Confections of a Cake-holic: Desserts aplenty in Otaru, a pastry paradise
A favoured holiday spot for Singaporeans, Hokkaido (北海道) is Japan’s northernmost prefecture. Renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, it is also cherished for its exceptionally fresh crops and produce, along with its rich assortment of sweets and confections.
As someone who loves desserts and has a weakness for sweet treats, going on a dessert hopping adventure in Hokkaido was something I set out to do during my latest visit. In the previous part, we covered three confectionery shops and cafes in Obihiro (帯広), and in this article, we’ll check out Otaru (小樽), another paradise for cake connoisseurs and pastry pundits.
Otaru: The coastal gem
Otaru’s picturesque canal. (Image credit: Carissa Loh)
Nestled along the coast of Hokkaido, Otaru enchants visitors with its nostalgic charm and port-city heritage. Just 30 minutes by train from Sapporo, it’s a very convenient half-day trip, with fantastic scenery, food, and souvenir shopping to enjoy.
While most people visit to stroll or take a ride along its scenic canal, amidst Otaru’s quaint streets and historic buildings are a huge selection of charming confections waiting to be discovered. I went to Otaru the day after visiting Obihiro, so instead of over-indulging in cakes, this round I opted for lighter desserts perfect for on-the-go.
① Ryugetsu (柳月)
Ryugetsu in Otaru. (Image credit: Carissa Loh)
Founded in 1947, Ryugetsu is a confectionery shop hailing from Tokachi (十勝), and makes sweets with local Hokkaido ingredients. Their store in Otaru has Otaru-limited items such as the Otaruto (オタルト).
Ryugetsu’s limited edition tart, the Otaruto, is only available in Otaru. (Image credit: Carissa Loh)
Combining the words "Otaru" and "tart", Otaruto is a tart made with an almond-based dough with fermented butter, and filled with honey-soaked beans. Much like the city it honours, this tart mixes East with West, blending Japanese and Western flavours and confectionery techniques.
Red bean and milk ice cream, yummy! (Image credit: Carissa Loh)
The Ryugetsu Otaruto store is also home to the Otaruto Café, which sells delicious ice cream. Made with fresh milk from Tokachi, there are two flavours: Tokachi Vanilla and Tokachi Red Bean. Red beans are another specialty of Tokachi, and definitely a must-try. For those like me who wanted to try both flavours, there is also the “Mixed” option, which gives you double the delight!
Ryugetsu’s must-buy: Sanporoku. (Image credit: Carissa Loh)
Ryugetsu’s most popular confectionery is "Sanporoku" (三方六), a log-shaped baumkuchen drizzled with white and milk chocolate that depict the bark of a birch tree. Made with flour from Tokachi, as well as butter, sugar, and eggs from Hokkaido, the confection is moist and sweet. Aside from the standard plain flavour, there are also other flavours like maple and chocolate, as well as seasonal flavours like strawberry and matcha!
Ryugetsu Otaruto Shop (柳月オタルト店)
Address: 3-18 Sakaimachi, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0027
Access: 15-minute walk from JR Otaru Station (小樽駅)
② Kitakaro (北菓楼)
Have a break, have a cream puff. (Image credit: Carissa Loh)
Next up was Kitakaro (北菓楼), housed in a beautiful stone brick warehouse. Founded in Sapporo in 1991, Kitakaro is a beloved confectionery chain that is known for its confections made with local Hokkaido ingredients.
A must-try is their cream puffs, which are known for their large size and creamy custard. It is said that flight attendants and pilots would buy Kitakaro's cream puffs in bulk as souvenirs from Hokkaido, and through word-of-mouth, the product became a hot topic.
What to choose? (Image credit: Carissa Loh)
Kitakaro has three main types of cream puffs, and the one I tried was type C, the Yumefushigi (夢不思議). This large and delicious cream puff is made with flaky puff pastry that is baked in layers to create a fluffy texture. The thick cream inside is made with custard mixed with fresh cream from Hokkaido. It was so good!
Kitakaro’s other popular jumbo cream puff is type B, the Kita no Yume Dome (北の夢ドーム), which has a crispy biscuit top. The cream for this cream puff is made in two layers: Kitakaro's special custard cream and rich fresh cream.
The dilemma of a tourist: to eat now or to bring back? (Image credit: Carissa Loh)
The store also had packed cream puffs available to bring back as souvenirs, but nothing beats the freshly made ones, filled with cream on the spot, in front of your eyes!
Kitakaro Otaru Main Store (北菓楼小樽本館)
Address: 7-22 Sakaimachi, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0027
Access: 15-minute walk from JR Otaru Station (小樽駅)
③ LeTAO (ルタオ)
LeTAO’s flagship store in Otaru, a brand synonymous with Otaru cheesecake! (Image credit: Carissa Loh)
Finally, you can’t visit Otaru without checking out Otaru’s representative pastry brand: LeTAO (ルタオ). Its unique name―pronounced ru-ta-o in Japanese―is derived from Otaru’s syllables said backwards. Established in 1998 in Otaru, LeTAO has gained widespread acclaim for its exquisite confectioneries, particularly its signature Double Fromage cheesecake (ドゥーブルフロマージュ).
LeTAO’s Double Fromage cheesecake. (Image credit: norio_nomura / CC BY-SA 2.0)
This delightful creation features a dual-layered texture, with a rich, creamy baked cheesecake base topped with a light, airy mascarpone mousse. So well-loved is this Otaru cheesecake that it has made its way overseas, and is even available in Singapore.
Novelle Vague, LeTAO’s chocolate confections. (Image credit: Carissa Loh)
Did you know? LeTAO has ventured into the world of chocolate, and has a specialty sub brand―Nouvelle Vague LeTAO Chocolatier―that offers a variety of chocolate confections chock full of decadent flavour.
The most decadent and delicious chocolate soft serve I’ve had. (Image credit: Carissa Loh)
Already a fan of LeTAO’s cheesecake, I was sure their chocolate would also be heavenly, so while in Otaru, I had to go try their chocolate. Aside from the box-packaged chocolate creations you could buy back to enjoy, I decided to try something that could only be found in-store: the seasonal special berry chocolate parfait, made from chocolate soft-serve ice cream with chocolate sauce, strawberry sauce, topped with fresh strawberries and raspberries. It was the most decadent and delicious chocolate soft-served I’ve ever had, and surprisingly not overwhelmingly rich!
Nouvelle Vague LeTAO Chocolatier Otaru Main Store (ヌーベルバーグルタオショコラティエ小樽本店)
Address: 4-19 Sakaimachi, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0027
Access: 7-minute walk from JR Minami-Otaru Station (南小樽駅)
Make that day trip to Otaru, a pastry paradise
(Image credit: Carissa Loh)
Discovering desserts in Otaru was a delightful adventure, showcasing Hokkaido's rich dairy heritage and vibrant confectionery culture. From classic favourites to contemporary twists on traditional flavours, Hokkaido invites you to experience its exquisite confectionery creations. Take a trip and discover your favourites!
Header image credit: Carissa Loh
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