20 Recommended Otaru Souvenirs Vol.1 Sweets and processed seafood

〉Vol.2 Crafts and gift sets here

Popular souvenirs from Otaru include fresh seafood from the city's bountiful seas and glass crafts that showcase the craftsmanship of artisans. There is also a wide selection of traditional sweets made in historic buildings. Why not take home a memento of your trip with a loved one, along with the canal scenery?

1. Otaru Tile Baumkuchen

Otaru prospered as Kitamae ships from Kamigata (Kamigata) called at the port. Kitamae ships were merchant ships that traveled between Osaka and Hokkaido from the mid-Edo period until the Meiji period, buying and selling goods along the Seto Inland Sea and the Sea of Japan. All kinds of daily necessities such as rice, salt, sugar, sake, iron, cloth, and cotton traveled from Kamigata, while many other goods such as kelp, herring, herring dregs, and salmon traveled from Hokkaido.

The tiles used for the tiled roofs that can still be seen in the city of Otaru are one example of this. Not only were they used as a commodity, but tiles were also loaded onto the bottoms of Kitamae-bune ships to prevent ships from capsizing and to balance the center of gravity. In Otaru at the time, where fires were frequent, tiles were particularly popular among warehouses and wealthy shops. The appearance of these stacked tiles is expressed in "Kawara-yaki Baum" with the overlapping layers of Baumkuchen and the crispy texture of caramel.

Price: ￥1,280 (tax included)

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2. Former Otaru warehouse story

Otaru Warehouse was Hokkaido's first commercial warehouse, established in 1893, approximately 130 years ago, by Nishide Magozaemon and Nishitani Shohachi of Hashidate, Ishikawa Prefecture, who had been in the shipping business since the Edo period.

The design, a blend of Japanese and Western styles, features a gabled tiled roof topped with a shachihoko (a Japanese carp), and is symmetrically arranged around the brick office building (currently the UNGAPLUS store), creating an elegant and beautiful atmosphere. "Old Otaru Warehouse Tan" is a replica of this building, which is designated as Otaru City's Historic Building No. 13. Inside, you'll find rows of bite-sized "fondant au chocolat."

Fondant, which means "to melt" in French, is a chocolate cake that is not fully cooked and is finished so that the center remains soft. The meringue is thoroughly whipped and then mixed lightly by skilled artisans to incorporate as much air as possible, and then baked with our rich, melt-in-your-mouth original raw chocolate trapped in the center of the smooth, melt-in-your-mouth dough. Enjoy the story of the Otaru Warehouse overlooking the canal with this moist and rich fondant au chocolat.

Price: ￥1,350 (tax included)

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3. Coal Karinto (No longer available)

Looking back at history, Japan's modernization was driven by coal discovered in Hokkaido. The story of coal, which would later become a component of the Japan Heritage Site "Coal, Iron and Steel Port," began with coal discovered in the mountains of Horonai.

From the late Meiji period to the early Showa period, Otaru's Temiya district was home to the world's largest wooden structure, the Elevated Pier, measuring 313 meters in length, 20 meters in height, and 23 meters in width. Coal freight cars pushed by steam locomotives traveled along tracks built along the cliffs of Temiya, and the coal was loaded onto transport ships from above the pier using chutes for transport to various parts of Japan. Otaru Department Store UNGA's "Coal Karinto" is inspired by this coal. The inside of this karinto is generously coated with molasses made from brown sugar and honey, giving it a rich flavor. It is a classic delicious treat made using the same methods as before.

Price: ￥864 (tax included)

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4. Otaru Noh Theatre Japanese Tea Tray

Wasanbon sugar is a rare ingredient that is essential for Japanese sweets. It is the finest Japanese sugar, and has been loved by nobles since ancient times and treasured for special celebrations.

Almost all of the wasanbon sugar currently produced is produced in Kagawa and Tokushima prefectures in eastern Shikoku. Its appearance and flavor vary greatly depending on the region of origin and manufacturing method, with the difference coming from the amount of molasses it contains. It is characterized by its fine grains, smooth texture, and clean, lingering sweetness. The name "sanbon" comes from the unique sugar refining process devised in Japan, in which the sugar is "polished" three times on a tray.

Price: ￥1,372 (tax included)

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5. Candy apples

We offer candy from a long-established company that moved to Otaru from Toyama Prefecture in the early Meiji period, bringing with it the techniques of candy making.

The simple, sweet taste of these apples, made with ingredients from Hokkaido, is a nostalgic treasure, as is the traditional method of making candy. Each candy is carefully cut with scissors, and each piece is hand-made. These small, easy-to-eat candy apples offer a sweet and sour, nostalgic flavor that fills your mouth. Each candy is individually wrapped, making them the perfect souvenir.

Price: ￥540 (tax included)

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6. Otaru Delicious Snacks

The Kitamae ships sailed the Sea of Japan, transporting goods and culture. They also brought a wealth of seafood from Otaru. This special snack series condenses the delicious flavors of that seafood. Please enjoy the flavors of Hokkaido, packed with umami.

Price: ￥680 (tax included)

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7. All About the Sea

Hokkaido is Japan's leading producer of kelp, accounting for 90% of the nation's total production.Kelp has a long history, with mention of it already appearing in the Shoku Nihongi (Chronicles of Japan) of 797.

As kelp fishing became popular during the Edo period, consumption increased and it became a major transport item on the Kitamae ships. At the same time, konbumaki, a dish combining herring, which was a high catch at the time, and salmon, a specialty of Hokkaido, was created and became a local Hokkaido dish. The Umizukushi Konbumaki series features Hokkaido herring and salmon wrapped in Hidaka kelp and seasoned with a secret sauce that does not contain synthetic additives.

Price: From ￥648 (tax included)

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8. HOKKAI CAN

"Hokkaido Delicious Selection HOKKAI CAN" was created in collaboration with the Hokkai Seikan Otaru Factory, a symbol of the Otaru North Canal. The contents of the cans are from Maruyu, a company with over 40 years of history in Nemuro, where the Kitamae ships used to call. Their canning methods are based on a simple and uncompromising commitment to using fresh, delicious local ingredients to produce the highest quality canned goods, a philosophy that has been carefully maintained since the company's founding.

At the end of the Meiji period, canned food production became popular with the development of the North Pacific fishing industry, which was pioneered by Kitamae-bune shipowners, and the former Hokkai Canning Warehouse Co., Ltd. was established in Otaru in 1921. At one time, it was said to be the largest canning factory in Asia.

Hokkai Cannery Warehouse No. 3, equipped with a spiral chute for unloading products onto ships moored on the canal, is a symbolic building that, along with the North Canal, evokes the city's history. The group of facilities that were essential to the development of Otaru have been designated as historic buildings by the city, and their scenery is beloved by many citizens.

Price: From ￥520 (tax included)

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9. The Wind of Shakotan

Yoichi, a neighboring town of Otaru, overlooks the Sea of Japan from the base of the Shakotan Peninsula. Shakotan no Kaze is made here, exposed to the ocean breezes, using pesticide-free herbs that are grown naturally without the use of fertilizers or pesticides. Rather than aiming for efficiency or mass production, the products are handcrafted by the Yoichi Welfare and Education Village, which is committed to creating a cycle of compassion that is kind to both makers and users and that considers the future of the environment.

"Shakotan no Kaze Herb Tea" is a blend of pesticide-free herbs (spearmint, apple mint, lemon balm, lemongrass, calendula, German chamomile, mallow, lavender, and holy basil) to create a fragrant herb tea perfect for relaxation. It helps balance the autonomic nervous system, providing a moment of relaxation and refreshment.

Shakotan no Kaze Herb Salt uses pesticide-free herbs and Guérande salt from Brittany in northwestern France, which has a climate similar to that of Yoichi Town. Guérande salt is sourced through fair trade, respecting the traditional method of crystallizing salt using only sunlight and wind, and the aim of protecting the tidal flat environment.

Price: From ￥596 (tax included)

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10. Hakuho Wine (discontinued)

This special wine, created by UNGAPLUS and Osa Winery, is made with "Tabiji," a grape variety native to the region that ripens while overlooking the beautiful sea and feeling the sea breeze, and "Delaware," a grape variety that has long been popular among Japanese people, and is based on the theme of "enjoying the bounty of the northern seas even more." It is a slightly dry white wine with a refreshing, mellow aroma.

Tabiji is said to have originated in the Shioya district of Otaru City, and is a rare variety that is now only grown in the Otaru and Yoichi areas. It has beautiful white stripes on its large reddish-purple grains, and is a variety that has long been loved by locals for its unique, gorgeous aroma and flavor.

Price: ￥3,888 (tax included)

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〉Vol.2 Crafts and gift sets here

UNGAPLUS

Good luck from the shipping town of Otaru...
May the flow that has been protected without interruption be your ally and open up your luck.

During the Meiji period, Otaru flourished as the gateway to the development of Hokkaido.
Kitamae ships flapped their pure white sails across the ocean, traveling to and from Honshu and bringing many goods and cultures to this area.

UNGAPLUS delivers original products that incorporate the history and culture of Otaru, as well as high-quality products from the ports of call of the Kitamae ships, from the former Otaru Main Warehouse, the first commercial warehouse in Hokkaido, built by Kitamae ship owners Nishide Magozaemon and Nishitani Shohachi.

The story of Otaru, which has walked alongside the Kitamae ships, can be heard from this place.

We are looking forward to your visit and have a wide selection of original items that are only available here and make great souvenirs.

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