On this day, my work in the Nishi ward finished early, and as I was about to leave, I found this place nearby. I had been thinking about visiting here for a while, and now that I realized I hadn't been here before, I decided to stop by before heading home. Right in front of the factory, there was a direct sales store where another customer was already purchasing various items. Looking at the products, I noticed some similar to those familiar in Hokkaido, including fried items. There were also several types of traditional Japanese sweets at reasonable prices. I bought a few items and headed back. The sweet potato-flavored dorayaki had a white bean paste with cut kelp mixed in, wrapped in a dough and baked. It had a perfect balance of sweetness and a hint of saltiness, with the roasted soy sauce flavor adding a nice accent. The fried sweet potato-flavored snack had a crispy texture and a delicious taste different from the dorayaki. The dorayaki with red bean paste made from 100% locally sourced azuki beans was moist and not overly sweet. The hot spring manju with black sugar-infused dough and plenty of red bean paste was a good value at 400 yen for a pack of 10. Although the dough was slightly dry, the black sugar flavor was rich, and the red bean paste was not dry at all. Overall, the direct sales store offered good value for money, and I would definitely stop by again if I have the chance. Thank you for the meal.

This is a factory direct store of Wakasaya Honpo, famous for its "potato flavor". This time, my daughter brought back "Yubari Melon Cream Sandwich". There are 5 pieces in a box. When you open it, it is a confectionery sandwiched with Yubari melon-flavored cream between galette cookies. The scent of melon is amazing.

Weng's Dorayaki ☆3: A dorayaki made with Hokkaido wheat flour, filled with Hokkaido red bean paste. The soft dough has a minimal dryness, with a slightly strong sweetness from honey. The red bean paste has a mild texture and a slightly strong sweetness, making the overall dorayaki quite sweet. Energy: 276kcal.

"Hakkan's old-established store "Kasho Oto Factory Direct Sales Store" ... It seems to be a direct descendant of Wakasaimo Honpo, for more detailed information, please refer to the excellent "Eat Too Much and Get Fat" review family tree https://tabelog.com/hokkaido/A0101/A010204/1044078/dtlrvwlst/B92934470/?use_type=0&smp=1#93933030 It's my third visit in a few years, and as always, there are plenty of affordable sweets lined up. I purchased a 300 yen assortment bag, which contained "Yubari Melon Cream Sandwich x2," "Hokkaido Cream Sablé," "Butter Rich," and "Imo Flavor x2." By the way, "Imo Flavor" looks just like "Wakasaimo," but the taste seems slightly different (I can't explain in detail what the difference is). "Wakasaimo" costs around 110 yen per piece at regular price, but the "Imo Flavor" here is 50 yen. Other items such as "Onsen Manju," "Dorayaki," and "Broken Cookies" are also super affordable. The bean paste in each item is relatively sweet. There are plenty of great deals at the factory direct sales store, so I highly recommend giving it a try. Thank you for the meal. The following is an excerpt from the review by "Eat Too Much and Get Fat." If there are any issues, please let me know and I will delete it. There is also a strong theory in the Wakasaya family tree?"

If you are in need, you will find a way. When I returned to my hometown, my partner wanted some sweet potatoes as a souvenir, but there were no stores selling them in the mountains of the western district. With no time to go to the airport where they are available, I searched and found a shop in the city that sells a similar product called "imo flavor" from the original shop "Wakasaya". The shop is a factory direct store that offers a sweet potato with a similar taste to "wakasaimo", even though it doesn't look like one. The packaging is simple, a transparent plastic bag with about 10 pieces of sweet potato flavor, priced at only 500 yen (about half the price of boxed sweet potatoes). The first time I visited, I called to confirm their opening hours and was told they were open, but when I arrived, the door was closed. After calling again, a busy lady in work clothes finally came out. It seemed like she was preoccupied with running the factory rather than the shop. Since then, this lady has always served me. The shop is not fancy, with products in baskets for customers to choose from. There are also cheaper B-grade products available. I tried some original products along with the sweet potato flavor souvenir. The "Hokkaido Butter Rich" turned out to be a cookie with raisin filling similar to butter sandwich cookies. Although a bit rough, the taste was similar to butter sandwich cookies, and the affordable price was appreciated. The "Sweet Potato" was a baked confection with sweet red bean paste inside, similar to sweet red beans. It had a sticky texture and used Hokkaido red beans and fermented butter. If you are in the western, Teine, or central district and looking for a sweet potato-like souvenir, this is a shop worth bookmarking.

Just a minute, do you really think WAKASAYA HONPO is a copycat of WAKASAIMO HONPO? WAKASAYA HONPO has been around since Taisho 8 (1922) and WAKASAIMO HONPO since Showa 5 (1930), so it's like the original and the pioneer. There are different opinions, but the roots are the same. Maybe WAKASAIMO HONPO was just good at marketing? That's why everyone's image is connected to them now. If it was a fake, there would have been a lawsuit a long time ago, right? But it's still being sold properly. If you're interested in the history of WAKASAIMO, there are scholars who have written papers on it, so you should read those. This shop is like a direct sales store of WAKASAYA HONPO. Even when you enter the store, the staff doesn't come out right away. You buy "Imo Fumi" instead of "WAKASAIMO". Usually, it costs about 100 yen per piece, but here it's around 50 yen per piece. If you buy a lot, it's a bit cheaper. The must-buy item here is the "Aged Imo" which is coated in tempura batter. In WAKASAIMO HONPO, it's called "Imoten", but here it's "Age Imo". It's so delicious. It's served in a container, and costs 50 yen per piece. The subtle saltiness of the tempura batter and the white bean paste with sweet potato flavor create a perfect match. If you eat it the same day, it's crispy and has a nice crunch. If you eat it the next day, it's moist and equally delicious. However, it's not individually packaged and doesn't have an oxygen absorber, so please enjoy it soon. The sweet potato flavor here is surprisingly sweet. Was it always this sweet? It's nice to have something like this once in a while.

My computer broke down, but I finally received a new desktop computer. I am currently in the process of transferring files, which is expected to take a few days. I am not familiar with this process, so it is taking me some time. I will like and comment as soon as the transfer is complete. Thank you for your understanding. [November 2018] This is my third review, so I tried to keep it short, but it ended up being long (laughs). Wakasaya Honpo is headquartered in Sapporo. The factory's directly managed store, "Kasho O," sells a product called "Imo Flavor," which is similar to "Wakasaimo." Since it is a factory direct store, there are also discounted outlet items available. I once researched the origin of "Wakasaimo." There is a theory that it is related to the Wakasaya family tree. The first "Wakasaimo" was founded in 1874 by Wakasashigenichi (Juto). The first Wakasaya Honke | Wakasashigenbei (Juto) | "Yakiimo" founded in 1911 | First generation Wakasaya Honke | | Wakasashigenbei (Juto) | "Yakiimo" → Renamed to "Wakasaimo" | Wakasaya Honke 2nd generation | | | Eldest son Wakasashigenichiro (Noboribetsu) inherits Shigenbei | "Wakasakkoimo" | (Kabu) Wakasaya → Absorbed and merged into (Kabu) Wakasaimo Honpo in 1997 | | ---- Second son Wakasakamekichi (Kuromatsuuchi) Theater management | | - Eldest son Wakasahako (Toyako) | Yakiimo in 1923 → Renamed to Wakasaimo in 1930 | (Kabu) Wakasaimo Honpo | | - Second son Wakasakazou (Kyogoku) Founded in 1917, the first Wakasashigenichi taught the production method in 1919 Yakiimo → Renamed to Wakasaimo in 1925 | Wakasakao (Sapporo) (Kabu) Wakasaya Honpo Showa 52 "Imo de nai Imo" → Showa 54 "Imo Flavor" renamed "Wakasaimo" was first founded by Wakasashigenichi in 1874 in Juto-cho. Initially, it was sold under the product name "Yakiimo." After that, several shops were established within the Wakasaya family. In 1917, the younger brother's second son, Wakasakazou, was taught the production method by the founder. Wakasaya Honpo follows this lineage as the main store. I visited around 11:00 on a weekday. I parked my car in the parking space next to the store. Inside the store, there are various traditional Japanese sweets like "Imo Flavor" and "Dorayaki," as well as some Western-style cookies. I was specifically looking for "Imo Flavor." I bought the cheaper bulk package in a plastic bag. I also bought the discounted "Cookie Bulk Pack." ■ Imo Flavor The taste is very similar to "Wakasaimo." It is slightly smaller than Wakasaimo. The taste is stronger here. The biggest difference from "Wakasaimo" is that it is less sticky. There is no stickiness like Wakasaimo. Price: Bulk pack of 10 for 500 yen (tax included) ■ Candy Mix Each bag contains around 10 pieces of various candies. It is a great deal with outlet items. Price: 1 bag for 300 yen (tax included) The bulk pack of "Imo Flavor" is very cheap at 50 yen per piece due to being a factory direct store. Wakasaimo is 100 yen per piece. Personally, I prefer the taste of "Imo Flavor." It is best to eat it right after opening the bag. There are still many questions about the family tree, which is the original "Yakiimo." There seem to have been various things within the family, but I will not touch on that here. Next time, I would like to try the bulk pack of "Imo Flavor" again. I might also buy some "Dorayaki." It was delicious. ‼️ I will upload photos as soon as possible ‼️

It's Butter Rich that was being sold at the Hokkaido local products exhibition. I ate it after a long time, so it felt nostalgic. (^^)

I visited the shop on a day off during the week because it's closed on weekends and holidays. The price for the dorayaki skin was around 150-200 yen. The dorayaki skins are packed in a bag, and you can fill them with butter or chocolate for a delicious treat. The "Imo flavor" dorayaki reminded many people of sweet potatoes. It seems like a copycat, but it's actually the original with a connection to sweet potatoes. The flavor is similar to sweet potatoes but with a stronger taste. It's best enjoyed warm. In nearby supermarkets, a pack of 2 costs 205 yen, but here you can get 10 or more for 500-550 yen, making it a great deal. The fact that they have a decent shelf life is a plus. I can't visit often due to their limited hours, but I would love to go back if I have the chance.

On this day, I was working in the Miyanosawa area. The highway was crowded, so I decided to avoid it on my way back and stopped by the Wakasaya Factory Direct Store. I had been curious about this place because of the reviews from other customers, so I had bookmarked it. When I arrived around 3 pm, there were already three customers inside, so I waited outside. Everyone seemed to be buying quite a lot of items. Inside, they had dorayaki skins in bags, dorayaki, and various baked goods on display. I was drawn to the outlet assortment bag filled with a variety of baked goods, including butter cookies. I bought one for the office and one for home. I also purchased dorayaki and dorayaki skins. I only tried them when I got home. The cookies made me a little hesitant because of the butter, but I figured it should be okay if I have one a day. The dorayaki skins were interesting, some with a little bit of red bean paste on them, and others were slightly misshapen. I ate them as they were. The two types of dorayaki were pretty standard, one with a lot of red bean paste and the other with a good balance of skin and filling. Among the cookies, I particularly liked the lavender one for its fragrant aroma. The potato butter cookie was tasty too, but I couldn't really taste the potato. The "Northern Onion Field" cookie was a unique sandwich cookie with a hint of onion flavor, surprisingly addictive. The store offers different items each day, so it's always a fun surprise to see what they have. I will definitely stop by again when I'm in the area.

There is a mysterious souvenir called "Ageimo" that is far from familiar to people in the Kanto region like Tokyo Banana. This time of year is when we often encounter unfamiliar sweets (laughs). The "Ageimo" I picked up was a product from Hokkaido with the words "Representative of the North" written on it. It is a sweet potato-based snack, and while we often see Satsuma sweet potato snacks, I was curious about what it would be like with regular potatoes. Despite being described as a fried snack, it felt more like a baked treat similar to Hiyoko. When I tried it, the first taste that came to mind was similar to Calbee's Sapporo Potato chips (laughs), but strangely, it quickly disappeared and didn't linger. The slightly oily feeling may be a remnant of the "Ageimo" name. The filling inside was a simple dried custard-like mixture using egg yolks, similar to Hiyoko or Ponpoko. It was mentioned that shredded kelp was added to represent the texture of regular potatoes, but I didn't really notice it, perhaps due to my lack of sensitivity to texture (laughs). As a souvenir from Hokkaido, I think it's a decent choice for business travelers to buy and bring back as a company gift.

◆◆◆◆◆◆【Second Post】◆◆◆◆◆◆【April 2015】Making a light visit after a long time since my second post. The interior of the shop had become more compact. The main focus seemed to be on outlet products directly from the factory rather than regular products. I bought three bags of outlet products. ■ Outlet Products - Raisin Butter Sandwich (20 pieces): Crispy sablé cookies sandwiched with butter raisin filling, similar to the taste of Mar**i butter sandwich. Price: 200 yen per bag (including 8% consumption tax) - Value Pack Locomotive Sablé Assortment: Includes chocolate locomotive-shaped sablé cookies and Hokkaido milk sandwich cookies. Also includes one fried sweet potato. Price: 300 yen per bag (including 8% consumption tax) - Love Town Sapporo (8 pieces): Cinnamon-flavored stick pie with a satisfying crunchy texture. Price: 150 yen per bag (including 8% consumption tax) I bought all of this for only 650 yen! It's great to see more outlet products available, making it the most cost-effective option for me. It's very wallet-friendly. I'm sure my visits will increase for sure. (laughs) ◆◆◆◆◆◆【First Post】◆◆◆◆◆◆ I tried the "Imo Fumi" flavor from the original "Wakasaimo". Wakasaya Honpo (Sapporo) is a shop that continues the taste of the first generation Wakasaya Honke, founded in the Meiji era! In November 2013, I visited "Kasho O" which is a directly operated store in front of the factory of Wakasaya Honpo in Sapporo. They sell a product called "Imo Fumi" which is similar to "Wakasaimo". I had been researching the origin of "Wakasaimo". This shop is located in Miyanosawa, Nishi-ku, Sapporo, near the Nijuyonken Teine-dori. You can check the exact location on Tabelog. There is also a theory in the Wakasaya family tree that suggests that... - First son Wakasaimonosuke (Juto): Founded "Yakiimo" in Meiji 42, which later became the first Wakasaya Honke. - Second son Wakasakichi (Kyogoku): Learned the manufacturing method from the founder and changed the name from "Yakiimo" to "Wakasaimo" in Showa 10. "Wakasaimo" was first established by Wakasamonosuke in Juto-cho in Meiji 42. It was originally named "Yakiimo". Later, several shops were opened within the Wakasa family. In Showa 6, Wakasakichi, the second son of the founder, was taught the manufacturing method. Wakasaya Honpo follows this tradition. I visited around 2 p.m. on a weekday and parked my car in the parking space next to the shop. Inside the shop, they had various traditional Japanese sweets like "Imo Fumi" and "Dorayaki", as well as Western-style cookies. I was specifically looking for "Imo Fumi". I bought the cheaper value pack option. I also bought the value pack of cookies. - Imo Fumi (10 pieces): Tastes very similar to "Wakasaimo", but slightly smaller in size. The flavor is stronger compared to "Wakasaimo". The biggest difference is the texture, it's more crisp and less sticky than "Wakasaimo". The bag contains around 30 oxygen absorbers, which I believe helps prevent moisture and oxidation. Price: 400 yen per bag (10 pieces) - Value Pack of Cookies: Includes broken pieces at a discounted price.

Until November 2014, there was a factory direct sales store in Miyanosawa, Sapporo. This place seems to have the same roots as the famous "yakiimo" from Suttu. The store is located in front of the factory and had a wide variety of sweets on display. They sometimes have "ageimo" available depending on the day. The "imo flavor" comes in a pack of 10 for 500 yen and looks like mini-sized baked sweet potatoes. The taste is closer to a specialty confectionery with a mild sweetness and soy sauce flavor. The ingredients include "white bean paste." The "ageimo" comes in a pack of 4 for 560 yen and is fried with an "imo flavor." It goes well with tea as it is not too heavy. The "dorayaki (filled with plenty of red bean paste)" costs 180 yen for one and is thick with a generous amount of red bean paste. There are also various other items available for 420 yen, such as "sweet potato" with a hint of red beans and "potato butter sweet potato" which has a cozy potato-like taste. The service has a typical factory direct sales store feel. Overall, it was a delightful experience. The effort put into running the factory was evident, and many local customers also visited to make purchases.

This is my second visit here. I think the last time was two years ago in the summer... I pass by the front of the store often, and I always look forward to seeing the funny handwritten signs like "Overcooked" or "Made too much" on the entrance. When I passed by with my child, we saw a rare sight of 3 groups entering the store after 2 groups left (haha). Of course, my child started begging to buy something, so we decided to stop by after a long time. The interior was renovated in February 2018, with the display shelves now in island style, allowing for more products to be displayed compared to before. There was a table against the wall, and on that day, freshly fried "sweet potatoes" were rolling in a metal bat, and you could buy your desired amount for 50 yen each (cheap!). The option to buy individual items or a small assortment of various items is a great feature of this outlet store. Of course, the cheap prices are also attractive. This time, I bought 2 sweet potatoes for 50 yen each, 1 Melon Cream Sandwich for 40 yen, 2 Hokkaido Berry Squares for 40 yen each, 2 Hot Spring Manju for 30 yen each, and a bag of broken sablé cookies for 200 yen, totaling 480 yen. Cheap! The auntie calculated the total on a calculator and wrote it down by hand in a notebook, a very casual way of billing (haha). On this day, there were also individually packed chocolate sablé cookies, dorayaki, and anko mochi (battan's botamochi) among other items. Beside the cash register, there were also bags of just dorayaki skins, but they were sold out from the previous customer (^^;). These are frozen items that are thawed and sold. When I got home, it was snack time~! The freshly fried "sweet potatoes" were not actually hot, but the crispy skin around them and the fact that they were not pre-packaged made them taste more fresh. Oil also oozed out. Oh, just to clarify, the "sweet potatoes" are sweet potatoes coated in batter and fried. The ones fried are sold as "imoten," and I used to eat them a lot as a child (the store was close by), but compared to those, these were sweeter and had a thicker batter. Because they are fried, they are quite filling for their size... The Melon Cream Sandwich was my child's request. We had it as a snack on another day. The Hokkaido Berry Squares and Hot Spring Manju were for when I visit my parents the next day. Hot Spring Manju, my family brings them as souvenirs when they stay at Jozankei Onsen for the company's social gathering once a year, but once you know you can buy them for less than half the regular price... (haha) The sweetness of the brown sugar in the Hot Spring Manju is comforting. The bag of broken sablé cookies is a mix of broken pieces used for raisin sandwiches and such, and they are delicious! I bought them last time I visited and finished them in no time (^^; I wonder if I'll finish this one quickly too... Usually, you can only find these kinds of products at souvenir shops, but it's fun to be able to choose from a variety of items at reasonable prices. Outlet stores are truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so I guess I have to show my face more often (haha). Thank you for the meal~ I'll be back again^^ Oh, by the way, the opening hours... I have seen the store's curtain out on Saturdays and just before 5 pm. There may be times when the store is open outside the hours listed on Tabelog, so if you're curious, why not give them a call and visit??

On a certain weekday, during a still challenging period in Hokkaido, I passed by this place on my way home in Nishi Ward, Miyanosawa 1-jo, and saw that the curtain was still up, so I decided to stop by. Next to it is a storefront that also sells leftover products from the factory of "Wakasaimo Honpo". The parking lot seems to be non-existent. The store is not very large, and they sell leftover and imperfect items at a cheap price in a haphazard manner on cardboard boxes and shelves. On this day, I chose something surprisingly cheap from the display shelf, the "Dorayaki skin (200 yen)". It's exactly as the name suggests, and upon closer inspection, there are different colors, but the taste of the sweet dough is consistent. Personally, I don't mind not having the red bean paste, so it's a delightful snack for me. I also got "Fried sweet potatoes (30 yen each)" which seemed to be lightly fried similar to "Wakasaimo", with a surprisingly firm surface and a slightly oily texture containing a flavorful white bean paste inside. There was also the "Brown sugar manju (30 yen)" which had a traditional brown dough with a strong sweetness of red bean paste and a lingering black sugar flavor. The "Addictive cookies? (200 yen)" had a bag full of imperfect cookies for a great deal, bursting with butter, milk, and sugar as expected. Lastly, the "Salted butter Dorayaki (120 yen)" had a classic dorayaki dough with a good balance of red bean paste and creamy salted butter enhancing the sweetness. Overall, if you're looking to buy imperfect items at a cheap price, it shouldn't be a problem at all. Thank you for the meal.

Souvenir time! I got some sweet potato snacks from Wakasaya Honpo called "Imo Flavor." As the name suggests, these snacks have the flavor of sweet potatoes. I believe the main ingredient is beans...? They fry these "Imo Flavor" snacks, and they turn out so deliciously crispy and tasty. Wakasaya...? Sapporo...? What's the connection to Wakasaimo Honpo at Lake Toya? Well, it doesn't matter because they're delicious! (laughs) Thanks for the treat! Currently accepting souvenir orders!

I tried the "Hokkaido Butter Rich" at a mini Hokkaido product fair at a nearby supermarket. It's a very soft butter sandwich with a rich buttery flavor. Personally, I'm not a fan of raisin sandwiches, but the strong butter flavor overpowers the raisins, making it quite tasty.

I suddenly had a craving for it... Raisin Butter Sand♪ I often receive butter sandwiches as gifts from a certain store, and I happened to find one at the Hokkaido Fair corner. I also had other things to buy, so I put it in my basket. (๑>◡<๑) It was my first time purchasing this butter sandwich. I was excited, so I took a bite right away. It wasn't as crispy as I imagined, more like a moist cookie. The rum aroma of the raisin butter cream spread softly, and the texture of the raisins added a nice touch. Mmm, mmm. This flavor is irresistible♪ The combination of rum raisin and butter cream gives off an adult-like vibe, making it a delightful snack. It really seeps into your tired body and makes you feel refreshed. Pop(//∇//) It's been a while since I had a raisin butter sandwich, and it was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

This is a review of some snacks I tried at an event. The first one was a sweet potato and shredded kelp snack. It looked like fried sweet potato sticks, but actually had white bean paste inside. The taste and texture were similar to chilled university sweet potatoes, with a hint of shredded kelp. The second snack was a sweet potato and white bean paste treat, resembling a long smooth steamed bun. It had a subtle sweetness and a slight potato flavor. The last snack I revisited was a raisin sandwich named "Butter Rich". It had a strong scent of liquor, a crunchy cookie texture, and a sweet and unique liquor-flavored cream filling. Overall, I found it to be better than I initially thought. Lastly, I tried a unique sweet potato butter snack made with Inca no Mezame and fermented butter. It had a pleasant smell, a creamy texture, a buttery taste, and a perfect level of sweetness. I was surprised by how delicious it was.