Otaru's Hokkaido Ka-rou. Whenever I go to Otaru, I always stop by here. When considering taste, size, cost performance, etc., Hokkaido Ka-rou's cream puffs are my favorite in Japan. Personally, I think they are the best in Japan. However, they were sold out of other types. The sale of cream puffs for takeout still seems to be restricted. The display shelves for products were also reduced, and the outdoor dining tents were removed. It seems like they are facing various struggles due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hang in there, Hokkaido Ka-rou!

Hokkaido's souvenir staple, the rice crackers from Kitakaro, offer a surprising variety at the shop! From classic flavors to limited editions, there are so many to choose from. I was amazed by the selection and ended up picking some rice crackers as souvenirs this time. Among them, I found my favorite "tarako" flavor and couldn't resist getting it for myself! The flavor of tarako, with its perfect saltiness, paired perfectly with a beer. I can't get enough of it! Thinking back to Hokkaido while enjoying these rice crackers and beer, I can't help but want to go back there again.

Hokkaido Kairo's Hokkaido development rice crackers with hair crab flavor are very popular at Hokkaido Kairo! The aroma and taste of hair crab are intense, making it perfect to pair with alcohol. Made with Hokkaido-grown glutinous rice, these rice crackers have a sticky and chewy texture with fine grains, making them a perfect snack. If you're curious about experiencing the flavor of Hokkaido's top-quality ingredients, be sure to try these rice crackers! #Hokkaido dining #Hokkaido gourmet #Otaru dining #Otaru gourmet #120 dining #Hokkaido Kairo #souvenir dining #June 1

While strolling around Otaru, I stumbled upon the famous Hokkaido-based confectionery shop, Hokkaido Karyu, known for their development of rice crackers. I was surprised to find out that they also offer Western-style sweets like cream puffs and soft serve ice cream! This time, I tried their Jumbo Pie Choux "Dream Wonderland" and their special Apple Pie. The Pie Choux (Dream Wonderland) had a moist pie crust that resembled those used in beef stew or cream stew pies, giving it a unique texture for a cream puff. The Apple Pie was made without cinnamon, allowing the perfect balance of the apple's acidity and sweetness to shine through, complementing the buttery pie crust. Overall, both treats were quite delicious and enjoyable! ♡

I traveled to Otaru but arrived around 3:30 pm, so most places were either sold out or closed... Unfortunately. Among the few things I could eat were several shops selling soft serve ice cream. So, I visited Hokkaido Karyo and tried their ice cream. It had a strong vanilla flavor rather than milkiness. I prefer a stronger milk flavor, but this one was also very delicious. Thank you for the meal.

- Nouvelle Cream Sandwich ¥150: A fluffy and slightly elegant Western confectionery. It's on the larger side, but you can easily finish it in one go! - Dream Exploration Grass Manju ¥162: Both were delicious, but what exceeded my expectations was the grass manju. It had an intense grassy flavor!! I loved it. I bought it on a whim, so it felt like an unexpected encounter, which made me even happier ♩ *Visited around 1 PM on a weekday, no waiting time, no line. Payment method: transportation IC card. Thank you for the meal!

I have been using this place many times since it opened. Sometimes I crave the squid flavored rice crackers! This series is reasonably priced, so when I go back to my hometown, I used to buy them at New Chitose Airport! (The price has gone up a bit since then.) The most popular flavor among everyone is definitely "squid," especially loved by drinkers. Even those who are not drinkers have many fans! Currently, there are 10 basic flavors, with "sea urchin" and "hair crab" priced at ¥490, and the rest at ¥390. For a limited time, there is a smaller pack of "pickled herring" for ¥280, and there is also a box with five smaller pieces. When you open the "pickled herring," it has the exact same smell as that pickled vegetable! Although it doesn't taste the same, it has a slight sourness. As for repeat purchases... haha. My niece was eating soft serve ice cream! I took a bite and it was my first time trying it. It was richer and tastier than I expected, but a bit too sweet maybe. Even after eating it, I could still feel the sweetness lingering. I think I prefer the soft serve ice cream from Yamanaka Farm, which is located straight down from Otaru Station towards the canal!

On the way back to the hotel from the Fairy Tale Intersection! There are many sweets shops around, so I feel like having something sweet! So, I decided to check out Hokkaido Karyu, which is famous for its Kaitaku Okaki, but their soft serve ice cream is also a hidden gem! With its sturdy stone warehouse exterior, the inside is a stylish patisserie! While choosing souvenirs, I decided to try their simple vanilla soft serve ice cream! Here we go! Soft Serve Ice Cream - Vanilla! A dense and heavy soft serve ice cream! The rich cream is as white as fresh snow! The luxurious flavor is enhanced by the strong aroma of vanilla beans in the condensed milk! The waffle cone is fragrant and filled with vanilla cream all the way to the bottom! Oh, it's been a while since I've had it, but Hokkaido Karyu's soft serve ice cream is still delicious! I hope to try the limited edition flavors at the Sapporo main store someday! Now, it's time to relax back at the hotel!

The charming brick building of Hokkaido Kaoro Honkan is very lovely. The interior is spacious and open. Hokkaido Kaoro is famous for its Kaitaku Okaki, but their other sweets are also delicious. One popular item is the "Chef's Snack," which is made up of bits of Baumkuchen. There is a limit of 3 boxes per person, priced at 380 yen each. It seems that there are often long lines at their stores in Sapporo to buy this snack. Fortunately, I was able to get it without waiting today, perhaps because it's a weekday. The Baumkuchen from Hokkaido Kaoro is moist, not too sweet, and truly delicious. Definitely worth a try!

At Kitakaro in Otaru, indulge in a dreamy treat! Amazing!! The cream puff is incredibly delicious, cheap, and huge! What a fantastic and honest cream puff! It truly brings happiness and a sense of bliss. Hokkaido sweets are truly genius, and we are grateful to Kitakaro for always providing such wonderful sweets. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We will definitely visit again! Thank you for the delicious meal!

If you're tired from exploring Otaru, how about trying the cream puffs from Kitakaro? They have an eat-in area where you can sit down and enjoy your cream puffs. There's also a Rokkatei nearby. What should I buy as a souvenir? This looks good, that looks good... before you know it, your hands are full with souvenir bags.

The rich whipped custard is amazing!! When I came to Otaru, I definitely wanted to try the cream puff from Hokkairo. The pie crust is great, and the whipped custard inside is so rich and addictive!! It's the best cream puff I've ever had! If you go to Otaru, you must try it!!

I went to buy Kaitaku Okaki as a souvenir, picked up some grilled squid, octopus, and scallops, and decided to try something sweet. I found a cream puff called Pico that looked interesting, so I bought one to try. When I ate it in the car, I was amazed by the chewy cheese-filled pastry and the creamy cream. It was so delicious that I needed more! I couldn't go back, so I called Hokkaido's Kitakaro to reserve some before my flight at New Chitose Airport. I was able to enjoy them at home and felt so happy.

I went on a trip to Otaru from Hakodate and did the following: I ate sweets at Amaudo and Kitakaro, walked around the warehouse district a bit, and took a photo at Otaru Station. Every time I visit a tourist spot, I can't help but notice that Sugiyohoenjo shops are quite common in various tourist destinations. My husband and I always joke about it, saying, "Oh, there's Sugiyohoenjo again! Hey, if you're going to eat soft serve ice cream at Sugiyohoenjo, you should try the local soft serve instead! Sugiyohoenjo is everywhere!" Of course, Sugiyohoenjo also had a shop on the main street in Otaru. I don't hold a grudge against Sugiyohoenjo or dislike them. Now, I really love the soft serve ice cream and cream puffs at Kitakaro. They are delicious. My mom also loves the cream puffs from Kitakaro. Speaking of my mom, she suddenly started referring to herself as "Mommy" in a recent email. She has never called herself "Mommy" before. She always referred to herself as "Mom" when talking to me. I'm worried about her. Is Mommy okay? Before reaching Kitakaro, there are various other shops along the way, with popular and delicious sweets from Rokkatei and Le Tao. Kitakaro seemed less crowded, perhaps because of the competition. Everyone, the soft serve ice cream at Kitakaro is huge, rich, and they really load up the waffle cone. It's so delicious! In my opinion, it's the second best soft serve ice cream in Hokkaido. The best one is...will be posted later. My husband and I silently devoured the rich and delicious soft serve ice cream from Kitakaro, and the cream puff with plenty of custard cream was devoured by my husband after I took a big bite. Ah, I'm satisfied. So delicious. Kitakaro!! The Baumkuchen is also delicious, but we love the soft serve ice cream and cream puffs here. They sometimes have cream puffs at food fairs, so you should definitely get them.

Strolling through the Otaru Sakaimachi Street Shopping Arcade. Even in Hokkaido, a sunny day in August can be quite hot. Walking from the Music Box Museum, there are many famous shops lined up, and one of them, Hokkaro, caught my attention and drew me in. [Items purchased] *Fruit Orchard's June A cake made with apples harvested in June, I assume. The name's origin is unclear. It's a cake made with apples, but I was attracted by the big letters saying "Limited to Otaru" and decided to buy it. When I held it, it was quite impressive and heavy, making it a heavyweight souvenir. When I opened the package, a moist and delicious cake appeared. It was generously filled with large chunks of apples, which were thick and juicy. The subtle sweetness of the cake brings out the best in the apples, creating a delicious taste that I want to savor slowly with tea or coffee. Thank you for the treat.

Why is it that when you're hungry, you end up buying everything in sight? Despite being tired from strolling around Otaru, we couldn't resist peeking into shops and buying this and that. Even here, we ended up buying something. My husband got a Baumkuchen, I chose the Jumbo Pie Shoe "Yume Fushigi," and my daughter got Jam Yogurt and Chocolat Pocket. The Baumkuchen was very moist and rich, almost too sweet for me. The Pie Shoe had delicious pastry, crispy and truly a pie. The cream, a mix of whipped cream and custard cream, was quite sweet. Cream lovers would definitely enjoy it. The Jam Yogurt was excellent, with a strawberry sauce that wasn't too sticky sweet thanks to the use of trehalose, a sweetener appreciated by girls. The yogurt had a nice acidity, and when mixed with the sauce, it created a visually stunning and delicious combination. The Chocolat Pocket was made of freeze-dried corn (known as "touki" in Hokkaido dialect), almonds, and puffed chocolate, offering a delightful texture and flavor. I guess I'll never lose weight with treats like these.

Dream Development Grass Manju (98 yen) Along Sakai Machihon-dori, there is a quaint store with a stone-built exterior that stands out, next to the Rokkatei Otaru Canal store. I was drawn into the store as if by a magnet. Among the numerous products such as rice crackers and soft serve ice cream, I was captivated by the intense green color of the Dream Development Grass Manju and decided to purchase it. The manju felt heavy in my hand, perhaps due to the generous amount of red bean paste filling. When I took a bite, the subtle aroma and flavor of mugwort spread gently, complementing the elegant taste of the red bean paste which was not overly sweet. Delicious. Even after finishing it, the lingering taste of mugwort allows one to savor the aftertaste.

- Kitakaro Otaru Main Store, Hokkaido, Otaru City - Soft Serve Ice Cream for 350 yen (probably) - I wanted to try a soft serve ice cream that would make me feel the presence of Hokkaido cows since I had come all the way to the northern region. It was incredibly rich and the size was quite large, but I managed to finish it easily and felt reluctant to part with it.

As I had been eating a lot of seafood, I wanted to change the taste in my mouth. So, I decided to head to the main street where they sell sweet treats. However, many of the shops in the area were closed. Feeling disappointed, I stumbled upon Hokkaido Karyo, which had a sign for soft serve ice cream outside. I went in and ordered a soft serve for 380 yen (tax included). There was a small takeout counter at the back of the shop. I had to eat outside standing up as there were tourists occupying the limited seating inside. The soft serve had a rich milk flavor as expected, with the cream packed tightly all the way to the bottom of the cone. Despite the slightly cool temperature that day (around 20 degrees), I didn't feel too cold after finishing it. It was a pleasant weather for me. It seemed like I was attracting customers as I was eating outside, with people flocking into the shop after seeing me. I'm making it a goal to eat as much soft serve as possible on this trip, so I'll keep trying. Thank you for the meal.

[Hokkaido Food Journey 15th Stop] Name: Hokkaro Location: 20 minutes walk from Otaru Station Price Range: Up to 1000 yen Their butter sandwiches are delicious! I ate too much and didn't buy a lot for souvenirs. I should have bought more for myself. Overall: I love it! #Gourmet #FoodBlog #Kainomiman #Kainomi #HokkaidoFoodJourney #Sushi #Top100SushiRestaurants #Sushi #Sushi #SushiGourmet #HakodateGourmet #Hakodate #Hokkaido #Gourmet #GourmetTravel

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is evident here in Otaru, with sparse crowds even at noon. The absence of inbound tourists and school trip students has left the town feeling quite lonely. On the bright side, there is no need to wait anywhere. I visited Hokkaido's famous confectionery shop, where I enjoyed a fluffy cream puff called "Northern Dream Dome" and a pie-style cream puff named "Dream Wonderland". Both were filled generously with a gentle custard and cream. Eating them can get messy, but it's a dreamy experience. Each costs ¥180 and they accept cash, ID, QUICPay, and other contactless IC payments. Outdoor seating has been removed due to the pandemic, so it's standing room only if you choose to eat on the spot.