2023.5 "Ikkyu Dafukudo Maruiimai Hakodate Store". I'm sorry for using a chain store review, but it's not a big deal (laughs). When I lived in Asahikawa, there was a main store nearby, but I only went once in three years (laughs). It's not that I dislike it, though (^^; I didn't even know there was a Dafukudo store in Hakodate! I happened to find it while wandering around the Marui store, so I couldn't resist buying it. It's a bit repetitive, but I didn't buy much in Asahikawa (laughs). The "intense grass Dafukudo (with red bean paste)" costs 152 yen (tax included). It's called "intense," and they seem to be trying hard with lots of mugwort. However, when compared to the "Yomogi no Sato" from Himeya Seipan Kashikobo in Kamikawa-cho, it feels a bit lacking. Well, I guess there's nothing you can do about it (^^; The red bean paste was of high quality, as expected from Dafukudo.

There was a lucky bag here too. It was reasonably priced at 540 yen. I saw what was inside and thought it would be nice to have some mochi for lunch after shopping, so I bought it. It also came with a small piece of yokan. It seemed like lucky bags were being brought in one after another.

In April 2015, I bought some zunda an (sweet edamame paste) skewered dumplings. They became our snack after dinner, with each of us trying a piece. They were soft and sweet, and the zunda an was only 97 yen, which was nice. In April 2011, I also bought a snack bag at Marui department store, which included daifuku (rice cakes) with beans and mugwort, coffee daifuku, skewered dumplings with sesame and soy sauce, and two types of manju (sweet buns). It was like a trial set and I enjoyed the variety. The coffee daifuku had butter in it, giving it a western twist, and the regular daifuku lasted until the next day despite the expiration date. They were made with Hokkaido rice and Biei adzuki beans. It was a light and enjoyable treat.

In March 2014, I want to eat strawberry daifuku to my heart's content. My favorite place is always hard to find because the owner locks onto you haha. This chain is amazing, if you search for "strawberry daifuku (location)" on Google, this place always comes up at the top haha. There are many branches in Sapporo and they are always crowded. They have three types of strawberry daifuku, I like the one with red bean paste and my friend likes the one with smooth bean paste. The mochi part is thick and chewy, very satisfying. When you go to department stores in Sapporo, you can find this place everywhere. According to their website, the main store is in Asahikawa. They sell rice cakes, daifuku, and other sweets. This time, I bought strawberry daifuku and sakura mochi. The strawberry daifuku comes in three types: cream, smooth bean paste, and red bean paste, each for 168 yen. The strawberries in the middle are very prominent. The mochi is thick and chewy. The strawberries are sweet and sour. The bean paste is okay. The sakura mochi costs 126 yen and is wrapped in salt-pickled cherry blossom leaves. It's simple and delicious. They have a variety of daifuku to choose from, so even if you don't like smooth bean paste or red bean paste, you can choose your favorite filling. The skewered rice balls have a nice chewy texture. I really like the sesame bean paste filling. I once stumbled upon this place when I was obsessed with warabi mochi, and I bought the daifuku for 210 yen, which had a similar texture to the warabi mix. The service is good, they even provide wet towels, showing attention to detail.

I went to the store one hour before closing, but the bean daifuku I was looking for was sold out. It seems to be quite popular. There was one customer in front of me in line. They kindly wrapped each one individually, leaving a good impression. As for the mochi, it had a slightly chewy texture and a bubbly sensation. I bought it at night, but it was still soft and delicious. The mugwort flavor in the mochi was quite strong, and it paired well with the sweet bean paste. Grass daifuku.

I used to be a regular at Daimaru in Sapporo, and whenever I see Ichikudaihukudo, I can't help but buy it. The Hakodate store has a good selection of basic daifuku (sesame, red bean, smooth bean, etc.), but when I'm craving something different, I feel a bit unsatisfied. They didn't have the zunda mochi or dango that I always used to eat. They operate in a very small space, so I understand, but I wonder if the daifuku is brought in from Sapporo? It was a bit hard and didn't quite meet my high expectations, so I was disappointed.