10 Hokkaido’s Must-Try Sweets & Snacks: Local’s Favorites

There’s no shortage of delicious sweets and snacks to discover in Hokkaido.

In this article, I’ll be showcasing some of the top sweets and snacks that you should try on your next trip to Hokkaido.

Let’s dive in!

1. Hokkaido Cheesecake – Akai Sairo

📍 Where to buy: Seigetsu shop (Kitami), Memanbetsu Airport, New Chitose Airport

Akai Sairo, meaning “Red Silo,” is a fluffy cheesecake made in Kitami in Eastern Hokkaido. It’s not a typical dense cheesecake. it’s light, airy, and melts in your mouth!

What makes it special? It’s made with fresh ingredients from Hokkaido, including local milk, wheat, and eggs.

This cake wasn’t that famous for years… until 2018. That’s when Japan’s women’s curling team, made up of athletes from the Kitami area, were caught snacking on Akai Sairo between matches at the PyeongChang Olympics. Then suddenly, the whole country wanted to get their hands on this cheesecake!

Since then, it’s been flying off shelves. So if you see a box, grab it while you can. It makes a perfect souvenir!

your friends and family will love them! They are available at Seigetsu Shop and department stores in Kitami, as well as Memanbetsu Airport and New Chitose Airport.

2. Fresh Melty Caramel by North Plain Farm

📍 Where to buy: North Plain Farm shop (Okoppe only)

Forget everything you know about caramel… This one melts like butter and tastes like heaven.

North Plain Farm’s nama caramel (raw caramel) is soft, silky, and made in tiny batches using fresh cream and honey from the Okhotsk region. No preservatives. Just pure, slow-made goodness.

It was actually the first raw caramel in Japan. Many brands tried to copy it later, but in my opinion, this original still wins in terms of the quality and flavor.

You can’t find it in regular souvenir shops. They only sell it at the farm’s cafe in Okoppe, a quiet town in Eastern Hokkaido. While you’re there at the cafe, try their local hamburger lunch too!

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3. Shiroi Koibito: Hokkaido’s Most Famous Souvenir

📍 Where to buy: souvenir shops across Hokkaido, Shiroi Koibito Park (Sapporo)

This one’s a classic. Shiroi Koibito means “White Lover,” and it’s the go-to sweet for anyone visiting Hokkaido. The crisp, buttery langue de chat cookies with a smooth layer of white chocolate.

You’ll see it everywhere, like in airports, stations, and souvenir shops. But if you are a big fan, visit Shiroi Koibito Park in Sapporo. There’s a chocolate factory, a cafe, even a workshop where you can decorate your own cookie!

And did you know the best way to eat Shiroi Koibito is to freeze it!? Try it yourself, and you won’t be able to go back to regular non-frozen ones…

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4. Marusei Raisin Butter Sand

📍 Where to buy: Rokkatei shops and souvenir stores across Hokkaido

This cookie sandwich from Rokkatei, one of Hokkaido’s most loved sweets brands, is a must-try. It’s soft, rich, and dangerously good

Two buttery biscuits hold a thick layer of white chocolate buttercream mixed with rum-soaked raisins.

I always buy them as souvenirs for friends, but often end up eating most of them by myself. Yes, it is that good. So make sure to grab an extra box for yourself!

5. White Chocolate Strawberry

📍 Where to buy: Rokkatei shops and souvenir stores across Hokkaido

This is another popular product from Rokkatei. It’s freeze-dried whole strawberries coated in rich white chocolate. It sounds simple, but dangerously delicious.

There’s a milk chocolate version too, but the white one wins for me. It brings out the berry flavor more and feels extra special.

They come in a cute little box that’s great for gifting… if you can resist keeping them for yourself.

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6. Royce Nama Chocolate: Silky Chocolate Ganache

📍 Where to buy: Royce shops, New Chitose Airport, souvenir stores across Hokkaido

Royce’s nama chocolate is Hokkaido luxury in a bite. It’s soft, creamy, and melts on your tongue like snow. The secret is fresh Hokkaido cream that they use.

There are many flavors available: milk, dark, white, matcha, strawberry… even champagne. I love getting a few different boxes and sharing them with family to try!

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7. LeTao Double Fromage Cheesecake

📍 Where to buy: LeTao shops in Otaru, Sapporo, and New Chitose Airport

LeTao’s Double Fromage is a two-layer cheesecake that’s rich and airy at the same time. The bottom is a baked cheesecake, and the top is a rare cheesecake that is light, milky, and creamy like a cloud.

They use fresh Hokkaido cream, of course. But they also blend cheeses from around the world, like smooth mascarpone from Italy and tangy cream cheese from Australia, to make it extra special.

You can buy them in Otaru (where LeTao started), or at major spots like New Chitose Airport.

8. German Tree Cake – Samporoku

📍 Where to buy: Ryugetsu shops, souvenir stores across Hokkaido

This soft, moist Baumkuchen (German-style layered cake) is made by Ryugetsu, a beloved sweets maker from the Tokachi region.

Each thin layer is baked slowly, one at a time, to give it a tree ring-like look. Then it’s finished with a chocolate coating designed to mimic Hokkaido’s white birch bark.

I love that it’s not too sweet, but just the right amount. This is my dad’s favorite sweet, although he doesn’t like sweets so much!

9. Crispy Potato Sticks – Jaga Pokkuru

📍 Where to buy: souvenir shops across Hokkaido

They may look like simple fries, but you’ll love it after one bite.

Jaga Pokkuru is made from 100% Hokkaido-grown potatoes, sliced thick, and fried until golden crispy. Then they’re lightly salted with mineral-rich Okhotsk salt from Eastern Hokkaido.

You can find these little boxes everywhere from convenience stores to airport gift shops. And they make great souvenirs as they come in small packets inside!

10. Seafood-Flavored Potato Cracker – Hogaja

📍 Where to buy: souvenir shops in airports and stations across Hokkaido

You’ve probably never heard of Kiyosato… This quiet town in Eastern Hokkaido is known for its potatoes, and makes this local snack, Hogaja.

These thin, crispy crackers are made with mashed potatoes, and then flavored with Hokkaido seafood like scallop, shrimp, or kelp, and a hint of local beet sugar.

Hogaja isn’t as famous as other souvenirs, but that’s what makes it feel more special and rare, no?

What else to eat in Hokkaido?

Hokkaido is full of local treats! Hope now you know what to grab when you are at souvenir shops.

If you’re a foodie like me, you’ll enjoy Hokkaido ramen, casual local sushi restaurants, and Japanese-style BBQ (yakiniku) in my hometown in Kitami.

Still planning your trip? Have you decided when to visit? Or where to visit in Hokkaido? Want some itinerary ideas? I have many guides on this website, so feel free to look around.

Happy trip planning!