One of the representative sweets of Hokkaido is Rokkatei’s Marusei Butter Sand. With the retro package and rich flavorful buttercream, this long seller has been loved for over 40 years. Rokkatei’s main store is located in Obihiro.

The famous confectionery can be individually purchased. We recommend the Marusei Butter Sand and also the new product Marusei Butter Cake released in February 2016. The new treat has chocolate ganache sandwiched between two sponge cakes, and it is a perfect match for coffee.

There are also various rare sweets only available at the main store. We recommend trying out the Marusei Ice Sand and Saku Saku Pie, both of which can be only purchased at the main store or select few other shops.

Saku Saku Pie's freshness lasts only 3 hours, after which time the crisp pie crust absorbs too much moisture from the cream. Shaped like a cornet, the thinly twisted pie is filled with custard cream.

On the second floor, there is a café to relax at - one of Obihiro's charming cafes. They offer some of the sweets on the first floor and other dishes like the famous pancake (520 yen tax included), Saku Saku Waffle (190 yen tax included), and light meals like pizza and quiche.

Enjoy the taste that is only available here in Rokkaitei Main Store in Obihiro!

Ryugetsu is famous for its various original sweets, including Sanpouroku, the Baumkuchen with white chocolate and milk chocolate coating that looks like the bark of a white birch tree.

Out of the various Ryugetsu stores, a popular location is Toskachina Ryugetsu, which offers Italian food and exclusive limited sweets.

The spacious restaurant offers Sanpouroku and other handmade cakes, Japanese sweets and western sweets. These make the perfect gifts for everyone and every situation.

We highly recommend the Toskachina Tokacho, which is only available here. Italian chestnut and Tokachi red bean are mixed into the cacao dough for this delicious baked sweet.

The café offers Italian dishes like pizza and pasta, plus exclusive sweets such as Sanpouroku and Whipped Cream Parfait (550 yen tax included). As long as you order a drink at this fine Obihiro restaurant, you can eat the sweets you purchased at the store. This is a lovely location to stop by for tea time or a small break during your travels.

Another Ryugetsu affiliated store, Ryugetsu Sweetpia Garden, is located in Otofuke Town, which is next to Obihiro City. At this factory-run facility, you can tour the factory or even experience some pastry cooking (requires a reservation and additional fee).

The surrounding area has a Tokachi style vast landscape and is a perfect place to visit on a road trip. There is also a shop selling sweets and a café offering original dishes and parfaits.

Tokachi Toteppo Factory is famous for its sweets made with cheese. Toteppo was the nickname of the railway that ran north to south through Obihiro City and was used to transport sugar beets.

Currently, part of the railway is now an esplanade, and Tokachi Toteppo Factory is located along the street.

The shop’s #1 sweet is the Natural Cheesecake Triple Fromage, made by the pastry chef, an expert on local produce. The carefully selected three types of Hokkaido natural cheeses are blended to create a flavor that expands in your mouth.

There is also the Natural Cheesecake Camembert Fromage that pursues a deeper flavor.

Besides cheesecakes and fresh cakes, they offer baked sweets like the Toteppo Sable, shaped like a locomotive. They also offer a wide variety of cheeses gathered from various locations in Tokachi and Hokkaido and make perfect gifts. Take home a part of Tokachi’s memory and flavor to share with friends and family!

At the café in the store, you can enjoy the sweets you purchased and other seasonal sweets. (When eating in the café you must order the drink bar. 500 yen for adults and 250 yen for children. *Prices include tax)

The final shop we are introducing is the Takahashi Manju-ya, located in Denshin Dori Shotengai. Since opening its doors in 1954, it has received the nickname Takaman from the locals. Takaman’s famous snack is the ooban-yaki, cooked on a special hot plate.

There are two flavors, An and Cheese. An is made with Tokachi adzuki red bean paste and has a nice natural sweetness to it. Cheese is made with natural cheese with a hint of saltiness to it. Cheese is recommended for those who prefer a non-sweet snack. Both flavors are a perfect match for the puffy dough. It is even good cold, but we recommend a freshly baked one.

Other popular items are the handmade mushi-pan (steam bread) (120 yen tax included) and niku-man (pork buns) (140 yen tax included). On hot days soft-served ice cream (200 yen tax included) and shaved ice (250 yen and up tax included) are popular.

As a local I can confidently recommend the sweets shops introduced above. There are even more unique and delicious sweets here in Obihiro. Come on over to the sweets kingdom Tokachi & Obihiro to discover the treats that will make you happy!

Written by: Etsuro Nagao