Two crisp biscuits filled with butter cream, raisins and rum, made by Hokkaido confectioner Rokkatei since 1977. The Hokkaido souvenir buy and a Sapporo standard.
Where to eat it: 3 restaurants across 1 city.
Marusei butter sandwich was created in 1977 by Obihiro confectioner Rokkatei, named after its founder Masao Tanaka's nickname Marusei. The biscuit-and-cream combination became the canonical Hokkaido souvenir over the next decade; Rokkatei sells more than 60 million sandwiches a year. The Maruyama shop in Sapporo opened in the 1990s and runs a second-floor cafe alongside the take-home counter, the only Sapporo location where you can drink whisked matcha with the sandwich.
Common allergens: Gluten, Dairy, Egg
Tip from the editors. The biscuits must be completely cool before filling; warm biscuits melt the butter cream.
This is the TableJourney editorial recipe, modelled on the canonical bistro / counter version. The first place to try the dish in its city of origin is below.
Obihiro confectioner Rokkatei's Maruyama outlet, the Sapporo home for Marusei butter sandwiches, Yukiya Konko chocolate cookies and seasonal Hokkaido sweets.
Tip: The two-floor Maruyama branch has the full take-home Marusei stock the airport often runs short of late in the day.
Worth the queue: Marusei butter sandwich
The Ishiya counter inside Daimaru Sapporo's depachika, selling boxes of Shiroi Koibito and the rest of Hokkaido's signature confectionery for travellers.
Tip: Sapporo Station-direct; the souvenir queue is shorter than at the airport.
Worth the queue: Shiroi Koibito white-chocolate cookie box
The basement food hall under Daimaru Sapporo, with Hokkaido's confectionery houses (Rokkatei, Ishiya, Kinotoya), bento counters and prepared takeaway food.
Tip: The Hokkaido souvenir floor here is the closest source to the platforms.
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