Hokkaido and the Tohoku region, which stretch across northern Japan, are a treasure trove of unique food cultures and specialty products, nurtured by the region's magnificent nature and cool climate. If you travel to this region, be sure to find souvenir sweets that are unique to the area. Sweets and Japanese confectioneries that make use of local specialties will help you create lasting, delicious memories of your trip.

In this article, we will introduce five carefully selected popular souvenir sweets that can only be found in Hokkaido and the Tohoku region and have a long shelf life. We will not only introduce the sweets, but also provide information on the local cuisine of the region where the sweets originate, so please use this as a reference when choosing souvenirs, and be sure to visit the region and enjoy the authentic flavors as well. It will also be fun to experience Japan's diverse food culture through sweets.

1. Jaga Pokkuru (Hokkaido)

Jaga Pokkuru is a perennially popular Hokkaido souvenir . Made with Hokkaido potatoes, it features a light, crispy texture and the natural sweetness of potatoes. This snack is made from potatoes carefully grown by contracted farmers, carefully sliced with the skin still on. Because it is fried using a unique method, it is not oily and the potato flavor remains intact. Its simplicity allows the quality of the ingredients to shine through.

Recommended Hokkaido gourmet food

Hokkaido salted potatoes with butter

Amazing seafood izakaya with freshly sourced seafood straight from Hokkaido

https://tenposstar.com/ja/merchant/64c8d0a444001

2. Rokkatei Marsei Butter Sandwich (Hokkaido)

This is the signature product of Rokkatei, a confectionery manufacturer representing Hokkaido, and is a classic Hokkaido souvenir.

White chocolate made from raw milk from Hokkaido and raisins are mixed with flavorful butter to create a cream, which is then sandwiched between biscuits.It is rich yet melts in your mouth.

The package design is a reproduction of the label of the first butter made in Hokkaido during the Meiji period by the confectionery shop that was the predecessor of Rokkatei, and evokes the history and romance of Hokkaido's development. Japanese-Western fusion: This butter sandwich has evolved in a uniquely Japanese way, combining the delicate techniques of Japan with the richness of Western confectionery.

Hokkaido's recommended gourmet food 2

Marugen Ramen

Marugen Miso

https://tenposstar.com/ja/merchant/65a4d88de680b

3.  Kamome no Tamago (Iwate Prefecture)

This is a famous confectionery representative of Sanriku, manufactured and sold by Saito Confectionery, headquartered in Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture.

Its cute, round shape is inspired by the eggs of seagulls that fly to the Sanriku Coast. Yolk paste and white chocolate: Yolk paste is wrapped in cake dough and then coated in white chocolate. It's a gentle sweetness that is an exquisite combination of Japanese sweet paste and Western chocolate.

Although it suffered major damage in the Great East Japan Earthquake, it has since resumed production and is known as a symbol of the region's recovery.

Recommended gourmet food in Iwate Prefecture

Jajaoiken

Jajamen

https://tenposstar.com/ja/merchant/663ad30d3a651

4. Hagi no Tsuki (Miyagi Prefecture)

This is a representative Sendai souvenir, manufactured by Kasho Sanzen, which has its headquarters in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture.

The round castella cake, shaped like a full moon, is filled with a generous amount of specially made custard cream. Its deliciousness is so widely recognized that it is also known as the "Hall of Fame of Confectionery." The castella cake has an incredibly fine texture, is fluffy, and melts in your mouth. The cream is made with high-quality fresh cream, giving it a gentle sweetness and a delicate flavor that Japanese people love. Another appealing feature is that it can be enjoyed for a long time, as it remains delicious even when frozen.

Recommended gourmet food in Miyagi Prefecture

Thick and tender beef tongue

Delicious Food Bar Tamayano

https://tenposstar.com/ja/merchant/665ea0ee506f7

5. Yubeshi (Fukushima Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture, and other parts of the Tohoku region)

"Yubeshi" is a traditional Japanese sweet made primarily from glutinous rice and passed down throughout Japan, particularly in the Tohoku region. In the Tohoku region in particular, it is popular as a mochi sweet filled with sweet bean paste.

Originally, it was a mochi confectionery made with yuzu citrus, but in the Tohoku region, it is more common to add walnuts or miso, or to make a round mochi with a depression in the middle filled with bean paste.It is characterized by its simple and rich flavor.

Made with glutinous rice and joshinko flour,it has a unique chewy texture and the sweetness of the rice spreads the more you chew it. The shape and flavor vary greatly depending on the prefecture and store, so it's fun to try different regional varieties.

Recommended gourmet food in Fukushima Prefecture

LABO

Sauce cutlet bowl (lunch box)

https://tenposstar.com/ja/merchant/6524f7c1cb8df

summary

All over Japan, there are many wonderful souvenir sweets and shops that are filled with the history and nature of the area, as well as the producers' passion.

The five sweets introduced here are all masterpieces that represent their respective regions. When choosing souvenirs, be sure to visit the area and enjoy the local cuisine as well. They will surely leave you with sweet, lasting memories of your trip to Japan.