One of the places we most want to go in the near future is Hokkaido, the northernmost main island of Japan. Hokkaido is known for being home to the indigenous Ainu population, Sapporo Beer, and holding the title of Japan’s Dairyland. The dairy industry was introduced to Japan during the Meiji Restoration, and Hokkaido was the most natural place for this new industry due its verdant hills and relatively mild climate. Prior to this point, milk and meat were not commonly eaten in Japan due to restrictions in Buddhism, however this changed in the Meiji period, at the behest of Japanese leaders. As a result, over the past 100+ years, and especially after World War II, the Hokkaido Dairy industry has grown by leaps and bounds, turning into both an economic driver for Hokkaido, and a much-touted tourist draw. The milk from Hokkaido (often specifically advertised as such) is then utilized in other treats, and made into cheese, butter, and, perhaps most famously, ice cream. We love these illustrations from Mango Sticky Rice showing the many uses of dairy in Hokkaido.
M went to UW-Madison for graduate school, and is pretty serious about all things milk (any other fans of the delicious Babcock Dairy ice cream here?), so we were excited to learn more about the world of Hokkaido dairy. I was recently gifted the June 2026 SakuraCo “Summer in Hokkaido” subscription Japanese snack box, which only furthered this curiosity. Everything in the box was Hokkaido themed, even the senbei crackers had the Sapporo Clock Tower imprinted on them. Staying true to Hokkaido’s signature industry, this edition of the SakuraCo Japanese snack box heavily featured items made with the island’s lauded dairy products. Some of our favorite items from the snack box included chewy milk-flavored soft candies, which prominently featured Hokkaido’s famous sweet cream (and cows on the packaging); savory arare rice crackers filled with cheese from Hokkaido (which reminded us the iconic 90s snack, Combos); simple but delicious Hokkaido butter cookies; and strawberry-flavored butter cookies sandwiched with Hokkaido condensed milk. We also learned that Hokkaido is famous for its Yubari King cantaloupes, an expensive fruit due to its relative scarcity. The snack box included Yubari-flavored jelly candies and daifuku (mochi filled with white beans and melon).
Aside from just drinking milk straight up, one of the purest forms in which to consume Hokkaido dairy is through milk-flavored soft-serve ice cream (known as “soft cream” in Hokkaido). Having ice cream made with Hokkaido milk is considered a selling point in itself, and creameries across the country often feature unflavored “milk” ice creams meant to highlight the dairy’s purity and quality. We are looking forward to trying Hokkaido soft serve ourself in Japan someday, and the Japan Tourism Board has highlighted many options to choose from within Hokkaido, though it can be found throughout the country. Closer to home in the US, there is even a chain in California and Washington state, Indigo Cow, that boasts Hokkaido-style soft-serve, and pre-packaged Hokkaido soft cream cones at H Mart. Which treat from Hokkaido would you most like to try?
Eating The World 