To all travelers visiting Asahikawa: After indulging in delicious ramen and breathtaking scenery, why not bring home some ‘delicious souvenirs’ unique to Asahikawa? While classic Hokkaido souvenirs are wonderful, Asahikawa is actually home to many local sweets cherished by residents for years, and specialty gourmet items you can only find here.
In this article, we carefully select and introduce five exquisite shopping spots perfect for concluding your Asahikawa trip. These range from local delicacies you can quickly purchase inside the station to long-established direct stores offering enjoyable experiences like factory tours and attached cafes.
Hokkaido Shikisai-kan Asahikawa West Store
📍 Address: JR Asahikawa Station Concourse, Asahikawa Sightseeing and Local Products Information Center, 8-3-1 Miyashitadori, Asahikawa, Hokkaido 070-0030, Japan
‘Hokkaido Shikisai-kan Asahikawa West Store,’ situated near the West Ticket Gate of JR Asahikawa Station, is a highly convenient shop for travelers, seamlessly integrating a souvenir store with a convenience store. Even if you have limited time while waiting for your train or just before departure, you can quickly pick up famous Hokkaido sweets, Asahikawa’s specialty products, and local sake.
What you absolutely must check out at this store is Asahikawa’s local fast food, ‘JUN DOG.’ A Jun Dog is essentially a ‘stick-shaped Western-style rice ball’ where ingredients like fried shrimp or chicken cutlets are coated in a special sauce, wrapped in warm white rice, and then compressed to prevent it from falling apart. It’s a beloved soul food cherished by locals for years, and its convenient shape makes it perfect for a quick snack on your journey.
An important practical tip when purchasing is ‘the correct way to enjoy a Jun Dog.’ While you can have it warmed up at the counter, the key to tasting it at its absolute best is not to eat it immediately after it’s piping hot from the microwave. Instead, leave it in its package to ‘steam for about 5 minutes.’ This allows the rice and sauce to meld together perfectly, significantly enhancing its flavor, so be sure to give it a try.
Higashikawa Meets Asahikawa Ekimae Store
📍 Address: Inside Yoshinori Coffee Asahikawa Ekimae Store, 1F, 7-3112 Miyashitadori, Asahikawa, Hokkaido 070-0030, Japan
Just a short walk from Asahikawa Station, ‘Higashikawa Meets Asahikawa Ekimae Store’ is annexed within the specialty coffee shop ‘Yoshinori Coffee Asahikawa Ekimae Store.’ This antenna shop showcases the charm of Higashikawa Town, which borders Asahikawa City and is known as ‘the town of photography’ and ‘the only town in Hokkaido without public waterworks, relying solely on the subsurface water from the Daisetsuzan mountain range.’
Inside, you’ll find sophisticated wooden craft products made in Higashikawa Town, alongside delicious snacks crafted from carefully selected local ingredients. Highly recommended are the rice balls from ‘Genmai Onigiri Chamise,’ a local favorite, and the ‘White Pudding,’ a unique creation developed jointly by a tofu shop and a confectionery. While it might surprise you with its pronounced tofu flavor when expecting pudding, it’s quietly gaining popularity among travelers as a light, healthy, and innovative dessert.
Don’t miss the ‘Shitoa’ steamed buns, available exclusively on weekends. These exquisite buns boast a distinctive dense and chewy texture that sets them apart from typical fluffy steamed buns, making them incredibly addictive. Located within the cafe’s sophisticated ambiance, it’s the perfect spot for discerning souvenir hunters to discover Higashikawa Town’s local treasures alongside a delicious cup of coffee.
Tsuboya Kibana no Mori
📍 Address: 19-218-2-103 Minami 6-jo Dori, Asahikawa, Hokkaido 078-8336, Japan
‘Tsuboya Kibana no Mori’ is the flagship store of ‘Tsuboya Sohonten,’ a prestigious confectionery established in 1929 (Showa 4) and a true icon of Asahikawa. This expansive facility is themed around ‘Kibana,’ Asahikawa’s overwhelmingly famous confection, creating an experience akin to a ‘theme park of sweets.’
‘Kibana,’ a masterpiece sweet featuring rich white chocolate sandwiched between almond galettes, offers an exquisite blend of fragrant crispness and delicate sweetness. Here, you’ll find a factory where you can freely observe the ‘Kibana’ manufacturing process through glass, enjoying the patissiers’ craftsmanship and the sweet aroma unique to a confectionery. Besides a full selection of Kibana varieties for souvenirs, don’t miss the freshly baked, store-exclusive sweets.
Beyond being merely a sales outlet, the establishment shows a deep commitment to creating an inviting atmosphere. The facility houses a flower shop where you can enjoy seasonal blooms, a spacious café called ‘CAFE Bunran’ offering views of lush greenery, and even a library with books across various genres. It’s a special place where you can extend your shopping trip into a supremely relaxing experience, perhaps savoring rich milky soft-serve ice cream or enjoying a good book with an aromatic coffee in hand.
Kitakari Asahikawa Main Store
📍 Address: 3-4-1-5 Nagayama, Asahikawa, Hokkaido 079-8413, Japan
For karinto lovers, ‘Kitakari Asahikawa Main Store,’ a specialty karinto shop operated by ‘Mitsuba Seika’ (established in 1931), is an absolute must-visit. They offer a rich lineup of simple yet profound karinto, meticulously crafted using local ingredients such as Hokkaido-produced wheat and beet sugar.
Inside, you’ll find over 20 diverse flavors, not limited to classic brown sugar. These include fragrant ‘Asahikawa Shoyu Karinto’ made with local Asahikawa soy sauce, spicy and addictive ‘Curry Karinto,’ and varieties featuring milk or vegetable flavors. Among them, ‘Kita no Daikokubashira’ (Pillar of the North) stands out as a unique souvenir. Sold exclusively on the first of each month with a limit of 50 bags (reservations possible), this product is an exquisite item that has perfected the traditional ‘incredibly thick and hard’ texture, making it a specialty with enthusiastic fans.
Beyond karinto, other hidden gems include ‘An Donut,’ with its irresistible harmony of sprinkled sugar and red bean paste, and crispy black bean snacks. A treat unique to this physical store is the rich-flavored soft-serve ice cream, making it a perfect spot to stop for a sweet break during a scenic drive.
The Sun Kuroudo Main Store
📍 Address: 1-1 Kaguraoka 8-jo, Asahikawa, Hokkaido 078-8318, Japan
Nestled along the plane tree-lined street near Kaguraoka Park, ‘The Sun Kuroudo Main Store’ is the base for a brand by Asahikawa’s venerable confectioner, ‘Roba Kashitsukasa.’ Its most striking feature is its imposing stone exterior. This historically valuable building was meticulously reconstructed using ‘Biei tuff stone,’ salvaged from the former Tozuru Sake Brewery. Stepping inside, you are enveloped in a solemn and romantic atmosphere, characterized by high ceilings and the unique gravitas of a traditional stone warehouse.
The signature product is ‘Kuranama,’ a moist raw sable cookie baked with Hokkaido-produced wheat and beet granulated sugar, encasing a rich raw chocolate center. While now sold across various locations as a standard Hokkaido souvenir, the biggest advantage of visiting the main store is discovering ‘store-exclusive limited items’ and ‘freshly made sweets.’ Crispy, freshly baked apple pies, limited-edition fruit jellies, and colorful cakes adorn the display cases.
A delightful feature for travelers is the eat-in space located on the second floor. Here, a server offers complimentary specialty coffee, allowing you to leisurely enjoy cakes purchased downstairs or the famous ‘Kuranama Soft Serve Ice Cream’ (including luxurious versions topped with warabimochi and Kuranama) while admiring the beautiful beams of the old storehouse. The charming contrast between the high-quality ambiance and the reasonable prices is also a significant draw.
Tips for Smart Souvenir Shopping in Asahikawa
The key to maximizing your Asahikawa souvenir shopping experience is ‘to strategically choose your shopping location based on your travel schedule.’
If you’re pressed for time, such as after checking out or just before your train departs, ‘Hokkaido Shikisai-kan’ inside JR Asahikawa Station and ‘Higashikawa Meets’ right in front of the station are incredibly convenient. Here, you can smartly pick up Jun Dogs and carefully selected specialty items from Higashikawa Town without the hassle of heavy luggage.
On the other hand, if you have time to explore the city by rental car or bus, it’s highly recommended to visit the roadside main stores and directly managed shops like ‘Tsuboya Kibana no Mori,’ ‘The Sun Kuroudo Main Store,’ and ‘Kitakari Asahikawa Main Store.’ These aren’t just retail outlets; they’re significant tourist attractions where you can admire the architectural beauty of historic stone warehouses, enjoy free factory tours, and savor ‘freshly made sweets (such as soft-serve ice cream and limited apple pies)’ available only at the main stores. The availability of complimentary coffee and ample eat-in spaces also makes them perfect oases for refreshing after a long journey.
Bring home the local flavors cherished by residents, along with the rich history and stories embedded within them, to make your Asahikawa travel memories even more vivid and meaningful.
