In this section, we’ll introduce some rare and unique souvenirs and traditional sweets from Hirosaki City that only locals know about. If you’re visiting Hirosaki and want to take home something truly special — a souvenir or sweet that you can only get here — this is the perfect guide for you. If you’re planning a trip to Hirosaki, be sure to check it out!

Imo-ate & Daiou-ate | Sato Seika

“Imo-ate” is a traditional sweet from Tsugaru, known as an an-doughnut (sweet bean paste donut). The way it works is that you draw a lottery ticket, and if you draw “Oya” (parent), you get half a donut; if you draw “Ko” (child), you get a quarter of a donut. This delightful treat was developed by Sato Seika, a confectionery company based in Hirosaki. The crispy donut dough perfectly complements the sweet bean paste, creating a mouthwatering flavor.

The “Daiou-ate” (Great King’s Lottery) also includes the “Oya” and “Ko” options, but with an added “Daiou” (Great King) ticket. The sweet features a white bean paste filling, lightly colored with red food dye, shaped like flowers, and is a type of wagashi (Japanese traditional sweet). This rich sweet flavor pairs wonderfully with Japanese tea.

This nostalgic snack can usually be found in many local dagashiya (traditional Japanese candy shops) around the Tsugaru region, and it is a childhood favorite of many locals. It’s a perfect souvenir to bring home, allowing you to experience a touch of old-fashioned Showa-era charm.

• Product Name: Imo-ate & Daiou-ate
• Vendor: Sato Seika
• Location: 68 Miyazaki, Tsugano, Hirosaki, Aomori, 038-3874
• Phone: 0172-34-3356
• Official Website: Website, Facebook
• Where to Buy: Direct sales store next to the factory, other dagashiya (candy stores), stations, and souvenir shops in the prefecture, online shop (https://satouseika.base.shop/), etc.

Tsugaru Cacao & Kogin Cacao | Grand Merci

“Tsugaru Cacao” and “Kogin Cacao” are Western-style sweets: crispy, crumbly cookies coated in milk chocolate. The cookies are decorated with cocoa butter patterns, and the designs for “Tsugaru Cacao” are inspired by Tsugaru lacquerware, while “Kogin Cacao” features a pattern based on Kogin Sashi, a traditional Tsugaru embroidery technique.

After appreciating the beauty of Tsugaru’s craftsmanship, you can savor these cookies, which offer a delicate blend of butter and cocoa flavors — a perfect souvenir. Both products are sold at Grand Merci, a local confectionery shop with several locations in the Tsugaru region.

If you’re looking for a cake to enjoy right away, don’t miss the “Opera Tsugaru.” This cake, inspired by the layering techniques of Tsugaru lacquerware, features layers of buttercream and ganache. The surface is decorated with a traditional Tsugaru lacquer-like spotted pattern, offering both visual appeal and a delicious taste experience.

• Product Name: Tsugaru Cacao & Kogin Cacao
• Vendor: Grand Merci Co., Ltd.
• Location: 1-3-16 Noda, Hirosaki, Aomori, 036-8045
• Phone: 0172-35-9894
• Official Website: Website, Instagram, Facebook
• Where to Buy: Grand Merci Main Store, online shop (https://grandmerci-hirosaki-shop.com/), etc.

Uchiwa Mochi | Toda Uchiwa Mochi Shop

“Uchiwa Mochi” is a traditional Japanese sweet made by threading thin slices of mochi (pounded rice) onto skewers, then drizzling them generously with a sesame sauce. The name “Uchiwa Mochi” (Fan Mochi) comes from the way the skewered mochi resembles the shape of a traditional Japanese fan. This sweet is sold at “Toda Uchiwa Mochi Shop,” a well-established wagashi shop with over 100 years of history. It became widely recognized after being featured on the TBS show “Matsuko no Shiranai Sekai” in 2022.

The combination of freshly made, soft mochi and sesame paste made by mixing sweet honey with fragrantly roasted black sesame creates an unforgettable flavor. Once you’ve tried it, you’ll be hooked! Be sure to visit the shop early in the day, as sales end once the product is sold out.

• Product Name: Uchiwa Mochi
• Vendor: Toda Uchiwa Mochi shop
• Location: 21 Doyamachi, Hirosaki, Aomori, 036-8196
• Phone: 0172-32-7698
• Official Website: there is no official website
  ※But there is Tabelog.
• Where to Buy: At the shop

Usuyuki | Okashido Asahimatsudo

“Usuyuki” is a type of Japanese jelly made from thinly sliced agar (a jelly-like substance made from seaweed) coated in sugar. While you might typically think of agar as soft, this version has a delicate crispness and a satisfying crunch. Shaped like thin slices of apple, with a soft pink hue, it’s as visually beautiful as it is delicious.

The gentle sweetness of Usuyuki pairs perfectly with tea or coffee, and the jelly is made with Aomori’s own Kogyoku (Jonathan) apples, ensuring a fresh apple flavor in every bite.

Asahimatsudo was founded in 1916, and inside the shop, you’ll find a wide variety of both Japanese and Western sweets, including the Tsugaru’s local sweets “Banana Monaka”, and the traditional “Yozakura” baked sweet, as well as nostalgic buttercream “Angel Cake.” Many items are sold individually, making it a great place to find a treat for yourself.

• Product Name: Usuyuki
• Vendor: Okashido Asahimatsudo
• Location: 102 Honcho, Aomori, 036-8203
• Phone: 0172-32-4023
• Official Website: Website
• Where to Buy: At the shop, online shop (https://e877.jp/shop/), etc.

Pai Man | Kashishi Mishima

“Pai Man” is a crescent-shaped apple pie filled with apple jam wrapped in a flaky pastry. The thin pastry has a light and airy texture, while the apple jam is packed inside generously.

The apple jam is made using 100% “Kogyoku (Jonathan),” a variety of apples that are well-known for their balanced tartness, often used for processing. The flavor of the jam combined with the rich buttery pastry creates a decadent taste, while the aftertaste remains refreshing, making it easy to eat several at once. The individual packaging is also a nice touch for souvenirs.

This sweet is sold at “Kashishi Mishima,” a Japanese confectionery shop founded in the Meiji era, located about a 15-minute walk from Hirosaki Castle. In addition to “Butter Dorayaki” and a “Three-Flavor Yokan Set,” this shop is loved by locals, so be sure to check it out.

• Product Name: Pai Man
• Vendor: Kashishi Mishima
• Location: 39-1 Wattoku-machi, Hirosaki, Aomori, 036-8021
• Phone: 0172-32-4729
• Official Website: there is no official website
  ※But there is Tabelog.
• Where to Buy: At the shop

Cararinco | chez Ange

"Cararinco" is a sweet sold by “chez Ange,” a French restaurant located about a 15-minute walk from JR Hirosaki Station. It’s a type of daifuku (mochi), filled with apple paste and wrapped in skin made from locally grown mochiko (sticky rice flour). It’s topped with caramel sauce, offering a new twist on traditional Japanese sweets.

The more you bite into it, the more you can taste the refreshing sweetness of the apple paste combined with the slightly bitter caramel sauce. Despite its appearance as a daifuku, it gives you the experience of eating a Western-style dessert. Each piece is small enough that you can finish a whole box in no time.

It gained attention when featured on TV Tokyo’s “Ii Tabi Yume Kibun” and other shows. You can also order it through their online shop, making it accessible even for those living far away.

• Product Name: Cararinco
• Vendor: chez Ange
• Location: 2-7-1 Tonosaki, Hirosaki, Aomori, 036-8094
• Phone: 0172-28-1307
• Official Website: Website, Instagram, Facebook
• Where to Buy: At the shop, online shop (https://chezange.base.shop/), etc.

Pocoron | Bonjour

“Pocoron” is a Japanese-style cookie sold by “Bonjour,” a popular Western-style confectionery shop in Hirosaki City. It comes in two flavors: soy sauce and miso. These cookies have a unique, rich yet mild flavor that’s different from regular cookies. The slight sweetness from the sugar and the buttery flavor are both present, making it easy to finish a whole bag in one sitting.

The packaging features Kokeshi dolls, a famous craft from nearby Kuroishi City, adding a cute touch to the product.

When visiting the shop, be sure to check out their apple pie, which was featured on TBS’s “Banana Man’s Sekkaku Gourmet.” The pie has a crisp pastry with chunky, cinnamon-free apple filling—perfectly satisfying. It is also sold at BRICK A-FACTORY, a select shop directly connected to JR Hirosaki Station.

• Product Name: Pocoron
• Vendor: Bonjour
• Location: 3-1-3 Jotochuo, Hirosaki, Aomori, 036-8093
• Phone: 0172-88-7557
• Official Website: Website, Instagram
• Where to Buy: At the shop

Hirosaki Dorayaki & Hirosaki Cassis Dorayaki | Kashishi Kaigendou Kawashima

“Hirosaki Dorayaki” and “Hirosaki Cassis Dorayaki” are sold by “Kashishi Kaigendou Kawashima,” a Japanese confectionery shop established during the Taisho era, located about a 6-minute walk from Kohnan Railway’s Chuo-Hirosaki Station.

The Hirosaki Dorayaki features white bean paste with flakes of sakura leaves and Fuji apples, capturing the essence of Hirosaki City. The Hirosaki Cassis Dorayaki incorporates the distinctive tartness of cassis (a blackcurrant) grown locally by Hirosaki Warehouse Co., mixing perfectly with the rich sweetness of the bean paste. Both varieties make great souvenirs, offering a taste of Hirosaki’s local flavors.

Also, don’t miss the “Dakekimi Pudding,” a limited-edition dessert available from mid-August to September. This pudding is made with sweet, rich corn called “Dakekimi,” grown in Aomori, and it combines a crunchy texture with a deep, fragrant sweetness. Many people visit the shop specifically to get this seasonal treat, so be sure to check the shop’s Instagram for updates. 

• Product Name: Hirosaki Dorayaki & Hirosaki Cassis Dorayaki
• Vendor: Kashishi Kaigendou Kawashima
• Location: 15 Shinakawamachi, Hirosaki, Aomori, 036-8183
• Phone: 0172-32-8556
• Official Website: Google Maps, X, Instagram
• Where to Buy: At the shop

Make Your Trip Special with local Souvenirs!

While classic souvenirs like cookies and Manju are great, when traveling, it’s always exciting to try things that are unique to the region. In Hirosaki City, you’ll find a wide variety of attractive souvenirs made with local specialties like apples and Dakekimi corn, as well as traditional Japanese sweets that have been crafted by long-established shops with over 100 years of history. New and innovative sweets are also making their way onto the scene, with fresh, exciting options appearing every day. So, when visiting Hirosaki, be sure to take home a souvenir that is truly unique to the area!