In my childhood, one of my favorite things to do was to visit Marui department store, look at the toy section, ride the amusement park rides on the rooftop, have a meal at the large cafeteria, and enjoy a children's lunch with tea poured from a big clay pot. The nostalgic memories of watching the "touman" being baked in the underground passage at Marui department store. The children's lunch at Marui was the best compared to other department stores in Sapporo. The experience of watching the "touman" being baked with the store's logo stamped at the end was always enjoyable. Recently, my daughter brought home a "touman" from Marui, and I wondered how the taste compared to the ones from my childhood. It had been decades since I last had a "touman."

【Takeout】An-Dog and Tohman Shop This is a tenant at the Sapporo Marui Imai department store. Visited for the first time before 7:00 PM on June 19, 2021. When I was a child, I would occasionally visit the underground shopping area at Sapporo Station, and I always wanted to try Tohman and An-Dog. Along with fruit picking, it is a dream for me. As an adult, I often ate at Esta and Catepuri, but since I rarely have the opportunity to visit Marui Imai, this was my first time here. After work, I wanted something sweet ♡ An-Dog for 108 yen, along with coffee to take home and enjoy. I had forgotten how this dough tasted, it had been so long since I last had it. It has a mysteriously dry texture that I always liked. I always feel a bit strange when I buy anko, but it goes really well with cheese. Unlike oyaki, it's not as good when it cools down. I would love to try the freshly baked cheese version.

Born and raised in Sapporo, everyone knows about Touman. Today, I had takeout for the first time in a while. Oh, they have Fromage too? I purchased a set assortment. First, Touman. The taste is consistently good. The dough feels light, but the filling inside is not too sweet, just right. Next, Fromage. Oh, this is delicious too. The cheese inside doesn't overpower, adding a nice salty flavor that enhances the overall sweetness. Hmm, I feel like I want to eat this again. Thank you for the meal.

On a certain holiday, I stopped by a sweets shop in the Marui Imai underground area while heading home after having lunch. The shop is located at the end of the 2nd basement floor and it seems like they make their sweets using a machine regularly. That day, I noticed a couple of different types of sweets on display, so I decided to try two of them for comparison, as well as another single item. The "assorted pack (357 yen)" was what is commonly known as Imagawayaki, with white bean paste inside that tasted as expected. The other one with the name "Fromage" seemed like a castella-like dough with something inside, but the filling didn't have much impact. The "hot dog waffle (140 yen)" had a slightly sweet dough with a frankfurter inside, creating a nice contrast between the sweetness of the dough and the saltiness of the frankfurter. I had always wanted to try it, so I'm glad I finally did. Thank you for the meal.

Marui Imai Sapporo Odori store is located on the basement floor, near the connecting passage with Ichijo-kan. Toman Fujiiya is right in front of it. I recently bought Toman and Fromage at Apia. Eating them after a long time brought back nostalgic flavors and made me feel happy. At that time, I couldn't help but think about my favorite childhood food, "Cheese Dog." Whenever I visited Toman, I always bought it. Whenever I traveled, I would always get it while riding the JR train. I'm pretty sure my parents also remember seeing me eat it (laughs). It was so nostalgic that I felt like trying it again. When I stopped by Odori Post Office to exchange a misprinted New Year's card, I remembered that Marui Imai also had it. I crossed Odori Park and headed to Marui Imai. Since there is no snow this year, walking on the ground is not a problem (*´▽｀*). I went down to the basement and walked towards the central connecting passage. There is a shop at the corner before the connecting passage. The shop space is smaller than Sapporo Station, but they have all the necessary equipment, and the staff, especially the young man, is very nice. I only wanted to eat the Cheese Dog. I felt a bit guilty ordering just one, but the staff said it was totally fine to order just one, so I went ahead. The expiration date is today. It's best to eat it while it's warm. Okay (≧▽≦) When they said that with a big smile, I had to obey (laughs). I was planning to take it home, but I couldn't resist eating a little on the way at the eat-in area ( ´艸｀). Cheese Dog for 129 yen. It's super cheap, right? Let's dig in (｡-人-｡) The slightly sweet dough has a stick-shaped cheese in the middle. When it cools down, the dough and cheese separate, but when it's warm, it's perfect. The soft dough and slightly soft cheese go really well together. So delicious (≧▽≦) I finished it in no time. It was so tasty, nostalgic, and heartwarming (*´ω｀*)♪ Thank you for the meal.

One of the enjoyable activities during a trip to Hokkaido is visiting small factories. I had already researched that there are two small factories near JR Sapporo Station, but the problem was whether they were operational. Unfortunately, the first place I visited was not in operation. The only remaining option was one place, and if it wasn't operational, then coming to Hokkaido would have been meaningless. With a nervous heart, I went to the food section of Marui Imai department store underground, and there it was... Toman Fujita Marui Imai store - it was operational! I was so excited to see this. "Toman" is a soul food for the people of Sapporo, similar to "Tsuman" in Kanto region. The machines were set up on the right side of the store, and you could see through the glass how "toman" was being made. The small factory tour began. The sight of "toman" being made as it spun around was fascinating. The best part was when the manju was flipped around. I was so excited watching this movement. I even took a video with my smartphone. In the future, if something unpleasant happens at work, I will watch the video of the "toman factory" to calm my mind. "Toman" (6 pieces) cost ¥648. When I returned to the hotel, I paired it with Sapporo Classic beer that I had prepared in advance. Sipping on the beer and taking a bite of "toman"... it was delicious! The taste was exactly like "Tsuman". The soft castella dough with a mildly sweet white bean paste filling was delightful. The simple and gentle flavor of "toman" is so enjoyable that you won't get tired of eating it. It goes perfectly with beer. It seems that "toman" has been made in Sapporo since 1952. That means, has this machine been running for 67 years? I hope they maintain it well and continue to deliver this kind taste to the people of Sapporo. [For more details, visit the blog for a more immersive experience] http://waraibuta2.blog.fc2.com/blog-entry-3723.html

When I was a child growing up in Sapporo, the taste that represented my childhood was "touman". Whenever my father went to Sapporo for work or when relatives from the Hokkaido region visited, they always brought this as a souvenir. The perfect size and subtle sweetness of the high-quality white bean paste made it a favorite treat for children. Even if it hardened a bit at room temperature, wrapping it in plastic wrap and microwaving it would make it soft and fluffy again, just like freshly made. I first saw the production process of automation through glass as a child, and I was so fascinated that I couldn't leave the spot and had to be forcibly carried away by my parents. I still occasionally buy it to reminisce about the taste and memories. The unchanged visual and flavor from the past bring back nostalgic memories and a deep sense of appreciation. I will visit again sometime. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

Visited on October 7, 2022! Toman (12 pieces) for 777 yen.

Light snack use. Visited with family. Some thoughts: - Located inside Marui Imai Sapporo store. - Purchased an an-dog (hot dog with red bean paste). - Seems like it was made some time ago but still warm. - Plenty of red bean paste inside the baby castella-like bun. - It was delicious.

Visited around 2pm on Saturday, August 12, 2017. Located in the basement of Marui Imai's Odori Building, next to the passageway to Ichijo-kan. Toman is a famous snack from Marui Imai. I remember watching them being made when I was a child - they were baked one after another by a machine and stamped. It seems like a common experience for children in Sapporo. The same baking machine is still in operation today (of course, it has been updated). I bought 2 Toman (¥54 each) and ate them while sitting on a chair in the passageway. They are made with castella dough filled with white bean paste. They are sweet but not overwhelming. The moist dough and the sweetness of the paste spread in your mouth. I like this simplicity.

【3rd Submission】July 2015 I bought "touman" for the first time in a while since this is my third submission. - Touman: Small baked sweets with white bean paste inside, made by a machine with Marui Touman logo on top. Price: 6 pieces for 324 yen (including 8% consumption tax) It has a nostalgic taste that my elderly mother loves. 【2nd Submission】January 2013 I bought a set of sweets since this is my second submission. - Assorted Sweets: 3 Touman, 3 Fromage Fromage is a sweet with cheese cream inside a square-shaped touman. It's not bad, but Touman is the star. Price: 346 yen A reasonable price for a nostalgic treat. 【1st Submission】October 2011 "Touman" is a nostalgic taste of Sapporo, maybe brought by the wind from Echigo. It reminds me of my late maternal grandmother. When I was little, she always took me to Marui-san in the city to buy "touman". The store is located in the food section on the basement floor of the Marui Imai Sapporo Honkan building in the Odori area of ​​Chuo-ku, Sapporo. Marui Imai department store was established in 1872 by Echigo native Imai Fujishichi in Sapporo. The company was founded in 1920 and is now known as Sapporo Marui Mitsukoshi, a subsidiary of Mitsukoshi Isetan Holdings. Although now we affectionately call it "Marui-san", it wasn't so popular among Sapporo residents at first due to its initial management policy. Imai Fujishichi was from Echigo, and Echigo people were known for their perseverance and solidarity. Therefore, the company originally hired only employees from Echigo. They even opened a Marui Imai store in Sanjo, Niigata, not for sales, but as a job placement center for employees. There was a deep connection between Marui Imai and Echigo. My maternal grandmother was from Koide, Niigata, also an Echigo native. That's why she was fond of Mr. Imai, who was also from Echigo. Touman, a small baked sweet with white bean paste inside, has been made since 1952. Each piece still has the Marui logo on it. In a time when sweet treats were scarce, it was a valuable snack. In today's world full of sweets, it remains a simple and nostalgic treat. The name "touman" is said to come from the founder Imai Fujishichi's name, with "tou" from his name, creating "toushichimanju," shortened to "touman." It is also said that Marui Imai gained popularity after hiring locals. Either way, it's a story from a distant past. Enjoying the taste of Touman while feeling the Echigo wind, thank you for the delicious treat.

Memories of my childhood sometimes come to mind. I remember being led by my mother when I couldn't even reach 1m tall. "Look, see this," she would say as she held my hand. I would gaze intently at the scene unfolding before me as she cradled me in her arms. The sound of the busy machine working away still echoes in my head. I recall the joy of being handed a freshly made manju, my smile reflecting the sweetness of the treat. The meticulous service and the traditional atmosphere made the whole experience special. I paid 54 yen for a manju that seemed huge in my hands, yet the taste of the white bean paste filling remained unchanged. Everything may have changed over time, but I hope that this place will remain the same, forever unchanged.

Do you buy lucky bags? I don't have much memory of buying them, but this New Year's, while looking at the Marui department store flyer, I found a "Touman Original Branding Stamp Lucky Bag Set!" (or something like that). Could it be that you can put your favorite name on that "Touman"? Although I thought I wouldn't go to the New Year's sale because it would be crowded, I rushed off because it was a limited quantity. When I arrived, there were already a few people in line, all of whom seemed to be fans of "Touman" (laughs). After a short wait, I placed my order. The branding stamp with your name or initials is normally made for 6000 yen, but it was included as a service in the lucky bag! The finished product was like the photo (with one letter obscured, as it's a relative's name), very trendy! And in the future, if you order more than 3 days in advance, you can request the branding stamp as many times as you like, so it was a great deal for a lucky bag! Oh, of course, it's also recommended to buy individual items between snow festival events!

I also have an older sister, and she came to visit with some tea snacks. The square ones have cheese inside with a hint of salt, quite tasty. The round ones have white bean paste, which I'm not a big fan of, but it's okay, it's a gift after all. If you heat them up in a toaster oven, they get crispy! They are probably affordable, so they make a nice casual snack.

For people from Sapporo, "touman" refers to the department store "Marui Imai". This "touman" is made by Fujiya, established in 1952, and the main store is apparently located underground at Sapporo Station. However, for my generation, "touman = Marui-san" (that's how people from Sapporo refer to Marui Imai). About 40 years ago, when I was still young, I found the machine making "touman" fascinating as it went "clink, clink" behind the glass in the store. When I went shopping with my mother at Marui Department Store, I could watch it endlessly without getting bored. Unfortunately, the machine was not working when I visited, but it brought back nostalgic memories. Back then, Marui Imai only had the Ichijo Main Store, but now there is a connecting passage from the Odori Building on the basement floor to the Ichijo Main Store. By the way, some may wonder, "What is 'touman'?" It is a small-sized confectionery similar to "Imagawayaki", with white bean paste inside. It tastes delicious when warmed up in the microwave, so I recommend trying it once.

Touman Fujiya has been a popular snack among the locals for a long time, and it is perfect for a small souvenir. It is a bite-sized treat that is easy to eat and reasonably priced at 40 yen each. Inside the glass display, you can see a machine automatically making the Touman, which is quite fascinating. This simple snack consists of honey-flavored dough wrapped in white bean paste, and it brings a nostalgic and comforting feeling when you eat it. It is a great souvenir from Sapporo to bring back home or give to friends when you visit. When in Sapporo, be sure to try it out as it is a taste of Sapporo. Touman Fujiya at Marui Imai B1 store is a delicious sweets shop, especially known for its Touman. Phone number: 011-205-2195. Located at Marui Imai Sapporo Honkan, Chuo-ku, Minami 1-jo Nishi 2-chome, Sapporo, Hokkaido. It is in the basement floor of Marui Imai Sapporo Honkan, just a short walk from Odori Station. They also have parking available, making it convenient for customers.

Through the glass, watching the rhythmic movements of the machine, I feel a joyful sense of returning to my childhood. Tōmanju is thought to be a Sapporo original, but it is actually the same as Tokyo's Tōmanju, Akita's Kanman, Kyoto's London Yaki, and Kyushu's Itsubuya Manju. It is no wonder that they are all the same, as they are all manju created by an automatic manju-making machine invented by a company called Jōno Tekkōjo in Fukuoka Prefecture. However, recently, there have been rumors that Jōno Tekkōjo has stopped making this automatic manju-making machine. If this is true, someday when the machine reaches the end of its life, Tōmanju and Tōmanju might disappear, but I hope they will continue forever. In front of this store, there are small tables and chairs where you can buy freshly baked manju for 42 yen each.

This is a snack that I have been eating since I was a child. My mother often bought it as a souvenir for me. When it's freshly made, it's really fluffy and soft, and the white bean paste inside is not too sweet, making it refreshing and delicious. It's also fun to watch them being made from the outside.

I've been eating tōman since I was a child, and I never thought it was a specialty of Sapporo. I usually don't like white bean paste used in other Japanese sweets, but for some reason, the white bean paste in tōman is different. Maybe it's because you can eat it hot and fresh. Every time I pass by the shop, I can't resist buying it.

For someone like me from the countryside, I think Shiroi Koibito is a famous specialty of Sapporo. Even now, I use it as a souvenir when I go back to the countryside, and it is often requested. It never gets old and always brings joy. Sometimes I crave it and go buy some. Whenever I see it, I can't help but be fascinated by watching the manufacturing process through the glass. It makes me feel like a child again.