The main store of "Wakasaimo Honpo" located on the shores of Lake Toya. They also have stores in Sapporo and New Chitose Airport. Wakasaimo has a taste similar to baked sweet potatoes, but it doesn't actually contain any potatoes. It has a natural sweetness and a gentle flavor. It also includes ingredients like kelp, giving it a sweet and salty taste.

This store sells freshly fried imoten. Be sure to buy the freshly fried ones and eat them right away! It's different from the ones in bags that last longer! You can't buy imoten or Usu manju at the New Chitose Airport store (although they used to sell imoten for a while).

◎Day/TimeSunday/Before 10 amNo waiting◎MenuFried fresh imoten (sweet potato tempura) 140 yen/pieceWakasaimo (traditional Hokkaido sweet)◎Access10 minutes by car from Toyako StationParking available◎SeatingCounter seats◎Customer BaseTourists◎PaymentCredit cards accepted◎NoteEstablished in 1930 with the main store located by Lake Toya, this long-standing Japanese confectionery shop offers a specialty called wakasaimo that has remained unchanged in taste and shape. Wakasaimo is a popular sweet treat in Hokkaido, inspired by the deliciousness of baked sweet potatoes from other regions. It is made using locally sourced daifuku beans instead of sweet potatoes, with kombu seaweed added to resemble the potato's fibers. The exterior is coated with egg yolk for a baked potato-like appearance. This confectionery shop was one of the first to use soy sauce in their sweets, offering a simple and rustic flavor that was originally sold in packs or by weight. Additionally, the main store serves freshly fried imoten, similar to sweet potato tempura.

I thought the taro tempura would be salty like french fries, but it was surprisingly sweet! Taro itself is sweet, I see! They start frying it right after you order, so it's hot and fresh. You can even watch them fry it in front of you. It might be a good choice for a snack when you're feeling a bit hungry!

When it comes to Lake Toya Onsen, "Wakasaimo Honpo" is a must-visit. I always used to have "wakasaimo" when visiting my grandparents' house as a child. Recently, they released a chocolate flavor, so I went to the main store. It had been a while since I visited the main store of Wakasaimo Honpo, and I was excited. I bought the Wakasaimo chocolate flavor, "usuman" (soft mochi), and 2 pieces of daifuku. And, until my wife pointed it out, I had never noticed the "imo-ten" (deep-fried sweet potato) that is limited to the main store. Apparently, those who have been to the main store know about it, but it was my first time trying it, and it was delicious! I haven't been a big fan of wakasaimo itself, but this imo-ten is exceptional! I've decided to stop by again tomorrow before heading home to buy some more.

This is the main store of Wakasaimo at Lake Toya. There are various sweets displayed, all looking delicious. I want to try the sweet potato tempura, but the cakes look so good. The Cake and Japanese sweets paradise cake has a strawberry chocolate topping on the surface, with layers of strawberry crunch, pistachio mousse, berry mousse, and other mousses inside, making it delicious. The strawberry waffle cone sponge cake with strawberry cream or jam inside also looks tasty. You can enjoy the cake in the rest area. They serve the cake on a plate for you. A cup of hot coffee costs 180 yen, and the view of the lake from the lakeside is beautiful. The sweet potato tempura is freshly fried and available for sale. There is also a restaurant on the second floor.

I bought some snacks at Sapporo Station, but well, it's the main store, so I bought them as a little treat. There are shops all around Lake Mae, and it seems like they have more variety of products than at Sapporo Station. They even have special Valentine's Day items, which is nice. So even if you get hungry at night, you won't have to worry. Haha. I've already eaten most of them now... Haha.

It was really crowded with tourists (bus tours) when I visited! The freshly baked sweet potato they served was delicious!! The specialty, "wakasaimo," was tasty, but personally, I preferred the sweet potato!

Located in the hot spring town of Lake Toya, this is the famous Hokkaido specialty store Waka Saimo Honpo. At the main store here, you can try "Imoten," which is deep-fried waka saimo. I tried Imoten for the first time, and while regular waka saimo is delicious, frying it makes it even more flavorful and delicious. When it's freshly fried, it's even more delicious. They also sell cakes and sweets that you can't find anywhere else, making it a great place to buy souvenirs. A must-visit shop when you come to Lake Toya Hot Springs.

I have been eating sweet potato tempura since I was a child, but at the main store, you can eat it freshly fried. The coating is crispy, and surprisingly, I found it lighter to eat compared to regular sweet potato tempura. It's amazing. Once you try this, you can't go back to the sweet potato tempura for souvenirs.

I bought various items and here is my review of the sweet potato. It is convenient that it comes in a bag with pre-cut slices, making it easy to eat. The size is large, giving it a satisfying texture. Despite having the skin on, the sweet potato has a nice balance of the skin's nutty flavor and the moist texture of the potato. It is just the right amount of sweetness and delicious. For those who prefer to enjoy just the sweetness, I recommend removing the skin before eating.

I used it for lunch. The rice at the second-floor set meal restaurant is average. They have a kids' lunch menu. Many tourist buses come and have lunch here. The freshly fried sweet potato tempura on the first floor is delicious! You must try it. They also sell lots of cakes and souvenirs, so shopping is recommended. The view is also nice.

Day 2 of returning to Hokkaido!! On this day, I plan to depart from Muroran, pass through Rusutsu and Kimobetsu, and arrive in Sapporo. I usually make a detailed itinerary by the hour, but this time I had to change plans last minute due to oversleeping from drinking and eating too much the night before. So, I decided to cut out Jozankei Onsen and change to Toyako Onsen instead. The main point of Day 2 is to keep things light. It's been a while since I visited Toyako Onsen! I want to stay at Toyako Onsen, where I haven't been since elementary school. Visiting the main store in Toyako, which is familiar to Hokkaido locals, brings back nostalgic feelings. First, I ordered two freshly fried Imoten for 140 yen each and a hot coffee for 150 yen. Before entering the store, the famous Hokkaido actor Fumio Kohinata greeted me... I made sure to bow respectfully before entering, as it is the store's etiquette. The store has a spacious interior. This time, I aimed for the freshly fried Imoten, not for souvenirs. Imoten is a tempura made from "Wakasaimo," which is 100% known to Hokkaido locals but may not be well-known to people from mainland Japan. Is it at New Chitose Airport? Is it a copy of Hiroshima's fried momiji manju? I bought a coffee from the machine and enjoyed a break in the eat-in area where I could enjoy the splendid view of Lake Toya through the fully glassed walls. It has been raining throughout this visit, unfortunately. The hot coffee woke me up from my drowsiness. I prefer Imoten over the Wakasaimo snacks, as it becomes crispy when made into tempura. I recommend those staying at Toyako Onsen to stop by this local old-school store for souvenirs the next day. You probably haven't seen Wakasaimo at New Chitose Airport... Thank you for the meal~♪ [Foodlog] ☆3.23 [Tanuki Rating (lunch)] ★Overall... 34 points ★Atmosphere... 7 points ★Food... 7 points ★Menu... 7 points ★Cost performance... 7 points ★Likelihood to revisit... 6 points

When it comes to sightseeing around Lake Toya, you must visit here. There is a parking lot and even a hot spring for just your hands, which feels nice. The freshly fried wakasaimo is always delicious. If you look closely, you'll see thin seaweed inside. It must be a secret ingredient. Thank you for the meal.

Before going to Windsor Castle, I always stop by here to get some wasabi peas at the entrance. As a souvenir, I bought a local beer, "Doyouko no Shizuku," and enjoyed drinking it leisurely. It was a light beer. I took a walk by the lakeside where the double cherry blossoms were in full bloom. It was a pleasant holiday.

When I went to Lake Toya for a vacation, I stopped by a souvenir shop called "Toya Lake Honpo" for some sweet potato treats. I couldn't resist the freshly fried "sweet potato tempura" and also decided to try some cakes. I enjoyed the "chocolate banana caramel shortcake" with plenty of fluffy cream and moist sponge, as well as the "flan Parisienne" which had a subtle custard flavor. The coffee was self-service and had a strong bitter taste. The highlight was definitely the hot and fluffy sweet potato tempura, a unique twist on the local sweet potato. Overall, it was a delightful experience enjoying these treats while gazing at Lake Toya. Thank you, Toya Lake Honpo!

Hokkaido, Toyako-cho, Sorachi District. After admiring Lake Toya, I visited the main store of Wakai Mo Honpo. The shop's standout feature is the wide variety of products they offer. What's great is that you can purchase items individually. Perfect for those who want to enjoy a variety of treats on their own. I first picked up a small bag with 4 popular snacks. Then, I browsed through the individually sold snacks lined up neatly. You have to buy them one by one! Excited, I made my purchases. When I got back to the hotel, I laid them all out. So much fun! The snacks with chestnuts have a short shelf life, but the rest are good for at least 2 weeks. I plan to have one snack each day as a treat!

I always stop by the Wakasaimo Honpo Toyako Main Store whenever I participate in the Lake Toya Marathon, but unfortunately, there haven't been any events for the past few years due to the current situation. Tonight, I visited the store after a long time. The store has large windows facing Lake Toya and a high ceiling, creating a spacious and bright atmosphere. I ordered various types of beer and the familiar Wakasaimo and Imoten. Here are my thoughts on the items I tried: - Freshly fried Imoten (3 pieces for 420 yen including tax): Despite being advertised as freshly fried, the Imoten was pre-fried and packed in containers. I enjoyed it while looking at Lake Toya from the outdoor bench, but I believe it would be much tastier if it was freshly fried. I remember being amazed by the freshly fried Imoten I tried at a store in Noboribetsu in the past. If they start taking orders and then fry the Imoten, it would definitely be a hit after the pandemic. - Hokkaido Anman (180 yen) and Hokkaido Kabocha Anman (180 yen): I saw these on Instagram while driving and decided to buy them. The Anman wrapped in Anman series (they also have Anpote) had smooth and silky red bean paste inside and outside, providing a pleasant mouthfeel. The chestnut and pumpkin flavors were distinct and delicious. I would rate them 3.4 out of 5. The Hokkaido Kabocha Anman is a seasonal product available from September to December. I will definitely visit again. Thank you for the delicious food.

I stopped by the main store of "Wakasaimo Honpo" located on the shore of Lake Toya during a drive break. There is a spacious parking space and a restaurant on the second floor, making it suitable for various purposes. On the first floor, they sell a variety of sweets in addition to the popular "wakasaimo", but the freshly fried "imo-ten" limited to the main store can be enjoyed, so I ordered this (3 pieces for 420 yen) this time. Imo-ten is a snack made by frying "wakasaimo" in oil. It takes some time as they start frying after receiving the order, but the piping hot imo-ten has a fluffy texture and a subtle sweetness, making it very delicious. Personally, I'm not a big fan of "wakasaimo", but I highly recommend this freshly fried imo-ten.

A popular local snack loved by Hokkaido residents for a long time. In tourist information like buses, there used to be a common exchange of "Did you know that the sweet potato doesn't actually contain any potato?" "Really?" Is it still around today? The sweet and salty burnt skin, along with the sweet and comforting red bean paste, pairs well with tea. The kelp designed to look like fibers adds a nice touch. When you see it, you can't help but buy it! Enjoying it while reminiscing about the "Wa-ka-sa-i-mo" commercial~.