yen) and Drinkable Yogurt (200 ml, 210 yen) is so good that you want to have it at your hotel

The cows are raised by school staff and students and only fed non-genetically modified feeds such as grass and dent corn. The raw Hokkaido milk from these carefully tended cows produces the soft-serve ice cream, which receives major praises from people in Sapporo who adore sweets.

The texture is velvety, with the deep, rich flavor of Hokkaido milk. With zero unnecessary additives, it melts quickly but proves the natural deliciousness of the ice cream.

Also, the ingredient for the Hokkaido soft serve, the pasteurized Tsukisup Milk (200 ml, 160 yen), which retains its original Hokkaido milk flavor, is popular.

The farmer’s market with the unique red silo. Grab a Hokkaido soft serve ice cream, sit on the bench and enjoy the green scenery
The farmer’s market with the unique red silo. Grab a Hokkaido soft serve ice cream, sit on the bench and enjoy the green scenery
  • Hakko-Gakuen Nousanbutsu Chokubaijo
    八紘学園農産物直売所
    • Address 〒062-0052 北海道札幌市豊平区月寒東2条13丁目1-12/13-1-12, Tsukisamu Higashi 2-jo, Toyohira-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido, 062-0052, Japan
    • Phone Number 011-852-8081
    • Hours: 10 AM ~ 5 PM (closes at 4 from mid-November ~ mid-April)
      Closed: Thursday (closed from Tuesday ~ Friday from mid-November ~ mid-April)
      Access: 10 minute walk from Toho Subway Line Fukuzumi Station

2. Ranch-Style Yamanaka Dairy Farm's Hokkaido Soft Serve Ice Cream: Enjoy While Viewing Otaru Canal (Otaru)

About a 40-minute drive southwest from Otaru City is Yamanaka Dairy Farm, surrounded by nature in Akaigawa Town. This prominent farm in Hokkaido raises dairy cattle with natural feeds to produce dairy products.

The soft-serve ice cream made with their fresh Hokkaido milk became a big hit. For this style of ice cream, they have fans from all over the nation.

The standard Milk flavor, and cocoa and milk mix. Both are 270 yen
The standard Milk flavor, and cocoa and milk mix. Both are 270 yen

To get the full flavor of Hokkaido milk, it is additive-free. They have matcha (green tea) and cocoa flavor. However, their leading seller is the Milk Soft-Serve Ice Cream (270 yen) with full milk flavor. Also, the Strawberry Cup (330 yen) with the homemade fruits sauce on soft-served ice cream in a cup is famous.

They have opened up shops in other locations than the shop at the ranch in Akaigawa Town. There is a shop on Otaru Ekimae Dori, which is nearby Otaru’s sightseeing spot. Enjoy your soft-serve ice cream while strolling along the canal.

They sell other dairy products such as Yamanaka Milk (900 ml 390 yen) and Premium Butter (950 yen)
They sell other dairy products such as Yamanaka Milk (900 ml 390 yen) and Premium Butter (950 yen)
  • Yamanaka-Bokujo Otaruten
    山中牧場 小樽店
    • Address 〒047-0031 北海道小樽市色内1丁目6-18/1-6-18, Ironai, Otaru-shi, Hokkaido, 047-0031, Japan
    • Phone Number 0134-27-5123
    • Hours: 11 AM ~ 6 PM
      Closed: Mondays (opened if it’s a holiday)
      Access: 5 minute walk from JR Otaru Station

3. Niseko Takahashi Ranch Milk Studio: In idyllic view of Mt. Yotei, visit for supreme sweets! (Niseko)

Hokkaido ice cream (290 yen). Let's watch the idyllic scenery of Mt. Yotei and pastures called "Ezo Fuji!"
Hokkaido ice cream (290 yen). Let's watch the idyllic scenery of Mt. Yotei and pastures called "Ezo Fuji!"

Niseko is a town rich in natural splendor, and it's also known for its tourism and agricultural products. An exquisite sweets paradise can also be found here!

As you gaze out at the green pastures of Niseko Takahashi Ranch over to Mt. Yotei, you'll surely find yourself thinking: "Wow, so this is Hokkaido!"

Niseko has a variety of places to enjoy in any season, such as pizza shop Mandriano, which uses plenty of locally handmade cheese in its dishes, to Prativo, where locally grown vegetables are used in their buffets.

Especially popular is Niseko Milk Studio, where you can enjoy sweets using fresh Hokkaido milk just freshly squeezed at the ranch. The ice cream and soft-serve are essential tastes in the early summer sightseeing in Niseko.

ミルクの美味しさがぎゅっとつまった「アイスクリーム」(350円)もおすすめ。味を2種類選ぶことができる
ミルクの美味しさがぎゅっとつまった「アイスクリーム」(350円)もおすすめ。味を2種類選ぶことができる

First off, we invite you to taste the smooth soft-serve ice cream (290 yen) that's filled with the milk's original sweetness. The flavor of the fresh Hokkaido milk unique to the ranch spreads divinely across the palate, with a refreshing aftertaste.

Another popular product, standard ice cream (350 yen), is also recommended. You can choose your two favorite flavors (or even double up on the same!) and enjoy the rich umami and taste of milk.

Inside the workshop, there are other "Niseko Milk Goodies" (from 650 yen) packed with the aroma of milk, plus freshly baked roll cakes that use plenty of fresh cream and 100% rice flour (1,000 yen) and other sweets are available.

Products using Hokkaido milk from their own farm are packed with natural flavor. Perfect for souvenirs!
Products using Hokkaido milk from their own farm are packed with natural flavor. Perfect for souvenirs!
  • Niseko Takahashi DairyFarm Milk-Kobo
    ニセコ高橋牧場 ミルク工房
    • Address 〒048-1522 北海道虻田郡ニセコ町字曽我888-1/888-1, Soga, Niseko-cho Abuta-gun, Hokkaido, 048-1522, Japan
    • Phone Number 0136-44-3734
    • Hours: 9:30-18:00 (varying according to the season)
      Closed: Open daily
      Access: 8 minutes by car from JR Niseko Station

4. Lake Hill Farm: Exquisite Hokkaido Gelato with a Soothing Pasture View! (Lake Toya)

The guest ranch Lake Hill Farm is located on top of a beautiful hill near Lake Toya. This is another popular spot for sweets lovers, as it offers exquisite gelato and soft-serve Hokkaido milk ice cream made by dairy farmers.

With the way of thinking, “to make good milk, you must start with good soil and grass,” they focus on a process that results in an excellent environment. They let the dairy cows freely roam in nature so they won’t be stressed.

Makiba no Gelato (double 410 yen), you can pick and choose your favorite combo
Makiba no Gelato (double 410 yen), you can pick and choose your favorite combo

Freshly squeezed milk will be processed that day and will be sold as gelato. The Makiba no Gelato (double, 410 yen) has around 40 flavors such as matcha, cream cheese, and corn to choose from.

Another recommendation is the Makiba no Milk Soft-Serve Ice Cream (410 yen). With a smooth texture, the milk flavor naturally expands in your mouth. Enjoy your delicious rich milky ice cream while sitting at the terrace seat, offering a magnificent view of Mt. Yotei and other mountains of Niseko.

They also have a colorful flower garden. Behind the ranch they have an area to interact with sheep and rabbits.
They also have a colorful flower garden. Behind the ranch they have an area to interact with sheep and rabbits.
  • Lake Hill Farm
    レークヒル・ファーム
    • Address 〒049-5724 北海道虻田郡洞爺湖町花和127/127, Hanawa, Toyako-cho Abuta-gun, Hokkaido, 049-5724, Japan
    • Hours: 9 AM - 7 PM (may change depending on the season
      Closed: Open daily
      Access: 20 minute drive from JR Toya Station

5. Naturally Flavored Hokkaido Ice Cream at Biei Farm: Fostered by Nature (Biei)

The milk flavor is really rich! Soft-serve ice cream (cone, 400 yen). The crispy waffle cone is a perfect match
The milk flavor is really rich! Soft-serve ice cream (cone, 400 yen). The crispy waffle cone is a perfect match

Last but not least is the soft-serve ice cream at Biei Farm in Biei Town. Biei Town is known as “Oka no Machi,” the town of hills – and the farm is located in beautiful rolling countryside, mainly raising Jersey cattle and others such as Brown Swiss cattle and Holstein Friesian cattle.

With a strong belief that a stress-free healthy cattle will produce quality milk, the cows freely roam all year round. They say that the cows don’t sleep in the barn, but sleep in the forest.

At the café you can try the Pasteurized Milk (cup, 280 yen; 180 ml bottle, 320 yen)
At the café you can try the Pasteurized Milk (cup, 280 yen; 180 ml bottle, 320 yen)

They are proud of their creamy flavored milk squeezed from the free-roaming cows. The Soft Cream (cup, 360 yen; cone, 400 yen) only uses freshly squeezed milk and sugar beets from Hokkaido. It offers a pure rich and deep milk flavor. They offer it in a cup and cone, but we strongly recommend the cone.

Cones are made from Biei flour and handmade butter, which produces a nice crispiness that matches the tasty Hokkaido milk ice cream. There is a café on the farm, and the Pasteurized Milk (cup, 280 yen; 180 ml bottle, 320 yen), and Milk Pudding (350 yen) are famous. Enjoy the view of cows grazing the field and the beautiful patchwork hills of Biei with your ice cream.

How about a delicious soft-serve ice cream at the farm with the refreshing breeze blowing
How about a delicious soft-serve ice cream at the farm with the refreshing breeze blowing
  • Biei Hoboku Rakuno-jo
    美瑛放牧酪農場
    • Address 〒071-0473 北海道上川郡美瑛町字新星平和5235/5235Heiwa,Shinsei, Biei-cho Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido, 071-0473, Japan
    • Nearest Station 0166-68-6777
    • Hours: 10 AM - 5 PM
      Closed: Tuesday (if it is a holiday, the next day will be closed)
      Access: 20 minute drive from JR Biei Station

*This information is from the time of this article's publication.
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.

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