I prefer buying individual sweet potatoes at Wakasaimo Honpo for 140 yen each. They also sell them in boxes of 5, but I don't need the box. The sweet potatoes are delicious and have not changed over the years. I actually prefer Imoten over Wakasaimo. Just be aware that the expiration date is only 1 day.

Hokkaido Wanderlust Travel - After visiting the Tōya Karurusu Onsen in Noboribetsu City, I decided to go all the way to Mount Orofure. The weather wasn't great, but the view was amazing. I tried the famous "Wakasaimo" snack that Takahashi and Toshi use in their comedy routine. It piqued my interest, so I bought it along with some local craft beers. The Wakasaimo snack comes in different flavors and is individually wrapped for freshness. The freshly fried "Imoten" snack looked delicious. However, the Wakasaimo chocolate flavor was not as good as expected. The "Kin Oni Pale Ale" beer was tasty, but it required a bottle opener. I hope they improve the packaging in the future.

In May 2022, I enjoyed the hot springs in Noboribetsu and then visited this place. They had craft beer available, so I bought some. It was unique and very delicious. I was able to enjoy comparing different flavors, from fruity to sharp and refreshing. The beer has won awards at the National Liquor Competition.

I enjoyed myself at Noboribetsu Onsen and purchased some souvenirs and craft beer. Among them, the "Golden Demon Pale Ale," which won first place in the 2012 Japan Craft Beer Selection, was outstanding with its sharp edge, powerful bitterness, and wonderful aroma that lingers after each sip. It was a delicious craft beer that I could keep drinking on its own. The "Red Demon Red Ale" was fruity with a mild bitterness, making it a versatile and easy-to-drink beer that goes well with any dish. I tried three different flavors on a later date, and all of them were quite good. Wakasaimo Honpo, known for its specialty "wakasaimo" from Lake Toya, started brewing beer in 1998 with the desire to offer delicious beer locally. In 2008, their "Oni Densetsu" Pilsner and Pale Ale won gold medals at the International Beer Competition organized by the Japan Craft Beer Association. They also won gold medals for their "Sweet Strawberry" beer at the Japan Asia Beer Cup.

"Who did you get it from??" "Huh? Didn't you buy it when you went during Obon? You don't remember? You bought too much!!" It seems like poking a hornet's nest. "I declared that I won't work hard on Tabelog," said I, "It's fine wherever we go during Obon," said my wife. She made Obon a mountain climbing trip in Urakawa, staying one night in Tomakomai and one night in Date. When we stopped by Noboribetsu on the way, oh yeah, we did stop by there, but there are no photos. "I was quite tired," she said. "And Keipon, I told you several times that this isn't a Tabelog activity trip," so I was annoyed. "Did I do that??" And then, you bought three sweet potatoes? I like small sweets. When you take them out of the bag, small and cute sweets appear. Is it a manju? The dough is made of sweet potatoes, and there is plenty of red bean paste inside. I never imagined red bean paste in such sweets, but I can't resist the smooth red bean paste. The potato... is overshadowed by the red bean paste. There is also a buttery taste. It's not too sweet, and it's not delicious, but... it is delicious. But, isn't this quite high in calories? It's not a guilt-free sweet.

About half a century ago, the souvenir from Noboribetsu Lake Toya was a traditional Japanese confectionery called "Wakasaimo," which was so popular that it became a local face. If my memory serves me right, there used to be a shop in the hot spring town of Noboribetsu that sold Wakasaimo. Now, the shop is located about a 30-second drive towards Noboribetsu Station from the Noboribetsu East Interchange on the highway. The shop here produces Oni's Red Beer and regular beer, gaining fame as a local craft beer. When buying souvenirs in Hokkaido, most people usually purchase them at Chitose Airport or at the product exhibition at Otaru Outlet, but occasionally, they also buy souvenirs at Noboribetsu's Wakasaimo. The only downside is that Wakasaimo is not very well-known in mainland Japan, so it may not be well received as a gift. Nowadays, there are various other confectioneries available, making it easy to find enough souvenirs even with just a glance at Wakasaimo.

Located about a 10-minute drive from the famous hot spring town of Noboribetsu Onsen in Hokkaido, there is a shop called "Wakasaimo Honpo" just down the road towards JR Noboribetsu Station. In addition to selling the famous local sweet "wakasaimo," they also have a restaurant targeting tourists. Wakasaimo is a sweet treat made with sweet beans and thinly sliced kelp, designed to resemble baked sweet potatoes. It has been a long-selling product since its release in 1923 and is loved by many. When I visited, they were having a half-price sale due to the decrease in sales caused by the pandemic. I bought a large amount to share with my family and colleagues. Enjoying wakasaimo with a cup of tea later, I could see smiles on everyone's faces. It may be a simple souvenir, but it is definitely recommended.

I visited the Waka Saimo Honpo located right next to the Noboribetsu Higashi Interchange for a birthday celebration hot spring stay. This time, my eldest daughter couldn't come with us due to school commitments, so it was a trip with just the three of us. We stopped by during a toilet break. Small Hinata-san welcomed us right away! They told us we could only order two items each, so we followed the rule. I got my favorite Waka Saimo and Imoten! First, the Imoten. It's basically deep-fried Waka Saimo. It tastes so different from what you would expect Imoten to taste like. It's just deep-fried Waka Saimo! It was delicious! Waka Saimo. People from Hokkaido know that Waka Saimo doesn't actually contain any potatoes, but it still has that potato-like taste. The fibers that come out when you break it are so intricate. The slightly strong saltiness is the perfect balance. It's the essence of being a Hokkaido native! Thank you for the delicious meal!

After enjoying a day trip to the hot springs in Noboribetsu, I always make sure to visit this place. I have a weakness for sample tastings, and that's why I love this shop so much (laughs). The freshly fried sweet potato tempura, 3 pieces for 389 yen, is just delicious no matter how many times I eat it! After all, they are frying my favorite "Japanese sweet potatoes" (*´▽｀*). The next day, when I lightly warm them up in the toaster at home, the crispy texture returns and I feel completely satisfied. It's true that they taste best when eaten on the same day, though (≧▽≦). The Usu Manju, 5 pieces for 540 yen, is described as "a crispy pastry filled with red beans using Hokkaido's red beans." The slightly crispy (not too crispy) and moist pastry, the gentle sweetness of the red bean paste, the good texture, and the subtle buttery aroma are all delightful. The name "Usu Manju" was named after the Usu Shinzan, which was born from the eruption of Mount Usu in 1977, as explained on the packaging. I remember being shocked when I was in elementary school at the time when ash fell from the sky. This shop caters to a wide range of needs, from souvenirs in boxes to individual sales, which is very convenient. Most importantly, being able to sample the products makes choosing souvenirs much easier. And this time, since I was thirsty, I also had my first beer tasting (*^^)v. I'm sorry to my designated driver husband, but a beer after a hot spring is just delicious (≧▽≦). From sampling sweets to tasting beer, is this place heaven?? (laughs) I'll definitely stop by again when I visit Noboribetsu. The "Usu Manju" I had after a long time turned out to be even more to my liking than I remembered! Repeat decision♪ Thank you for the meal (^^)/

When passing through this area, I wanted to try the freshly fried Imoten for sampling. Unfortunately, there was no sampling available that day, but there were still warm freshly fried Imoten. They have a new package now, with individually wrapped Imoten candies inside. The issue is that once you open the package with many Imoten, you have to eat them quickly. They started selling them individually at the store. The problem of shelf life becomes quite important when there are fewer family members. I still think the Imoten at the Imoten shop is the best.

I had some anpoteito (sweet potato) at a relative's house in Noboribetsu!! I've seen the commercial for it many times but this was my first time actually eating it (*´ω｀*) It's written as "Japanese-style sweet potato." The sweet potato flavor is strong and it's soft and easy to eat (°▽°) I always thought that Usman was the best, but anpoteito might be my new favorite. I might buy some next time I go to the store~(^ー^)

Sometimes I have a sudden craving for something sweet. I was near Noboribetsu this day, so I decided to visit a place that came to mind. When it comes to Waka Saimo Honpo, I love their freshly fried Imo Ten, but since they don't sell single servings, I decided to try a new product this time. The "An Potato" as advertised in their commercial, is wrapped in sweet bean paste. It has a sticky and moist texture, with a harmonious blend of grain-derived richness and sweetness, along with a buttery richness and sweetness. It's not overly sweet, keeping up with the trend of the times. While the commercial may have seemed a bit forced, the taste is really good. However, as someone who isn't a big fan of sweet things, one piece might be my limit. "Waka Saimo" was created with the idea of expressing baked sweet potatoes without actually using sweet potatoes. Learning from this creation, they have expanded into making Japanese and Western sweets, as well as engaging in activities like sushi conveyor belt business and craft beer brewing to add color to the local food culture. They aim to continue pursuing the importance and beauty of "making things", contributing to the excitement of Hokkaido by pursuing food that becomes memories in people's lives and as a cultural aspect.

Finally, the last review related to Golden Week! I visited this place after soaking in the hot springs in Noboribetsu. I was impressed by the deliciousness of the "imo-ten" (deep-fried sweet potato slices) during my first visit, and that memory stuck with me, so I decided to come back again. This time, there was a sample tasting of "imo-ten" available, and it was still delicious, hot and crispy, just as I remembered (*´▽｀*). Since the "imo-ten" has a short shelf life, I decided not to purchase it this time. Instead, I bought the following items as souvenirs and snacks: - 5 pieces of sweet potatoes in a pack: 594 yen. I brought these to my parents at the facility. I also tried one myself. When I opened the package, a sweet and salty scent, like burnt soy sauce, greeted me. It brought back nostalgic memories from my childhood when I loved sweet potato snacks and never doubted that they were made from beans. I wonder when I found out that the main ingredient was actually "beans" (laughs). My father said it was delicious, but my mother took one bite and said she didn't want any more. Why?! In exchange, my father said he wanted more, so I gave him my mother's share (≧▽≦). For me, the thin skin and moist sweet filling make it taste so delicious and nostalgic (*^^*). - 3 pieces of "an-pote" (sweet potato and red bean paste cakes): 540 yen. I bought these as souvenirs for home. The outside tastes like sweet potato, similar to sweet potato paste, while the inside is made of red bean paste. It has a sticky texture due to the sweet potatoes in it. It's delicious, but extremely sweet, so it's best paired with bitter green tea or black coffee (≧▽≦). - "Kurumi yubeshi" (walnut rice cake): 151 yen. I bought this as a snack for myself (laughs). The dough is elastic and chewy, with just the right amount of sweetness. It's delicious as always. I wish the walnuts were a bit larger and more plentiful. This shop caters to a wide range of needs, from items in gift boxes to individual pieces, which is great. It's also nice that they offer items in packs of 3 or 5 for home consumption. Most importantly, the high probability of being able to sample freshly fried "imo-ten" here is a major plus for me (laughs). Thank you for the meal (^^). *Wakasaimo Honpo is a long-established confectionery shop in Toyako-cho.

I came to buy dessert after a meal (^-^)v I was planning to buy "anpoteito", but what caught my eye was "Nama Choco Roll". I also bought "Oni no Namida Senbei" for a snack in the car. I noticed they also sell local beer in the store. While browsing the store, I found a tasting corner and tried a sample. It was delicious! I ended up buying two cans. The "Nama Choco Roll" has rich and delicious chocolate in the center. The bite-sized spicy rice crackers "Oni no Namida Senbei" are perfect for a sunny drive. I will enjoy the local beer after soaking in the hot spring. Thank you, "Wakasaimo Honpo"! (*´∀`)♪

On the way to and from the hot springs, I stopped by a roadside stand to buy freshly fried sweet potato tempura. It's a must-have when I visit this place. I decided to go early because it gets too crowded when tour buses arrive, making it hard to sample the tempura in peace. I bought it thinking my mother would enjoy it, but she didn't seem too interested, even though she likes sweet potato tempura. Maybe she's not part of the generation that cares about it being freshly fried.

When going out, my wife requested me to buy something sweet from this shop. I thought about getting the sweet potato, but my wife might gain weight in the fall, haha. So, I found some small treats and got a cream puff and a pudding. I just had half of the cream puff and it was delicious, not too sweet. Cream puff for 130 yen and creamy pudding for 324 yen. Thank you for the delicious treats!

Ankabocha yuza man imo ten (forgot to take a picture)

I had freshly fried sweet potato tempura at Wakasaimo Honpo. You can buy freshly fried sweet potato tempura inside the shop. They sell packs of 6 and 3 pieces. The freshly fried tempura is indeed delicious and fluffy.

After visiting the hot springs, I stopped to buy sweet potato tempura, and I found some with the skin on. I really liked it. When I got home, I microwaved it and it was so delicious! Thank you for the meal!

On the way back from the company trip, we stopped for lunch. We ate at the restaurant on the second floor and then looked at souvenirs. They had a variety of demon craft beers. I wanted to drink them, but considering the hangover and driving back to the office, I decided to focus on getting my body in order. The Gackt cake was moist with plenty of butter. It might have been delicious if I was feeling better. Thank you for the meal.