A major event where sweets from all over Japan will be gathered in one place is coming to Asahikawa, Hokkaido in 2025! The National Confectionery Expo, a sweets festival held approximately once every four years, will be held for 17 days from May 30th to June 15th, 2025, with the Asahikawa Daisetsu Arena as the main venue. This will be the first time the event has been held in Hokkaido in 57 years. In this article, we will introduce the details and highlights of the event.

The 2025 event will be held in Asahikawa, Hokkaido.

The official name of the "Asahikawa Confectionery Expo 2025" to be held in Asahikawa, Hokkaido in 2025 is the "28th National Confectionery Expo Hokkaido." The National Confectionery Expo is a major event in the confectionery industry that has been held approximately once every four years since 1911 with the aim of promoting the confectionery industry and revitalizing the region. Since it was held in Mie in 2017, it has been postponed due to the spread of COVID-19, but this will be the first time in eight years that the event will be held.

Main venue: Dohoku Arcs Daisetsu Arena

Image of the venue (outdoors)

Image of the venue (indoors)

The Asahikawa Sweets Expo 2025 will be held at three locations: Dohoku ARCS Daisetsu Arena (Asahikawa Daisetsu Arena), Asahikawa Local Industry Promotion Center (Roadside Station Asahikawa), and Asahikawa City Daisetsu Crystal Hall. At the main venue, Dohoku ARCS Daisetsu Arena, sweets from all over Japan will be exhibited.

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Two White Rock Domes, one large and one small, will appear inside Daisetsu Arena. Inside the small dome, origami cranes folded from wrapping paper from participating confectionery stores will be placed as a prayer for peace. In the main dome, the walls will be filled with a variety of Japanese and Western confectionery, as well as projection mapping of Hokkaido's vast farms, fields, and agricultural products, enveloping visitors.

The venue will host the "National Sweets Market," where about 1,000 sweets that can only be purchased in certain regions of the country will be gathered in one place. It will be on a large scale that can only be seen at the Confectionery Expo.

Image of Asahikawa Confectionery Expo 2025 / Scene from the 2017 Mie "Oise-san Expo"

A large collection of sweets from all over Japan (images show only a portion of the sweets on display)

The 2017 Mie "Oise-san Expo"

A confectionery exhibition that brings together the skills of confectioners from all over Japan. You can see about 80 large confectionery crafts made using traditional techniques.

The 2017 Mie "Oise-san Expo"

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At Sweets Family Land Hokkaido, where major confectionery manufacturers exhibit, both adults and children can have fun with games and sampling of rare sweets.

Demonstrations and tastings of confectionery will be held, and you can observe confectionery being made in a mini factory.

The 2017 Mie "Oise-san Expo"

Among the thousands of sweets submitted from across the country, the products that won awards from various organizations will be on display.

Shimae Daifuku, a daifuku fairy that looks just like a long-tailed tit, was selected as the official mascot with 4,469 votes from among the candidates. Original goods and costumes have also appeared, and the Asahikawa Confectionery Expo is being promoted at events around the country.

Shimae Daifuku also appeared at the "100 Days to Go Event" held in Sapporo

The grand prize went to "Come on! Kashihaku" by Katsumata Baren + Remi, an artist born in Iwamizawa, Hokkaido.

The official theme song for "Asahikawa Confectionery Expo 2025" has been selected from over 100 submissions! The selected song will be streamed at the event venue and on various media, and will also be performed live by artists at the venue.

Advance tickets are on sale now. The price is 1,200 yen for adults, 1,000 yen for junior and senior high school students, and 600 yen for elementary school students. If you purchase an advance ticket, you can receive special offers at stores and facilities in Hokkaido, mainly in Asahikawa and Sapporo. In addition to confectionery stores, various facilities such as ramen shops and clothing stores are eligible. You can receive the special offers as many times as you like by presenting your advance ticket, so if you are going to purchase a ticket, it is a good deal!

Photo courtesy of the 28th National Confectionery Exposition Hokkaido Executive Committee

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