Hokkaido Dairy & Desserts Guide

Hokkaido produces most of Japan's dairy, and you can taste the difference. The milk is creamier, the butter richer, and the desserts absolutely legendary. Here's your guide to dairy paradise.

Why Hokkaido Dairy Is Special

The Hokkaido Advantage

Cool climate - Perfect for dairy farming
Vast pastures - Cows roam freely
Clean water - Mountain springs
No additives - Natural processing
Fresh delivery - Short supply chains

The Numbers

60% of Japan's raw milk
90% of Japan's butter
Best milk fat content in Japan

Famous Hokkaido Cheesecakes

LeTAO (Otaru)

The legendary Double Fromage:

Two-layer cheesecake (baked + no-bake)
Light as air, melts on tongue
Must eat within 3 hours of purchase (for fresh)
Can buy frozen to take home

Other LeTAO Hits:

Chocolat Double
Fromage Danish
Petit Fromage (mini size)

Where: Otaru main store (multiple floors of desserts) and Tokyo stations

Royce' Chocolate

Not just chocolate - their cheesecake game is strong:

Royce' Cheesecake - Rich and creamy
Chocolate combinations - With nama chocolate
Fresh cream desserts

Where: New Chitose Airport (huge selection), Sapporo stores

Kinotoya

Sapporo's local favorite:

Yaki-tate Cheese Tart - Best eaten warm
Sapporo Nogakko - School-themed packaging
Various cheesecakes - Baked and rare styles

Where: Sapporo Station, department stores, airport

Shiroi Koibito Park (Ishiya)

Famous for the cookie, but desserts too:

Shiroi Koibito - White chocolate sandwich cookie
Parfaits - Made with fresh cream
Factory tours - Watch production

Where: Sapporo suburb (factory/theme park experience)

SNOWS (New Chitose Airport)

Airport exclusive brand:

Snow Cheese - Fresh cream cheese dessert
Fromage bars - Various flavors
Parfaits - Airport splurge

Soft Serve Ice Cream (Soft Cream)

Why Hokkaido Soft Serve Is Different

The milk fat content makes everything creamier:

Standard milk: 3.6% fat
Hokkaido milk: Often 4.0%+ fat
Result: Richer, silkier texture

Must-Try Soft Serve Spots

Farm Tomita (Furano)

Lavender soft serve (summer)
Melon soft serve
Fresh milk soft serve
Setting: Beautiful flower fields

Dairy farms around Biei/Furano

Fresh-from-the-source cream
Often family-run
Authentic farm atmosphere

Yubari Melon Farms

Premium melon soft serve
Melon parfaits
Seasonal (summer)

Otaru Canal Area

Multiple shops competing
Various unique flavors
Great for walking snacks

Soft Serve Flavors to Try

Flavor	Where	Season
Lavender	Furano	Summer (July-August)
Yubari Melon	Yubari, Furano	Summer
Fresh Milk	Everywhere	Year-round
Sea Urchin (Uni)	Otaru, coastal	Year-round (adventurous)
Corn	Throughout Hokkaido	Summer
Hokkaido Milk	Everywhere	Year-round

Price Guide

Standard: ¥350-450
Premium (melon, specialty): ¥500-700
Farm fresh: ¥300-400

Hokkaido Milk Products

Fresh Milk

Top Brands:

Yotsuba Milk - Cooperative brand, widely available
Takanashi - Premium quality
Local farm brands - Best near source

Milk Drinks to Try:

Coffee milk (classic combo)
Strawberry milk
Plain cold milk (at farms)

Butter

Hokkaido butter is prized nationwide:

Yotsuba Butter - Standard excellence
Calpis Butter - Byproduct of Calpis production, cult status
Farm-fresh butter - Some farms sell direct

Cheese

Growing craft cheese scene:

Tokachi region - Cheese factories
Various farm shops - Fresh cheese
Camembert style - Japanese take on French classics

Yogurt

Thicker, creamier - Hokkaido style
Drinking yogurt - Smooth and sweet
Farm-fresh - Available at dairy farms

Cream Puffs & Pastries

Beard Papa's (Nationwide, but Hokkaido cream)

Many Beard Papa locations use Hokkaido cream:

Fresh-filled to order
Multiple flavors
Light, crispy shell

Local Cream Puffs

Kinotoya cream puffs - Local favorite
Department store basement - Various brands
Airport shops - Travel-ready packaging

Croissants & Danish

Hokkaido butter makes the difference:

BOUL'ANGE - Butter croissants
Various bakeries - Hokkaido butter specified
Hotel breakfasts - Often feature local butter

Parfaits & Sundaes

The Parfait Culture

Hokkaido takes parfaits seriously:

What to Expect:

Tall glasses (500ml+)
Multiple layers
Fresh fruit (often melon)
Hokkaido soft serve
Corn flakes and mochi
¥800-1,500 typically

Best Parfait Spots

Otaru:

LeTAO (cheese-focused parfaits)
Local cafes along canal

Sapporo:

Department store cafes
Shirome Parfait shops

Furano:

Farm cafes
Melon parfaits in summer

Yubari Melon

The King of Melons

Yubari melons are Japan's most expensive fruit:

Price: ¥3,000-10,000+ for single melon
Auction records: Millions of yen for perfect pairs
Season: May-August (peak: June-July)

How to Experience Yubari Melon

Budget:

Melon soft serve (¥500-700)
Melon juice (¥300-500)
Melon candy/desserts

Mid-range:

Melon parfait (¥1,000-1,500)
Half melon with soft serve (¥1,500-2,500)
Melon slice at market

Splurge:

Whole melon (¥5,000+)
Melon course at restaurant
Gift-grade melon to take home

Where to Get It

Yubari city - Source, best prices
Furano markets - Good selection
New Chitose Airport - Convenient
Sapporo department stores - Premium options

Where to Experience Hokkaido Dairy

Sapporo

Department Store Basements:

Daimaru
Mitsukoshi
All major brands represented

Tanukikoji Shopping Arcade:

Various dessert shops
Good for casual eating

Otaru

Canal Area:

LeTAO flagship
Multiple soft serve shops
Cheese cake competition central

Sakaimachi Street:

Shop after shop of desserts
Easy walking route

Furano/Biei

Farm Tomita:

Lavender soft serve (summer)
Farm cafe
Beautiful setting

Cheese factories:

Tours and tastings
Fresh cheese sales

New Chitose Airport

The dessert destination:

Royce' Chocolate World
SNOWS
LeTAO
Every major Hokkaido brand

Best place to stock up before leaving.

Omiyage (Souvenirs)

Can't Miss Hokkaido Sweets

Product	Brand	Why It's Famous
Shiroi Koibito	Ishiya	White chocolate cookies
Marusei Butter Sandwich	Rokkatei	Raisin butter cream
Yubari Melon Jelly	Various	Tastes like real melon
LeTAO Double Fromage	LeTAO	Legendary cheesecake
Royce' Nama Chocolate	Royce'	Melt-in-mouth chocolate

Where to Buy

New Chitose Airport - Best selection, tax-free
Sapporo Station - Major shops
Department stores - Curated selection
Direct from factories - Sometimes exclusive items

Shelf Life Considerations

Product	Shelf Life	Notes
Shiroi Koibito	6 months	Safe travel
Nama chocolate	1 month refrigerated	Needs cool bag
Fresh cheesecake	Hours to days	Eat quickly
Frozen cheesecake	Months frozen	Good for travel
Butter	Months refrigerated	Heavy, check customs

Seasonal Considerations

Summer (June-August)

Peak melon season
Lavender soft serve
Farm visits ideal
Fresh fruit parfaits

Winter (December-February)

Warm desserts popular
Hot milk drinks
Fewer fresh options
Chocolate emphasis

Year-Round

Cheesecake
Milk products
Cookies and packaged sweets
Soft serve (though farm visits limited in winter)

Money-Saving Tips

1. Airport on arrival - Shop when bags are light 2. Supermarket desserts - Convenience store cheesecake is decent 3. Share parfaits - They're huge 4. Farm stands - Often cheaper than shops 5. Combo tickets - Factory tours with tastings

Practical Information

Getting Around Dairy Country

Furano/Biei Area:

Rent a car (best option)
Sightseeing buses (summer)
Limited public transport