Ika Yokan is one of Hakodate’s most unusual local sweets, cleverly designed to look like a squid. Hakodate is famously known as a “city of squid,” and this distinctive confection captures that local identity in a playful and memorable form.
Ika Yokan was created by the confectioners at Hakodate Yanagiya. It originally began as a squid-shaped display item made by the shop’s craftsmen, but its striking appearance attracted so much attention that it was eventually developed into a product.
The finished sweet carefully reproduces the appearance of a squid, including its tentacles and internal parts. At first glance, it can look surprisingly like a real squid, making it an especially eye-catching Hokkaido souvenir.
The unusual appearance is not the only thing that makes Ika Yokan special. Inside the yokan is a carefully designed three-layer structure.
At the center is gyuhi, a soft, chewy confection made from glutinous rice. The gyuhi is wrapped in coffee-flavored white bean paste, which is then enclosed in a layer of yokan, a traditional Japanese sweet made from sweet bean paste and agar.
The combination creates a distinctive flavor unlike ordinary yokan. The coffee-flavored bean paste adds an aromatic, slightly roasted character, while the soft gyuhi provides a pleasant contrast to the firmer outer layer.
The idea for Ika Yokan grew from the desire to create something that represented Hakodate. By transforming the city’s famous squid into the shape of a traditional Japanese confection, Hakodate Yanagiya created a sweet that is both local and playful.
Its unusual appearance quickly made it a popular souvenir. For international visitors, it is also an entertaining introduction to the creativity often found in Japanese wagashi, where appearance can be just as important as flavor.
Ika Yokan is produced in very limited quantities. Only 50 pieces are made each day, and the sweet is sold exclusively at the Hakodate Yanagiya main store.
Because of its limited production and unique appearance, it is best to look for Ika Yokan early if you would like to try this distinctive Hakodate specialty. It is a memorable sweet that combines local squid culture, traditional yokan-making and a touch of humor.