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.
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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