Star's Reviews Page 4/5

Rokkatei Flagship Store

Rokkatei is loved as a staple brand for Hokkaido souvenirs. They offer a wide variety of sweets, such as Marusei Butter Sandwiches, Strawberry Chocolates.

• Tokachi and Obihiro
• Sweets Shop & Desserts Shop

The Rokkatei store in front of Goryokaku has seating for afternoon tea. I recommend trying their signature black tea and strawberry pie. However, seating is limited and the wait can be long, so it’s best to go early and line up.

While waiting, you can browse the store and pick out all kinds of souvenirs. The cappuccino mille-feuille is crispy and delicious—definitely worth buying. The liquor-filled candies are also a popular must-buy souvenir. Overall, it’s a cozy little place to relax, enjoy sweets, and shop.

Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse - Kanemori Yobutsukan

This shopping mall is located within Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse, a popular spot in Hakodate’s Bay Area. The facility’s name traces back to the origins of the red brick warehouses and comes from Kanemori Yobutsukan, a shop opened about 160 years ago by Kumashiro Watanabe, the founder of the Kanemori warehouses, as “a place that sells dreams of foreign lands.”

• Hakodate and Matsumae
• Commercial Buildings

This area has more general goods, like various anime IP items and everyday lifestyle products. That said, a lot of the merchandise feels a bit repetitive. There’s the must-try Pastry Snaffle’s cheesecake, along with souvenir shops that carry Hakodate-exclusive items.

Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse

The Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse features 4 warehouses and is a landmark of the Hakodate Bay Area. It is a romantic, and scenic spot featuring an array of red brick warehouses. It is popular among locals, tourists, and couples.

• Hakodate and Matsumae
• Commercial Buildings

This is one of the filming locations from Detective Conan: The Million-Dollar Pentagram, and it’s a must-visit spot for Conan fans in Hakodate.

There are lots of different areas to explore, so I recommend setting aside an afternoon to stroll around at a relaxed pace. There’s also a souvenir area inside, where you can find many Hakodate-exclusive items. The cheese squid, in particular, is a must-buy if you see it.

After closing at 7:30 p.m., the buildings are lit up, and the nighttime view feels completely different from the daytime. It has a really romantic atmosphere.

Jingisukan Daruma Main branch

"Jingisukan Daruma Honten" opened in 1954. Jingisukan is a phonetic spelling of Genghis Khan, and Daruma's Jingisukan has also come to be known as Susukino's specialty. The restaurant is open daily with the goal of remaining unchanged for those who come to enjoy the taste of this long-established restaurant.

• Sapporo Station, Odori, Susukino
• Meat Dishes

The lamb was marinated really well and full of flavor. Paired with sweet, nicely grilled onions that still had some crunch, it was already delicious even without dipping sauce. With their special sauce, you get another layer of flavor.

The only small downside is that the seats are a bit small and the spacing feels a little tight. Still, overall it’s definitely worth trying. Their corn silk tea is also really tasty, so I highly recommend ordering it with the meal.

Shiroi Koibito

Everyone in Japan knows Hokkaido’s sweets, “Shiroi Koibito.” Ishiya Co., Ltd.was an ordinary candy maker to begin with, but utilizing quality ingredients in Hokkaido changed them into the producer of the classic dessert. More than 40 years passed since its beginning, but it is still the beloved souvenir of Hokkaido to this day.

• Hokkaido
• Snacks

Ever since I was little, whenever I received this souvenir, it instantly made me happy. As an adult, every time I visit Japan, I always bring a box home. To me, it’s no longer just a souvenir—it’s an essential memory from my travels.
Even now, I still don’t think any white chocolate sandwich cookie can beat how delicious this one is.

Otaru Orgel Doh Main Hall

This music box specialty shop has branches in various locations such as Otaru, Hakodate, Furano, Yokohama, Kamakura, and Kyoto. Its main building, which is the main shop, was built in 1915 (Taisho 4) and is designated as a historic building by Otaru City, preserving the remnants of the good old days.

• Otaru and Niseko
• Miscellaneous Goods

You can find familiar classic tunes here, like My Neighbor Totoro, Castle in the Sky, and Spirited Away. In addition to choosing your favorite song, you can also customize your own music box.

Upstairs, there are all kinds of beautifully crafted music boxes on display, making it feel like you’ve stepped into a fairy tale world. The steam clock in front of the hall chimes every fifteen minutes with a whistle-like sound. The melody is adorable and really memorable.

Otaru Sakaimachi Dori Shopping Street

Located just one street away from the main thoroughfare facing the Otaru Canal, Sakaimachi-dori flourished during the Meiji and early Showa periods, becoming Otaru's main street.

• Otaru and Niseko
• Shopping Streets

The dreamy Fairy Tale Crossroads is the starting point of Otaru Sakaimachi Dori, and the street is filled with delicious sweets, beautiful glass crafts, and all kinds of unique little shops.

Along the way, you can try snacks like melon cups and sweet tempura, and also find souvenir shops selling items like kombu and shredded squid. I recommend getting off at Minami-Otaru Station and taking a relaxed stroll toward the Otaru Canal. It’s a bit of a walk, but with all the eating and browsing along the way, you’ll get there before you know it.

Otaru Canal

Otaru Port, which developed as a gateway for Hokkaido's settlement, saw an increasing volume of cargo over the years. To streamline its transportation, the "Otaru Canal" was completed in 1923 (Taisho 12). The canal, created by reclaiming the offshore coast, is characterized by its gentle curves rather than a straight line.

• Otaru and Niseko
• Tourist Attractions

Otaru Canal in the rain felt even more quiet and misty. The sky was dark, so it lacked a bit of brightness, but it had its own unique charm.
I hope to visit again next time on a clear, sunny day or during the snowy season to experience a completely different romantic view.

Sapporo TV Tower

Built in 1956 on Nishi 1-chome, the starting point of Odori Park, the Sapporo TV Tower is well known to locals and tourists alike as a landmark of Sapporo that has witnessed the city's development since its completion.

• Sapporo Station, Odori, Susukino
• Observatories

Going up to the observation deck of Sapporo TV Tower, the city night view was dazzling and beautiful. The lights lit up all of Sapporo, and it was hard to leave.
The observation deck felt a little narrow and somewhat dim. When it gets crowded, it can feel packed, but overall, it’s still a night view spot worth visiting.

Sapporo Odori Park

Odori Park is located in the center of Sapporo City. Surrounded by approximately 4,700 trees of 92 species, including lilacs and harunire (elms), as well as lawns and fountains for relaxation, the park is loved by tourists and citizens as a place to relax in the office district.

• Sapporo Station, Odori, Susukino
• Parks & Gardens

Odori Park stretches all the way from 1-chome to 12-chome. I didn’t walk the whole thing this time, so next time I definitely want to go from end to end.
11-chome and 12-chome have a romantic rose garden. Although the early-summer roses weren’t in full bloom yet, they were still beautiful enough to make me stop and admire them.
At 3-chome and 4-chome, they sell the super popular grilled corn, and I definitely recommend trying it! The corn itself isn’t as tasty as the corn in Taiwan, but the sauce is absolutely delicious and makes you want to keep taking bite after bite. The stalls only accept cash, so I recommend preparing about JPY 600–1,200 in advance so you can enjoy it without worry.