Footprint Tracking Squad (Tea Snacks Edition) received from a customer. A souvenir gift received for good luck. Hakodate, nostalgic... I want to go there again. A gentle sweetness like glazed senbei. Not too hard. Is this green tea or milk? (^^

In 2023.6, I visited the "Senkyuan Sohonke Takarai-cho Main Store" in Sapporo, which is the root of the famous "Senkyuan" and "Rokkatei" shops. The store is located near the Hakurai-cho tram stop and has a traditional atmosphere. While they mainly offer Japanese sweets, they also have a small selection of Western sweets, which was a pleasant surprise. I tried the Botan for 300 yen (tax included), a refined nerikiri sweet with a sophisticated sweetness that wasn't overpowering. It left me feeling content after eating. The Dorayaki for 240 yen (tax included) also had a nice balance of sweetness without being too heavy. Both sweets were delicious, but I would recommend the Botan more.

Received a gift from Sensyuansohonke, Marumikan jelly and apple jelly. The round orange jelly was amazing, surpassing the taste of oranges. Hokkaido sweets are the best. Highly recommend for those visiting Hakodate for gourmet sweets.

One popular traditional Japanese sweets shop in Hakodate. Their dorayaki is fluffy and delicious, making it a favorite among customers. It has a rich red bean paste filling and a fluffy texture, creating a well-balanced flavor. It would make a great souvenir. There are two different designs on the dorayaki, but they taste the same.

When friends come, this old building could also be a good choice for a leisurely stroll. I bought a new type of snack I had never tried before, called "Kohagi Manju". It costs 200 yen per piece, which may seem a bit expensive, but it is made from simple ingredients such as rice flour, red bean paste, sugar, yam, yuzu, and sesame only. It was a very elegant and refined snack. I would definitely want to try it again.

The mochi-like dough with sweet red bean paste filling was soft and moist, creating a new texture. I received it as a souvenir and it was delicious. I'm not sure if it's from Senshuan in Sapporo or Hakodate, or if it's related to Rokkatei, but it was really tasty.

I received a message from a local asking me to buy souvenirs from a shop in Hakodate that I had mentioned on social media. I was embarrassed to admit that I didn't know about this shop. It seems to be a well-known shop for older people, specializing in traditional Japanese sweets. I will make sure to buy souvenirs from there next time.

I received a souvenir called "Yama Oyaji". It has a relief of a bear with a salmon. Maybe he is "Yama Oyaji" (the nickname for bears that boldly walk around the mountains of Hokkaido). He has a charming look. These Western-style rice crackers are common souvenirs from various regions, but this "Yama Oyaji" has a very strong buttery scent! Hokkaido is known for its dairy industry. It's quite sweet too. The local confectionery shop here is also famous for its Dorayaki. I would like to try that too.

This is the main store of Senkyoan, located in Hakodate city. It's a bit away from the tourist spots, but I finally got to visit. It has a historical appearance. The shop is small. I bought the limited edition cherry blossom-flavored Ohanami Daifuku and the apple financier. They were all delicious, truly living up to their reputation as a long-established shop.

Usually, I review ramen, but occasionally I review the "Hokkaido Centennial Dining Series". It's a record of visiting over 100-year-old shops in Hokkaido. The 11th shop in the Centennial Dining series is the main store of "Senshuan" in Hakodate. Established in the first year of Man'en (1860), this shop has a history of 162 years! It's a shop that boasts a history dating back to the Edo period. In Hokkaido, it is the second oldest confectionery shop. The establishment of Senshuan dates back to the first year of Man'en (1860), a time when Japan was in turmoil with the assassination of the daimyo Ii Naosuke at the Sakuradamon Incident. This was eight years before the Meiji Restoration. Senshuan opened during the turbulent period of the Bakumatsu era, when Japan was in the midst of the "Sonno joi" movement, with figures like Hijikata Toshizo and Sakamoto Ryoma active in Kyoto and Edo. While we learn about history from textbooks, the history of the Ezo region during the Bakumatsu period is rarely touched upon. Hakodate, the first port opened in Japan due to the Treaty of Amity and Commerce between the United States and Japan in 1854, is a fact that is known but not deeply ingrained in the memory of Hokkaido residents. The town of Hakodate flourished with trade following the Treaty of Amity and Commerce between the United States and Japan in 1859, the same time when Sasaki Yoshihei, a lower-ranking samurai from Akita domain, came to Hakodate and started selling food and sweets such as candied butterbur. This marked the origin of the main store of Senshuan. The name "Senshuan" is said to be derived from Yoshihei's hometown of Akita. Senshuan later expanded to Otaru, Asahikawa, and Kushiro. From Otaru, "Sapporo Senshuan" was established and later became independent. Another branch separated from "Sapporo Senshuan" in Obihiro later became known as "Rokkatei". Today, there are only two Senshuan shops remaining in Hokkaido, the main store in Hakodate and "Sapporo Senshuan". Each is managed by a different company. The main store of Senshuan in Hakodate is located at 9-9 Takaradacho, Hakodate City. It is right in front of the tram stop "Takaradacho", with a statue of the wealthy merchant Kotakeya Kahei from the late Edo period nearby. The shop is a two-story wooden building with a historical charm. The parking lot is located next to the shop. I purchased the famous "Original Yama Oyaji (5 pieces)" for 370 yen. The package features the character of Yama Oyaji skiing with a bamboo leaf and salmon, as in the CM song. Yama Oyaji is a kind of Japanese-Western hybrid senbei. It has a crispy texture and a perfect amount of sweetness, with a hint of butter flavor. Yama Oyaji was created by the fourth generation owner of Senshuan, Sakutaro Matsuda. Matsuda, who was originally a charismatic Japanese confectionery craftsman in Tokyo, developed numerous famous sweets and laid the foundation for Senshuan's development. In 1930, he developed the "Original Yama Oyaji", which became a signature product of Senshuan throughout Hokkaido.

★Dorayaki★ Delicious ◎Superb 〇Very tasty △Just average The texture of the dough and the moderate sweetness of the filling were well balanced in this dorayaki. It offered the consistent taste of a long-established shop. Thank you for the meal! (^^)

I am not a fan of Senkyoan, so I did not know that the main store is in Hakodate. By chance, I passed by a store that had a nostalgic feel, and I immediately recognized it as Senkyoan from the sign. It was founded in 1860. The interior of the store is surprisingly small and cozy. I love these kinds of details. So I bought their dorayaki, financier, and original Yamajijii. Enjoying delicious food and savoring its history is a wonderful experience. (/*´∀︎`)o

A long-established Japanese confectionery shop located near Hakodateyama on the tram street. There is a famous sukiyaki restaurant nearby. The name of the shop, Senkyuan, is also well-known in Hokkaido. It seems that this shop is the origin of it all. I tried their dorayaki. It's a great idea to buy dorayaki and enjoy the view of Hakodate.

This is the main branch of Sennenan. When I heard the name, I imagined a huge store, but it was completely different (laughs). I tend to be easily swayed by names. I bought the dorayaki for home. I bought the Hakodate walk (milk custard castella manju) to eat right away. It's convenient that you can buy just one piece. I ate it in the car right away. I thought the filling would be more milky, but it was the kind that takes away moisture from your mouth. It took away moisture along with the surrounding castella. It was small, so I managed to finish it. I thought it would be custard, so it was a bit different from what I imagined. But it was delicious. The next day, I ate the dorayaki at home. The gentle filling allowed me to enjoy an overall elegant taste. Thank you for the meal.

Chishuian in Boraicho has a very retro atmosphere, and it was my first visit. There is plenty of parking available on the side. There is no eat-in space, but you can enjoy free tea. I bought some Hakodate cobblestones and dorayaki as souvenirs.

In Hakodate, there is a famous store that is widely known. The main store is housed in a dignified building. Their dorayaki has been made using traditional methods since the Taisho era. It is made with Hokkaido-grown azuki beans and carefully prepared to remove any bitterness. It's definitely delicious.

The history is long... Representing Hakodate and leaving a mark in Hokkaido, this traditional Japanese confectionery shop has a rich history. It is the origin and predecessor of a famous Western confectionery shop in the region, showing great potential. The specialties are dorayaki and Yama Oyaji. Dorayaki is filled with plenty of Tokachi red beans (anko). Yama Oyaji is a flavorful butter cookie that you can't help but reach for more. They also sell fresh Japanese sweets (daifuku, chukan manju, etc.). The Hakodate stroll (castella dough with koshi an) is also popular. They used to sell items like "bata-dora," which seems to have been influenced by a certain shop (they didn't use to sell them before). Unfortunately, they are not very tasty, with flavors like butter mixed with matcha or Mont Blanc paste. The disappointing part is that they faced difficulties with succession issues and were eventually acquired by a company in Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture. Passing on history is a challenging task. There is a parking lot next to the shop. Please note that there are items that can be shipped and items that cannot be shipped!

I was looking for a souvenir unique to Hakodate, and I came across Senkyuan. [About the shop] The shop is located at the foot of Mount Hakodate, a major tourist area in Hakodate. It's easy to stop by after sightseeing at Mount Hakodate, Hachiman-zaka, and the churches. [About the sweets] They have both Japanese and Western sweets, but I mainly bought Western sweets. ⚫Shikabe Apple Financier: A perfect combination of buttery financier and finely chopped Shikabe apple. The texture of the apple is retained, and it's really delicious. ⚫Hakodate Financier: A proper financier with a buttery aroma. ⚫Hakodate Financier Matcha ⚫Hakodate Financier Earl Grey ⚫Batadora: The butter flavor is subtle. The red bean paste is fluffy and delicious. [Summary] The financier made with Shikabe apple was my personal favorite among the ones I bought. Getting this as a souvenir would be very delightful and surely appreciated.

I came in search of Japanese sweets. The shop is a longstanding establishment, around 150 years old, with a charmingly aged building. I love this type of shop. Despite it being just before noon, there was a steady flow of customers coming and going. I tried a few bean paste-based wagashi sweets. - Chuka Manju (230 yen): It looked like a mochi-based sweet (I forgot the name), but it had a regular bean paste filling. Still, it was delicious. - Dorayaki (205 yen): The fluffy texture of the pancake-like shell was quite enjoyable. - Monaka: Simply delicious. I would definitely buy some again if I'm in the area.

In 1860 (Man'en 1), the first "Sasaki Kichihei" who was a samurai of Akita domain started selling sweets in bustling Hakodate, which opened with the Japan-US Treaty of Amity and Commerce. That's how the history of Senkyuan began. I visited here because I really wanted to see the building. - Original Yamajiro 540 yen: A Japanese-Western hybrid senbei made with butter and milk instead of water, finished with rice flour and wheat flour. It has a crispy texture and a slightly sweet taste. It can last for 2 months, so it's great as a souvenir. - Hakodate Stroll 360 yen: Castella manju designed after Hakodate's iconic landmarks. - Dorayaki 205 yen: Made with large red beans from the southern part of Hokkaido, it takes three days to make the grainy red bean paste. The skin is made with a laborious process and each piece is steamed and baked. The chewy texture may be due to this. It has a shelf life of about 5 days. Despite being away from the city center, the shop is always full of customers. Together with the historic building, this shop continues to provide flavors beloved by the locals for a long time.