When traveling in Hokkaido, what kind of souvenirs can you get? Well, there is so much to choose from!
You'll be spoilt for choice, from the famous Shiroi Koibito sweet snacks to Jaga Pokkuru potato chips.
We visited Tanukiya, a long-established souvenir shop on Tanukikoji Shopping Street in Sapporo City, where we found out about "Classic sweets and secret snacks that have been gaining popularity!"
We'll look at eight recommended Hokkaido snack souvenirs that have been rising in popularity.
Tanukiya – with its long history – tells us all about Sapporo snacks
Find Tanukiya by looking for its symbolic Tanuki (raccoon dog) statue out front
We visited Tanukiya, a souvenir shop founded in 1916, to hear about their snacks.
Located in Sapporo's best shopping district, Tanukikoji Shopping Street is lined with restaurants and various shops.
It is about a 3-minute walk from Susukino, the largest shopping district in northern Japan, and a 5-minute walk from Odori and Susukino stations on the subway lines.
There's no shortage of hotels and accommodation options around, so it's a great place to explore and shop during a Hokkaido trip.
Credit cards are accepted here, and a duty-free service is available.
Popular confectioners (from the left) Rokkatei, Royce', and Yuraku
The great thing about souvenir hunting at a general souvenir shop like Tanukiya is that you can compare and peruse different brands.
If you go to the brands directly, of course, they won't sell their competitor's items, so you end up having to go to multiple spots to compare and see which brand you want to buy.
But with a general store like this, you can see all of the brands side by side and easily make an informed decision without running around town.
The man of the hour, Takahashi-san from Tanukiya
Takahashi was kind enough to tell us all about the delicious treats you can find at Tanukiya, from the famous classic souvenirs, right down to his recommendations for seasoned travelers.
Here we'll look at eight products across seven different brands, along with a taste test of each.
1. Shiroi Koibito Chocolate Drink – ISHIYA
Shiroi Koibito biscuits (left, 648 yen, 9 pc.) and Shiroi Koibito Chocolate Drink (right, 237 yen, 190ml)
ISHIYA's "Shiroi Koibito" is a classic Hokkaido souvenir that most people who travel to Hokkaido end up buying. If you've already tried Shiroi Koibito's biscuits, why not try a drink with the signature Shiroi Koibito taste?
First up on our list of recommendations is the Shiroi Koibito Chocolate Drink that uses the same milk chocolate you find in the Shiroi Koibito sandwich cookies.
The Shiroi Koibito Chocolate Drink is also available in a box of three (bottom left, 711 yen). This is what it looks like in a glass (right)
Even though you might expect a chocolate drink to feel heavy or thick, this one is actually velvety smooth. The soft aroma of cocoa drifts up to your nose, and the drink has a well-rounded and mellow tas…
