Sometimes when I see it, I feel nostalgic and end up buying it! This time, I saw it at the Seven-Eleven at Otaru Station on my tipsy way home from a drinking session and decided to purchase it. When I was a kid, it was fun to push it up from the bottom and cut it with a string! We used to compete to see who could cut it the thinnest, I remember. It's been a while since I had it, so I tried to eat it... but the lid wouldn't come off easily haha. After finally opening it, the top part was a bit gritty with sugar! That's the best part, right there! My niece also seemed to enjoy cutting and eating it happily! She seems to really love yokan! My father was also enjoying cutting and eating it with nostalgia! It's amazing how this yokan has been loved by multiple generations and brings smiles to everyone's faces. It's so delicious! If I see it again, I'll definitely buy it! I also love this retro packaging. It goes well with alcohol as a snack! Yokan goes surprisingly well with alcohol, right? Even though the alcohol I was drinking this time didn't really match haha.

Finally made it to Honpo! I've been wanting to come here for a while! I ended up buying the "castella" as requested, even though I was originally planning on getting the "yokan." It feels like I'm buying yokan at Bunmeido! The castella is sweet and delicious, but the packaging is a bit of a downside. It's difficult to take out a piece with the tightly packed slices. I was surprised by the wide variety of products available only at Honpo. I definitely want to come back again!

On the way to Hakodate, I stopped by Esashi to buy some bread, and when I got back into the car, I noticed a shop with many cars parked in front of it. I decided to check it out and it turned out to be Goshote-ya Honpo!! I have fond memories of cutting and eating "Goshote-ya Yosan" with a string when I was young. Even though I didn't eat much of it myself, I would cut a lot and get scolded. It was a nostalgic experience, so I decided to buy some. When I entered the shop, I was impressed by the wide variety of traditional Japanese sweets they had. After looking around, I purchased three items: "Mame Daifuku" (162 yen), which had a strong saltiness from black soybeans and a sweet mochi, "Kinjiyama" (216 yen), a steamed bun with sweet boiled sweet potatoes inside and a layer of Goshote-ya Yosan, and "Goshote-ya Yosan" (249 yen), which was unexpectedly eaten by my companion before I could cut it with a string. It wasn't too sweet and I couldn't stop eating it. I saw a castella cake that looked delicious but didn't buy it this time, so I plan to try it next time. Thank you, Goshote-ya Honpo, for the wonderful treats!

I purchased "Goshoteiya Yokan" for 300 yen + tax at "Kawayuan" located in the B1 floor of Nagoya Mitsukoshi Sakae store. It is a rare yokan made with Kinshikimame beans. The shape is also unique, in a cylindrical form. When you remove the lid on the top, it is coated with sugar. You can enjoy the process of pushing it up from the bottom and cutting it with the included string before eating. Since it is made with Kinshikimame beans, the color is a clear light brown and beautiful, different from yokan made with azuki beans. As for the taste, it is not too sweet and easy to eat, but I couldn't really taste the flavor and texture of the Kinshikimame beans. Overall, the reviews are high, so if I come across other products, I would like to try them.

Today, I traveled from Hakodate to Matsumae for work. From Matsumae, I will return home to Sapporo via Esashi. I will stop by Goshoteiya to buy souvenirs on the way back! I visited this shop about 30 years ago, and as soon as I saw the exterior, it brought back memories of how it looked back then! It was nostalgic. I bought yokan, castella, and a summer limited edition water manju that is only available at this shop. When I got home, I enjoyed them with lukewarm tea. The water manju has a refreshing and calming sweetness, perfect for summer! Thank you for the meal♪

During my stay in Esashi on June 15th, I found out through Facebook and Instagram that on June 16th, which is Wagashi Day, they will be selling a limited edition item called "Goshoteya Roll" on the 15th and 16th. I managed to visit the shop in between my errands. The "Goshoteya Roll" is a sweet that was previously only available at events about 2 years ago, so this was my first time trying it. I bought a total of 3 rolls for myself and my parents, and enjoyed them with green tea for a snack in the morning. The roll was very fluffy and light, with a taste similar to an omelette due to the generous amount of eggs used in the dough. The sweet red bean filling was not too sweet, but rather light and satisfying. I couldn't stop eating once I started. This was my first experience with the "Goshoteya Roll," and I must say, it's a taste that would make me want to buy it again when I hear about it being sold.

I came all the way from Hakodate to Tokyo❣️ On my way back home, I bought a specialty yokan from a long-established Japanese confectionery shop in Esashi at Hakodate Airport. The shop is located in the departure lobby on the sales floor. <Souvenir> Assorted pack ¥1458- (3 mini nagashi yokan, 3 mini marukan yokan) Marukan yokan is a rare cylindrical-shaped yokan. The outside of the yokan is hardened with sugar to preserve it, and you can cut it with a string to eat just the amount you want. It's like a nostalgic candy, fun and interesting. It's quite sweet, so it goes well with a strong green tea with bitterness. A strong straight black coffee is also not bad. The mini size is convenient for storage, so when I gave it to a friend living alone at work, they were very pleased. It was delicious❣️ Thank you for the meal (^ ^)

On the way back from visiting "Ranburu" on October 27, I saw something interesting displayed in front of the Gokachiyateya Honpo store. The company's president had also posted about it on Facebook. With Halloween approaching, various pumpkins were lined up in front of the store, with some orange pumpkins featuring brush calligraphy. These pumpkins were actually designed to mimic the wrapping paper used for Gokachiyateya's yokan (a traditional Japanese sweet). The president's playful spirit was evident in this display. After enjoying a delicious coffee, I was drawn to the pumpkins in front of the store and felt like having something sweet. So, I went inside. Previously, they used to have a table in the center of the store displaying various sweets, but now only a few items were placed there, and customers had to pick the rest from the showcase. This change was likely due to the current situation. Additionally, wooden shields made by Doan Sugi were set up on the counter above the showcase, some of which were also used as product POP displays, ensuring adequate safety measures were in place. Let's focus on the "Chukamanju" (Chinese steamed bun), "Halloween Pie," and "Kodai Daifuku" that caught my eye. On that day, my sister was returning to Sapporo, so I bought one piece each for myself and my sister. When I got home, my sister was preparing to leave, so I was able to give her the sweets. As for my portion, although I initially planned to save them for the next day, around 9:00 PM, I suddenly had an irresistible craving for something sweet, so I ended up savoring all three pieces (while taking photos). Here are my thoughts: "Chukamanju" - The moist and fluffy skin wrapped around the sweet bean paste resembled a dorayaki. The sweetness was mild compared to traditional ones. It was a perfect size for one person to enjoy. If used as a gift, larger sizes might be more suitable. "Halloween Pie" - The pumpkin filling inside the pie likely contained cinnamon, giving it a slightly strong, spicy flavor. This pie retained a sense of Japanese confectionery despite being a pie, showcasing the unique touch of Gokachiyateya Honpo. "Kodai Daifuku" - The mochi dough of this daifuku contained ancient rice, adding a slight chewiness from the grains. Since the ancient rice is glutinous, it brought out the stickiness of the mochi. The smooth red bean paste complemented the texture and taste of the ancient rice grains. The Halloween theme was evident in the "Halloween Pie" and the pumpkins at the store front, but overall, I enjoyed these delicious sweets. "Don't worry, I won't play any tricks♪"

I visited Goshikashiyokan Main Store for the first time, which is a type of yokan that is pushed out with fingers. I visited to buy salmon-shaped senbei. I heard that they are also sold in Hakodate city, but in limited quantities, so I came to buy them directly. I also bought a snack where yokan is stuffed into figs. I heard that regular customers buy the yokan scraps that are sold. The dorayaki was also very delicious. The daifuku had red bean paste filling. The parking lot is located away from the store.

I am heading to Hakodate from Sapporo via Esashi. Since I am passing through Esashi, I think I will buy the famous "Goshoteiya Yokan" for the girls at my workplace. As I mentioned in a previous review of the restaurant "Fukuhara" in the neighboring town of Kaminokuni, the Hiyama area where Esashi is located is one of the earliest areas in Hokkaido to adopt Japanese culture. Hokkaido was named Ezo and then Hokkaido 151 years ago in 1869. "Goshoteiya Honpo" was established in the following year in 1870, which is amazing, don't you think? Before selling Yokan, they operated as a confectionery store called "Kashiya Goshoteiya" since before the Meiji era, so they have a longer history than Hokkaido itself. The "Marukan Yokan (mini round)" is Yokan in a cylindrical container. Many people may have seen it before, right? They also sell rod-shaped Yokan, but when Hokkaido residents think of "Goshoteiya Yokan," they think of this "Marukan Yokan"! You push out the Yokan from the bottom of the container and cut out the portion to eat with a string. I love this process more than eating the Yokan itself. I can't eat Yokan because I don't like sweet things, but when I was a child, I was in charge of cutting the "Goshoteiya Yokan" at home. The feedback from the girls at my workplace is, "The texture is firm!" "The taste is normal, but it's fun to cut and eat with a string." See, it's fun, right? "Let the old lady cut it too!" But I couldn't say that... If everyone is happy, that's enough to make me happy.

When I went to Esashi, the shop I most wanted to visit had been there for over four years since I moved. Back then, monthly wagashi was my greatest pleasure, and I was grateful to have this place even in the countryside. If this place didn't exist, my life in Esashi would have been dull. I first learned about wagashi day here. The reasonably priced and well-made wagashi here is truly impressive. The price has gone up a bit, but it's still 160 yen + tax. This time's wagashi was beautiful. Morning dew, nestled among the flowers. Water lilies, making you want to peek inside. Fireflies, creating a nice atmosphere as it gets dark. I also bought Mizuyokan, which was light and refreshing, but I still prefer the regular yokan here. There was a product that only had the sugary part that some people like, called Tsuikomi yokan. It seemed embarrassing to buy it, but it was thinly sliced like sweetened yokan, similar to sweetened adzuki beans. But I still think secretly eating the crunchy part of the regular yokan and giving the rest to my husband is the way to go, like how the end of a sushi roll is first come, first served. There was also a new item called Confit Yokan. It apparently contains fruit simmered in sugar, which sounds delicious. I bought the lemon flavor and will be trying it soon.

I tried the "Yokan (Honneri)" from Dotsanko Plaza in Ikebukuro. It is a stick yokan that is easy to eat. It has a slightly granular texture like coarse sugar, which adds a nice touch. It is a simple yet satisfying sweet treat.

I came to Esashi town and bought a souvenir of mini round can yokan at Goshote-ya Honpo. I purchased 10 mini-sized yokan and now I am browsing the store. I noticed they have unique flavors like pistachio and almond yokan.

On March 3, 2020, before returning home in Hakodate, I decided to share a special story. On this day, I decided to become a "stay-at-home uncle" in the future, but I suddenly remembered the taste of the "White Gosho-ya Yubeshi" that I had eaten before. While running errands in Esashi-cho, I passed by the Gosho-ya Yubeshi Honpo and decided to buy one each of the classic tube yubeshi (sweet bean paste) in the gold sweet potato flavor and the white Gosho-ya yubeshi in the white sweet bean flavor to bring back to Hakodate. Later on, when I entered into my "stay-at-home uncle" lifestyle and had stocked up on stew and curry for my meals, I felt like having something sweet during a break while cooking. That's when the two types of Gosho-ya yubeshi came in handy. I decided to have a little fun by trying a tiger pattern (or border) design with the two colors of tube yubeshi. I sliced both tube yubeshi into 1cm thick slices and alternated them to create a striped pattern, as shown in the photo. As for the taste, the Gosho-ya yubeshi did not disappoint. I could enjoy the richness of the classic gold sweet potato flavor and the lightness of the white sweet bean flavor alternately. Even though you can enjoy them by simply slicing them with a knife, I believe that having a playful spirit in life can help ease hardships in these times. Cooking should maintain the original taste, but adding a bit of playfulness is important. In that sense, these two types of Gosho-ya yubeshi are versatile enough to accommodate such creativity due to their delicious taste. I have some other ideas for decorative cutting with tube yubeshi in mind, so I look forward to trying them out in the future.

On February 10, 2020, I visited this store at the request of my father to purchase revenue stamps. This store not only sells sweets including yokan, but also handles the consignment sales of stamps, postcards, and revenue stamps. I picked up the revenue stamps I needed and took a look around the store. Aside from the usual cylindrical yokan, there were two other types displayed - one was a Valentine's Day-themed yokan with heart marks, and the other was the "Shiroi Goshokuya Yokan" supervised by a famous buyer. Since it was around Valentine's Day, I decided to skip the Valentine's Day yokan and bought the white yokan that caught my eye for a snack. Looking at the ingredients, I noticed that this yokan contains white kidney beans (adzuki beans). The taste was light compared to the usual sweet potato yokan, with the same level of sweetness and a satisfying texture. I thought about arranging it in a tiger pattern for a visually appealing presentation on social media. In any case, it was a delicious yokan. Next time, I'll try arranging it in a tiger pattern.

On the first day of my trip to southern Hokkaido in October 2019, I visited Goshoteiya, a famous shop for yokan (sweet bean jelly). Along with Misaki Yokan and Shiretoko Yokan, it is known as one of the three great yokan of Hokkaido. Goshoteiya yokan is a must-buy souvenir when visiting Esashi. I bought some to take back home. This yokan is often found in souvenir shops in Hakodate, leading some tourists to mistakenly think it is a Hakodate specialty. Just to clarify, Goshoteiya yokan is actually a souvenir from Esashi, not Hakodate. Another popular item found in Hakodate souvenir shops, Trappist Cookies, is also not from Hakodate but from Hokuto City. So, what exactly are Hakodate souvenirs? As someone who lived in Hakodate for about 10 years, I confidently recommend the Mini Nagashi Yokan, which costs 918 yen for a pack of 5. It has a refined sweetness and is not too heavy, making it a delightful treat.

I purchased a mini can of 5 pieces of sheep's milk jelly for myself at the antenna shop "Platto Esashi" in Kaio Maru Youth Center at Esashi Umi no Eki (total price: 1,048 yen including tax). I had not felt like eating jelly because it had been hot, but I finally decided to try it. It can last for 2 months. It is said that sweets were first made using azuki beans harvested in Gokate Village in Esashi during the late Edo period, but this one is made with sweet potatoes. When I tried to eat it, I wasn't sure how to eat it without reading the instructions. You can remove the top lid and push up the jelly from there, cutting it with the string attached to the top, or you can just take a bite. The convenience of being able to eat it without using a knife or getting your hands dirty is appealing. It has a simple taste that is not too sweet, and you can feel the tradition and history in it. It was delicious. The retro packaging and affordable price make it a great souvenir option.

"Wakateya Sakura Yokan - Hokkaido specialty yokan!! I had been wanting to try it for a while, and when I finally found the sakura flavor, I bought it. The yokan contains sakura leaves, and when I tried it, the sakura flavor spread throughout. It was enjoyable to experience the hint of sakura until the end. I was happy that my wish to try it came true this year."

In this shop, you can often see round cans of yokan in round containers. The shop has been selling authentic sweets since 1870, making it quite a long-standing establishment. The ingredients used are beans from Hokkaido and agar sugar brought by Kitamae ships. The characteristic of yokan here is that it is made using sweet potatoes. The beans, agar, and sugar are boiled together and kneaded for a whole day. The round cans of yokan were invented around 1939-1940 to avoid getting fingers dirty, and now they have become a staple. Since sweet potatoes are used, the yokan has a light color that is somewhat transparent. The taste is a little different from red beans, not too sweet, and easy to eat in mini sizes.

I always thought Goshotei Yakan was a Hakodate souvenir, but I was mistaken. I visited for the first time and tried Mizuyokan and Chinese steamed buns! Of course, I also got the classic Tube Yakan and the Bakumatsu/Meiji Restoration version as souvenirs!