There are many delicious foods in Yoichi Town.
Popular souvenirs in Yoichi Town include apple cheeks, wine, and marine products.
Here, we will introduce some of the famous and delicious souvenirs in Yoichi Town.
Yoichi is a town of apples and other fruit trees. It is also famous for its whisky, which has been called the “Scotland of Japan” and was the setting for a morning television series. In recent years, it has also been attracting attention as a wine town, boasting the largest harvest of wine grapes in all of Hokkaido. The reason for this is that Hokkaido is blessed with a relatively mild climate suitable for fruit tree cultivation, and many farmers have extensive vineyards and advanced cultivation techniques cultivated over many years. There are approximately 50 wine grape growers with a total cultivation area of approximately 130 hectares and an annual harvest of over 700 tons. Recently, a number of “domaines” have been established one after another to conduct their own vinification, and they are attracting attention.
A wide variety of specialty products, such as popular sweets and local specialties, are filled with the charms of Yoichi. You can buy them as souvenirs for yourself to remember your trip, or hand them out to everyone to share Yoichi’s charms. A wide variety of souvenirs including popular sweets and local specialties are available.
Yoichi Town has a relatively mild climate in Hokkaido, with a large temperature difference between day and night, making it suitable for the cultivation of various crops. Yoichi boasts one of the largest production of fruit trees in Hokkaido, growing apples, grapes, cherries, pears, prunes, etc., and is called the “Fruit Kingdom of the North. Yoichi Town is also known as the “Northern Fruit Kingdom” and boasts the largest production of vegetables in Japan, including tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, green peppers, and pumpkins. Blessed with high quality vegetables and fruits, Yoichi is the best farming village in Hokkaido and a treasure house of freshly harvested delicacies.
Located at the eastern base of the Shakotan Peninsula, with the northern side of the town facing the Sea of Japan, Yoichi is a port town that has developed as a major Japan Sea herring fishing ground since the Edo period. Today, coastal fisheries such as flounder, shrimp, cod, salmon, and sea urchin are thriving, and landings of flatfish and octopus are also increasing. The town also has a long history of processing industries that take advantage of the abundant seafood, and the quality and quantity of processed marine products made from fresh ingredients are both excellent. The seafood nurtured by the abundant sea is exceptionally delicious and cannot be tasted anywhere else.
■Nikka Whisky /ニッカウヰスキー
Nikka Whisky products including Hokkaido factory original products, chocolates ideal as a snack with whisky, and processed marine products are also available.
■BABA/馬場商店
A sake specialty store with a selection of wines from contract wineries in Yoichi. We also have a large selection of sake from Hokkaido breweries.
■NAKANE/中根酒店
We love Hokkaido wines and have a lineup of great wines from various regions that are hard to find elsewhere. In particular, in order for as many people as possible to enjoy Yoichi wine, which is currently the most popular wine in Japan, we introduce not only the products, but also the stories of the farmers and winemakers.
■Yoichi Liqueur Factory/余市リキュールファクトリー
Yoichi Liqueur Factory produces a unique liqueur that allows people to enjoy the taste of fruit instead of eating it as is. The deliciousness of fruit that can only be enjoyed in season is bottled as a liqueur so that it can be enjoyed all year round. The alcohol content is 5%, so even those who are not fond of alcohol can enjoy it as a liqueur girls’ night out, a gift for women, or a Mother’s Day present.
■OcciGabi Winery
The group of wineries that sprang up around the world between the end of the 20th century and the beginning of this century are called “modern wineries. The common characteristics of these wineries are their attractive architecture and underground winemaking facilities. These structures are surrounded by spacious gardens, which in turn are surrounded by extensive vineyards. The only thing in sight is a green forest and a distant mountain range. The wineries create a landscape one by one without exaggeration.
■Yoichi Winery/余市ワイナリー
Yoichi Winery opened in 2011 on the premises of Yoichi Budoshu Brewery. It is a spot where visitors can compare Yoichi’s one and only “local wines” and find their favorite bottle. The winery also has a gallery, atelier, store, and restaurant, where visitors can enjoy food and art in a location surrounded by nature. We hope that everyone in the family, from children to adults, will experience the new life of Yoichi Wine!
■Camel Farm Winery/キャメルファームワイナリー
In 2021, the Pinot Noir won a gold medal at an international competition. In the same year, he opened a direct sales shop and café based on the concept of a place where people can casually drop in with their boots between farm work.
■ERLA PLAZA/エルラプラザ
The Yoichi Sightseeing Product Center “ELLA Plaza” is directly connected to JR Yoichi Station, where you can purchase Yoichi’s specialties and souvenirs, as well as get the latest tourist information. In the attached café space, you can enjoy freshly baked apple pies and handmade ice cream.
■KAKIZAKI/柿崎商店 海鮮工房
Kakizaki Shoten is a long-established fresh fish store in Yoichi Town. It is a popular store patronized by locals for its fresh seafood at reasonable prices. In addition to seafood, the store also carries a wide variety of meats, agricultural products, and alcoholic beverages.
■KAGAWA/香川菓子店
The retro atmosphere of Kagawa Confectionery is a long-established confectionery store. Located about 6-minutes walk from the Nikka Whisky Yoichi distillery, it is marked by its green roof and triangular walls. One of the most popular souvenirs is the “Whiskey Monaka. The whisky monaka is shaped like a square bottle and filled with white bean paste with raisins kneaded into it, giving it an aroma of Western liquor.
■KIYOKU/清久果樹園
Fruits grown at Kiyoku Orchard and apple juice made from Kiyoku Orchard apples are now available at the Kiyoku Orchard online store.
■KAWAI/有限会社カワイ
Everything from the cultivation methods that take advantage of Yoichi’s climate, soil, and fertilizers, to the knowledge and experience of four generations of farmers, to the uncompromising passion for juice made from carefully selected tomatoes. The taste is exceptional because they are not crops for juice, but rather mini-tomatoes and grapes that are delicious to eat. One sip and you can taste the climate of Yoichi.
■SANKURA-YOICHI/株式会社産クラよいち
Sankura Yochi’s fruit paste is made from 100% high quality fruit that can be eaten raw and processed into a paste using proprietary technology. It is used by major food manufacturers and producers. Since it is additive-free and coloring-free, it can be used safely for baby food for babies and nursing food for the elderly.
■JA YOICHI/余市農業協同組合
JA Yoichi engages in clean agriculture, incorporating organic fertilizers and, in principle, not using herbicides. JA Yoichi’s “Ringo no Hoppe,” a straight juice made from 100% Yoichi apples, is a popular product with fans all over Japan. Please enjoy the safe and delicious taste grown by farmers with great care.
■NAKAI/中井観光農園
We grow wine grapes, apples, cherries, prunes, pears, and nectarines on our own farm using organic fertilizers. All of the fruit used in our processed products is ripened on the vine, and we try to harvest what we consider to be the “sweetest and most delicious” fruit.
■NAKANO FARM/中野ファーム株式会社
Bright red tomatoes grown on a small hill in Yoichi Town, Hokkaido, where the wind blows in from the sea.
The tomatoes, trained in the strong sun and sea breezes, are packed with deep sweetness and refreshing acidity in their small size.
Yoichi SUNSET” made from such tomatoes has an excellent balance of sweetness and acidity. Once you drink it, you will never forget this rich tomato juice..
■HOKUO YOICHI/株式会社北王よいち
We deliver flavorful processed products throughout Japan, using only ingredients grown in Yoichi, including our own farms, to bring out the full flavor of the ingredients. In order to pursue safe and authentic taste, we do not compromise on the origin of the ingredients, the raw materials, or the sterilization method used in the processing process.
■MIKI-NO-HOTORI/三氣の辺 果樹園
The tourist orchard “Miki-no-Hotori” grows grapes for brewing on half of its site, which is 1.5 times the size of Sapporo Dome, and 10 kinds of fruits, including peaches and apples, on the other half. Enjoy the taste of freshly picked wines, ciders, juices, jams, dried fruits, etc. with minimal use of antioxidants (sulfites).
■NITORI/ニトリ観光果樹園
Fruits are grown using only organic fertilizers, and the garden is filled with the aroma of fruits grown in a beautiful natural environment. A variety of fruits are available for all-you-can-eat during business hours with no time limit. In addition to fresh fruits, homemade apple pies are recommended as souvenirs.
■SOUMA FARM/ソウマファーム
Our theme is “overwhelming fruitiness,” centering on fruits from our own farms. We hope to delight our customers with sweets that no one else can imitate by bringing out the best of Yoichi and its neighbors’ ingredients. At our directly managed restaurant, you can enjoy the marriage of Yoichi wines and carefully selected ingredients.
■NPO YOICHI HAMANASU/NPO法人 余市はまなす
The company processes Yoichi’s agricultural products and fruits to produce and sell food, confectionery, juice, and other products. At their own farm, they grow tomatoes, beans, radishes, potatoes, and other produce, which they use as ingredients for their juices. While enjoying the rich bounty of Yoichi, each user enjoys working spontaneously in his or her field of expertise.
■KIKUCHI/株式会社 三印菊地水産
We have a wide variety of herring, including honboshi (dried herring), hachiboshi (dried herring), namaoshi (dried herring), and kirimimi (sliced herring). We ship widely from Hokkaido, Tohoku, Hokuriku to Kansai. As a herring specialist, we are committed to high quality and use more than 1,000 tons of raw fish annually to produce our products. In particular, we are proud to be one of the largest producers of this dried herring in Japan.
■NANPO TOMETARO/【燻製屋】南保留太郎商店
Our smoked products are manufactured based on the method that our founder, Nanpo Tometaro, learned from the aborigines of Sakhalin. Taking advantage of our location right in front of Yoichi fishing port, we carefully handcraft a variety of smoked products one by one, including fresh seafood and vegetables.
■NUKAZUKA/糠塚水産株式会社
We have been engaged in herring processing for more than 100 years, using raw materials produced in Maehama, Yoichi Town, and making the best use of traditional techniques. We hope you will try our products.
■FUKUHARA NOBUYUKI/有限会社マルコウ福原伸幸商店
We offer processed herring products with familiar flavors and packaging so that customers can incorporate them into their modern diets, which are increasingly shifting away from fish. We also have an extensive online store to make it easier for customers to shop.
■RYUGUJO WATANABE/竜宮城 渡辺商店
“Salmon toba” was originally a preserved food of the Ainu people. It is made from fatty Hokkaido fall salmon before it rises to the rivers, making it soft and easy to eat. We also strive to create products that please a wide range of customers by developing smoked products using rare parts of the salmon.
■YOICHI GUNREI/余市郡漁業協同組合
We have developed a number of products using ingredients from Yoichi-cho’s Maehama beach, where fish are landed from season to season, and herring roe, mainly from Canada and the Pacific Ocean. We are also developing original brand products such as “Salmon roe in soy sauce” and “Salted kazunoko” using Hokkaido salmon, and are striving to add value to Yoichi-machi’s processed marine products.
