![Once you see it, once you hear it, you will never forget it! Unique in both appearance and name, "Gokatteya Yo-kan|Domingo](https://p1-634a4370.imageflux.jp/w=768,f=webp:auto,q=78/https%3A%2F%2Fdomingo.ne.jp%2Fwp%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F05%2F7df342b6aef48c0ec77db677512e666e.jpg)
EDITORIALS
Once you see it, once you hear it, you will never forget it! Unique in both appearance and name, "Gokatteya Yo-kan
The name of the shop is Gokenya Honpo, and its signature product is Gokenya Yokan.
The word "Gokenya" has a strong impact, but the Gokenya Yokan is also quite impressive in appearance.
Let us introduce what they are.
Gokuchi-ya Honpo has a long history, dating back to 1870, in fact, to the Meiji Era. The name "Gokenteya" comes from the village of Gokente, which used to be located in the south of Esashi. The name of the village is said to have come from the Ainu word "kokaite," meaning "place where the waves crash. Gokatteya Yokan, its signature product, became widely known in 1936. It was chosen as a souvenir by the Emperor Showa when he visited Hakodate. Since then, it has become a famous confectionery representing southern Hokkaido.
![](https://p1-634a4370.imageflux.jp/w=768,f=webp:auto,q=78/https%3A%2F%2Fdomingo.ne.jp%2Fwp%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F05%2Fc385300d438925986ee0560e689f81d3.jpg)
When you think of yokan, most people probably think of its rectangular shape. However, Gokatteya's round canned yokan is round and cylindrical. The way to eat it is also unique. The round lid is removed, the portion to be eaten is pushed out from the bottom, and the string attached to the container is cut off by spinning it around. First-time eaters may be a little confused.
![](https://p1-634a4370.imageflux.jp/w=768,f=webp:auto,q=78/https%3A%2F%2Fdomingo.ne.jp%2Fwp%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F05%2F9de614714616581059d78ee3dcaba6b1.jpg)
The price is quite reasonable, at 324 yen per round canned yokan (tax included) and 249 yen per mini round canned yokan (tax included). The yokan are made with Tokachi-grown kidney beans and have a gentle sweetness that everyone loves. The rough texture of the lentil sprinkled only on the edges is also very special and makes you want to cherish it.
![](https://p1-634a4370.imageflux.jp/w=768,f=webp:auto,q=78/https%3A%2F%2Fdomingo.ne.jp%2Fwp%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F05%2Fcece78d499ca4747853e230e73ea509b.jpg)
Of course, there is a wide variety of other products in the Gokatsuya Honpo store. There are a variety of yokans, including the regular rectangular-shaped "Nagashi yokan" for 702 yen (tax included) and the "Tsuchikomi" for 378 yen (tax included), which contains only the sugar portion from the top of the round canned yokan. But if you have never had one before, you should definitely try the round tube-shaped Gokatsuya yokan. The cute retro container design and fun way to eat it will surely make you want to tell someone else about it.
Gokuchiya Honpo
Location: 38 Aza-Honmachi, Esashi-machi, Hiyama-gun, Hokkaido
Phone: 0139-52-0022
Official website: http://www.gokatteya.co.jp
Writer Profile
Hokkaido Sightseeing Turtle Writer, Bubu-Neko
I'm "Bubaneko," a writer with many connections to Hokkaido's sights and tourist facilities. There are many wonderful resources, even the ones we take for granted when we live in Hokkaido. I will be sharing these wonderful attractions of Hokkaido with you.