My colleague at work recommended this place for sweets in Kitami - Kuma no Makura, it's really good! But isn't this place a bit far? I thought as I drove a little and arrived in Kitami. When I entered the store... there was an old lady chatting at the back of the store. I quietly entered the store, and she didn't seem to notice my presence (laughs). Thanks to that, I was able to leisurely look around the store. Kuma no Makura, is this it? It's quite small for a bear pillow, about the size of an adult's thumb? And it costs 175 yen for 3 pieces. I also bought a dorayaki. It has an oxygen absorber inside, so it lasts longer than expected. It costs 165 yen. When the staff finally noticed me, they apologized and I paid for my items. The staff did nothing wrong. I am a ninja after all, so it's understandable that they didn't notice me entering the store. They put the items in a paper bag for me. The Kuma no Makura flavor is like white karinto, with a soft and doughy texture like a donut. It's oily and has a sugary coating on the surface. It's sweet and greasy, a snack for those who love indulging (laughs). It's not bad, but it might be a bit divisive. The dorayaki is just average. The red bean paste is not too moist, with a firm texture and sweetness. Unfortunately, there's a hint of a strange flavor in it. It's not as refined as the dorayaki from the famous store Daimaru in Kitami, which costs 160 yen. Overall, it's good, but in the battle of dorayaki, the other side was not a strong competitor.

A long-established confectionery shop in Soanai, Kitami. The specialty here is the famous bear-shaped pillow. It goes well with strong tea. They also have Western-style sweets, but my favorite is the nightingale rice cake. The donuts were delicious too. It's a convenient shop to have nearby.

I accidentally stumbled upon a sweet shop in Ainan, and even though I was looking for something else, I ended up buying a set of three different colored daifuku and a cream puff. The cream puff had a unique mix of custard and whipped cream, with the custard being the dominant flavor. The daifuku had a decent mochi texture but the red bean paste was nothing special. Overall, the cream puff was surprisingly tasty, but I wish they also had the traditional bean paste daifuku available.

Eastern Hokkaido, the core city of the Okhotsk region, Kitami City. Located in the outskirts of Ainai (Ainonai) area, about 25-30 minutes by car from Kitami city center, is a confectionery shop that has been in business for a long time, offering a wide range of Japanese and Western sweets. "Mikashi-shi Marusendo" is located near JR Ainai Station. The shop is easy to find as it faces the national road in an area where several shops are lined up. The shop has a wide variety of sweets ranging from manju, mochi, dorayaki, long-lasting wagashi to cakes, and it was renovated a few years ago, making the shop look new. One of their famous sweets is called "Kuma no Makura" (Bear Pillow). What kind of sweet is "Kuma no Makura"? I couldn't imagine from the name, so I decided to buy it. The price is affordable at 400 yen for a generous amount. The packaging indicates that the shop has been in business for 85 years, so it seems to be an old shop. The shape is like a round piece of wood. Ah, this could also be a bear pillow! It looks like karinto, but when you taste it, it is fluffy and soft. It seems to be made by mixing Hokkaido wheat with Okinawa black sugar, giving it a black sugar aroma. It is also coated with plenty of sugar on the outside, so it's quite sweet. It would go well with strong tea. Besides, there are various cakes available. I thought it was mainly a Japanese confectionery shop, but they have a good variety of cakes. The sliced cakes all have a nostalgic Showa era feel. I chose Mont Blanc and Apple Pie. The Apple Pie has plenty of sugar on top of the pie. There are few apples, so I would be happier if there were more apples. The Mont Blanc has a light cream. Both cakes are quite sweet! Nowadays, there are fewer cakes that are so sweet. Both the "Kuma no Makura" and the cakes were retro snacks that reminded me of the Showa era.

"Selected as a three-star sweet at the 'Hokkaido Sweets Championship 2013,' Ensendo's 'Bear Pillow' is a must-try dessert in Kitami. The championship is an event where sweets shops from 8 cities and 95 stores across Hokkaido are visited to select the best sweets. Among the 6 entries from Kitami, Ensendo's 'Bear Pillow' stood out for its high satisfaction rate. The dessert is made with a blend of Okinawan black sugar and Hokkaido wheat, resulting in a surprisingly soft and fluffy texture. The sweetness from the black sugar and honey is addictive. With a reasonable price, it makes a great souvenir. Located in Ainancho, a bit away from Kitami city, the shop is easily accessible along the national highway. The shop's bright new paint job makes it stand out even more. There is a spacious parking lot next to the shop, making it convenient for visitors. When in Kitami, take a short trip to enjoy this traditional local sweet treat."

I visited Marusendo confectionery shop in Ainancho, Kitami City. It is a long-established confectionery shop known for its "Kuma no Makura" sweets. I bought some and they were made with Okinawan brown sugar and honey, fried in oil to create a soft texture. They are inspired by bears in Hokkaido taking a nap. The price of 400 yen for a small pack of 13 pieces was surprisingly affordable. The texture is slightly crispy on the outside and moist inside, with a delicious taste of brown sugar. It's a bit of a shame that the shop is a little far from the city center.

I saw a flyer for a renovated open bakery and decided to visit on a different day. When I entered the store, I was the only customer, but it quickly started to get crowded. I had heard through word of mouth that their cream puffs and dorayaki were delicious, so that was my main reason for visiting. Unfortunately, during the summer they do not make cream puffs. When I looked at the display case, all the "mizu manju" were sold out. The dorayaki was also sold out. It's the Obon season, so I guess it's understandable. They had a few Western-style sweets, but they were more like cakes from a decade ago rather than modern ones. Since I was looking forward to the cream puffs, I decided to pass on them this time. The signature item here seems to be a confection called "Kuma no Makura" with a slightly unusual name. When I asked what kind of sweet it was, they silently offered me a sample. It was a soft and sweet confection with a strong black sugar flavor. The surface was coated with sugar, but it had a nostalgic and gentle taste, not overly sweet as I had expected. Since I had driven all the way there, I decided to purchase the "Kuma no Makura," "Madeleine," and "Strawberry Fruit Cake." The Madeleine had walnuts, almonds, and raisins inside, and the almond on the surface was fragrant (I couldn't taste the walnuts), but it was slightly overbaked and felt dry. I wished it had a bit more moistness. Ingredients: wheat flour, sugar, eggs, butter, walnuts, almonds, raisins, cornstarch, liquor, flavoring, leavening agent. The Strawberry Fruit Cake had a subtle and gentle strawberry flavor. Ingredients: wheat flour, sugar, eggs, butter, cream, strawberries, liquor. The "Kuma no Makura" was so delicious that my daughter almost ate it all by herself. Ingredients: wheat flour, sugar, black sugar, vegetable oils, milk, trehalose, eggs, honey, baking powder, vanilla. I have been surprised to find that some local bakeries in Kitami City use margarine with a lot of trans fats in their baked goods instead of butter. I never use margarine in my own baking. The bakery lived up to its reputation with its reliable taste. However, I felt that the handling of the products by the part-time staff, perhaps an older lady, was a bit careless. Since the sweets were delicious, I wish they would handle them with more care and affection. I would like to try the cream puffs and dorayaki next time.

I wanted to explore a new shop, so I happened to go in that direction for some errands and decided to check it out. I read online that their cream puffs and dorayaki are excellent, so I went there specifically for those. It's located in the outskirts of Kitami, closer to Rausu. I had always thought it was a tea shop, but it turned out to be a sweets shop. When I entered the shop, there were so many sweets displayed. They had a decent selection of cakes, but a wide variety of traditional Japanese sweets. There was a sign recommending a chiffon cake. The atmosphere felt like a countryside sweets shop. The cakes looked a bit roughly made. I ended up buying cream puffs, dorayaki, a steamed cake-like treat, and something similar to a mooncake. There were two types of cream puffs available, and I chose the double cream puff that was individually wrapped instead of the recommended custard cream puff by the shop owner. When I tried it... hmm? The soft choux pastry with cream, with whipped cream on top and custard cream on the bottom. The custard cream had a hint of liquor in it, giving it a unique taste. It was delicious. It's like a cream puff for adults, not heavy at all, and I finished it quickly. I think it was 150 yen. A unique flavor. The dorayaki was tasty, but nothing extraordinary. I bought the other items as souvenirs for a friend's house, so I haven't tried them. The lady at the shop was very nice. I visited with my baby, and she engaged in conversation with me. Personally, I would like to try other traditional Japanese sweets, so I will visit again.

This is not a trendy "patisserie", but a shop that has been preserving the traditional flavors for years. Both Japanese sweets and cakes are recommended, but their cream puffs and dorayaki are exceptional. Once you try them, you might get addicted. They are popular among all ages. It may be a bit far from the city, but why not make a trip there on a holiday drive? It's located along a national highway, so it's easy to find even if it's your first time. There is also a spacious parking space next to the shop.

Located a little away from the city center of Kitami, there is a large pink sign for "Ensendo" along the national highway in Ainan. This long-established store, founded 89 years ago, was recommended by a local in Kitami for their delicious sweets, particularly the "Bear Pillow" from Ensendo. From the name alone, it's hard to imagine what kind of sweet it is. It's like a donut made with Okinawan black sugar and Hokkaido wheat flour, coated with sugar. It's a small bite-sized treat that pairs well with coffee, black tea, sencha, hojicha, or even milk. I wish they would make a large "Bear Pillow" someday...

I received a "bear pillow" from a friend from Kitami. It comes in a bag with three big chunks that look like bear pillows. The icing has a crunchy texture and the sweetness of brown sugar is unexpectedly delicious. It's similar to the baby donuts that are often sold, but maybe a bit different. It seems high in calories, so I'll stop at one. The next day, it was gone without a trace. This is from Ensendo confectionery in Ainosato, Kitami. According to my friend, "only the bear pillow is delicious." I hope they buy it for me again.

This is a review of a snack called "Bear's Pillow". It was received as a gift from the wife's hometown in Kitami during Silver Week. The snack is from Marusendo in Ainan, Kitami City. It appears to be shaped like a bear's pillow, coated with sugar and sweet. The texture is soft, like a soft caramel snack. The reviewer gave it a perfect score out of respect for the shop and hopes to introduce it to others.

This is the last thing I ate on my Shiretoko trip. I bought it at the Memanbetsu Airport. I've never seen this souvenir before!! I thought it was so cute and decided to buy it immediately. When I opened it, I found that it contained inari-zushi!! Upon closer inspection, it was actually Chigatta (laughs) - a tightly packed snack that resembled a combination of sata andagi and karinto donuts. When I tried one, it had a simple and expected taste. They intentionally didn't individually wrap them to keep the cost down. I like that reasoning. The next day, I shared them with my colleagues at work. They were quite pleased and asked where I bought them. It was a unique and unusual souvenir, and I thought it was a pretty good choice.

In June 2018, my friend goes to his hometown in Kitami once a month for a day trip, and this time he brought back a simple and delicious "Bear's Pillow" snack that we enjoyed with a few friends at his place. It looked like karinto, but when you bite into it, it has a moist texture with black sugar coating, similar to a donut. It goes well with milk. My friend considers this snack as his comfort food. Thank you for the treat! Currently, I cannot use my PC, so I am posting this from my phone. Typing with both hands, otherwise words don't come out. Short post for now.