I drive from Minami Ward in Sapporo, crossing Asari Pass, passing through Otaru, and heading to Yoichi. I stop at Hotel Milione to buy bread. I remember there was a manju shop too. I found it listed on Tabelog. In the corner of the souvenir shop, they sell "Teizanbo Manju @ 120 yen" I thought there were only 1 or 2 manju shops in Teizan Valley, but when I quickly searched, 4 shops came up. I was surprised. Anyway, I don't want to buy a whole box, so I bought 2 individual pieces. The lady at the shop was a bit confused when I asked for "2 pieces," she asked, "How many pieces are in one? I'll give you 2." I didn't want a box! I brought them home and will enjoy them with some strong green tea. We don't have tea leaves at home. Next time, I'll try buying manju from another shop in Teizan Valley. But isn't 120 yen for one piece expensive? Thank you for the meal.

Iran Kara Pute. ---------- 2023.05 ---------- Omiya place in Hotel Milione at Jozankei Onsen |o| °д°)ﾉ Konnichiwa Jozankei Onsen is famous for manju, but the popular Nanchara Manju was sold out by the afternoon. Here, they have their own manju called "Jozanbo Manju." I bought 10 pieces and got 2 extra as a bonus (is that okay~). They are made fresh in the morning, with a moist dough and a sticky red bean paste. The texture can only be enjoyed on the same day. They are so delicious that they disappear in seconds with a shelf life of 3 days.

Continuing with the review of 2022, I visited a shop selling hot spring buns on the first floor of Hotel Million in Jozankei Onsen. During my year-end hot spring trip, I stayed at Hotel Million for one night and decided to purchase the "Jozanbo Manju" from this shop after browsing through the neighboring souvenir corner. The price of the "Jozanbo Manju" is 108 yen per piece. While there were small-sized hot spring buns provided as samples in the room where I stayed, the ones I purchased were larger in size. It was a fairly ordinary hot spring bun, but the filling inside was not too sweet and had a simple, delicious taste. The price was reasonable, making it a good choice for souvenirs during travel.

There are various kinds of steamed buns in Japan that I don't like, such as manju and Chinese steamed buns. Meat buns and anman are out of the question for me. Apparently, manju is famous in Jozankei? I have some business to attend to in Sapporo tomorrow, but staying for just one night is not enough, so I might stay in Jozankei the night before. When my eldest daughter was six years old, we stayed with a couple of friends in Jozankei. I booked the accommodation, but for some reason, my daughter and I were given a large room with two futons in it, which made my daughter look a bit uneasy. I can't remember which hotel it was. This time, I stayed at Hotel Milione. The hotel sells freshly steamed manju at 7 AM, and even though I don't like them, I somehow end up aiming for that time. I think it's okay to buy them individually, but for some reason, I feel the need to buy a whole box. I'm silly, aren't I? I'll eat them, of course. I have to eat them all since there are so many. The manju has a surprisingly dark and slightly sticky surface. It has a hint of saltiness at first, but then it's sweet, although not too sweet. The dough has a bit more texture compared to the manju dough I dislike, so I can eat it. The filling is smooth red bean paste, but not completely smooth - there are still some bean skins in it. It's a delicious manju, but one is enough for me. What should I do with the rest?

During a stroll in Jozankei, I took a break at a bakery in Milione and bought two freshly made manju buns from a shop called "Jozanbo Manju" in the hotel's shop. The buns were moist and chewy, with a slightly salty black sugar-flavored skin and sweet red bean paste inside. They were delicious and I regret not buying more. I plan to buy a box next time I visit. Thank you, Jozanbo!

●You can use a 108 yen smile coupon and a Hokkaido resident discount coupon. It is located inside Hotel Million. It is in a corner of the souvenir shop section, where they make freshly baked steamed buns on that day. Perfect for souvenirs. Even if you buy more, the set in a box does not become particularly cheaper. I bought five delicious steamed buns with sweet red bean paste intending to give them to someone, but ended up eating them all by myself. So, I recommend buying a little extra. (Is it just me?) The sweetness is just right, so it goes well with coffee or milk. There are two souvenir shops and they are well stocked, so I don't think you will have trouble buying souvenirs or using coupons. Thank you for the meal!

I stayed at Milione and bought some on my way back. The texture is fluffy and chewy, very delicious. I always buy some when I come here. You can buy them fresh, starting from one piece. They are just the right size, not too small, just right. They are slightly bigger than the ones they provide in the room. But still, this size is the best. So delicious!

I always miss out on buying souvenirs for year-end parties because I'm busy and run out of time. But this time, I managed to sneak out halfway and get something. It's quite popular and selling well. By the way, there's one more item I couldn't find as usual, so I ended up not buying it. I usually leave sweets at home for my family, but this year it's something different. It feels a bit unsatisfying. Anyway, I bought some for myself and my workplace and went home. This year's year-end party was peaceful with nothing special. Namaste.

- Second Post - I stopped by after about a year since my second post. In addition to the "Teizanbo Manju" at the store, they also sell "Hokkaido Vegetable Arare." The "Hokkaido Vegetable Arare" is an original product of the store, made with three types of vegetables. I tried the most popular one, the "Onion Arare," and it was really good. I bought it. The flavors of the Hokkaido Vegetable Arare include Onion, Potato Butter Yaki, and Corn. Vegetables are sent from Hokkaido to Kyoto, where they are manufactured by a Kyoto confectionery. The Onion Arare has a light and crispy taste, with the flavor of onions spreading in your mouth. It costs 310 yen (including 8% consumption tax). Overall, it was quite good, reasonably priced, and would make a nice souvenir from Teizan-kei or Hokkaido. - First Post - I tried the "Teizanbo Manju." It is manufactured and sold at Teizankei Onsen Manseikaku Hotel Million within the hotel!! Teizankei Onsen was discovered by the ascetic monk "Misawa Teizan" and later developed with significant contributions to its growth. The Teizankei Onsen offers various types of hot spring manju, with varying tastes. I visited the Teizankei Manseikaku Hotel Million for the second time during my recent stay. The hotel is located in Minami-ku, Sapporo, known as Sapporo's backyard Teizankei Onsen. They manufacture and sell the "Teizanbo Manju" at the hotel. The manju is also used as a welcome treat in rooms at various hot spring hotels and ryokans. I tried a sample, and the Teizanbo Manju weighed around 50g, slightly larger than the one in the room service, with a chewy texture. The dough is made from Hokkaido wheat, the filling from Hokkaido red beans, and honey and soy sauce are kneaded into the dough. The sweetness is slightly restrained, and it does not contain preservatives, so the shelf life is only three days. A pack of six costs 600 yen, which is reasonable. It is quite a good hot spring manju, but personally, I prefer smaller, bite-sized ones for easier consumption. I would be happier if they sold them individually for around 70 yen each. However, the larger size does offer a sense of value. I might end up buying it again next time. Delicious, thank you.

I received a souvenir with a soft and chewy skin and the sweet bean paste was just the right amount of sweetness. It was smooth bean paste. I think it lasted for about 3 days. But if it's this delicious, I feel like I could eat it in no time. It was sold at Hotel Mirione!

Sapporo's hidden gem, Jozankei Onsen, seems quite deserted now. It must have been bustling back when the Jozankei Railway was still running. At the souvenir shop in Hotel Manseikaku, they sell "Onsen Manju" made by a company called "Misen Co., Ltd." Although the product name is listed as "Jozanbo Manju," it seems to be the same thing. These steamed buns are called "Onsen Manju" because they are steamed with hot spring steam, but you can find them at any hot spring town. These buns use soy sauce, honey, and locally grown wheat to differentiate themselves, but to someone like me who isn't a fan of sweet treats, they just taste like regular "Onsen Manju." Jozankei Onsen is a familiar hot spring town in Sapporo, so I hope they continue to thrive.