Japan is a loose canon when it comes to obscure vending machines, but this one gets my stamp of approval with its tasty Hokkaido canned cream!
Hokkaido is the home of delicious fresh produce from whole vegetables, succulent Wagyu beef, and creamy dairy goods! During my visit to the Sapporo Snow Festival earlier this year, I came across a couple of peculiar vending machines on Odori street that caught my eye.
Funky Cow Skin Design
The first thing that got me excited was the cow skin design that is typically associated with milk, and I’d heard amazing things about Hokkaido milk!
It turned out to be a vending machine for Hokkaido cream in a can! Located at the base of the iconic Sapporo TV Tower, it’s fairly easy to find.
Simply insert the correct amount of cash and type in the number of your desired product.
Authentic Hokkaido Cream!
980 yen may sound a little pricey for a can of cream, but in actuality, there is more than just cream in these jam-packed cans.
The top half features a generous helping of Hokkaido’s iconic smooth and rich cream, while the second half is packed with parfait-like layers of pudding and sponge cake.
It may not look like much from the outer appearance, but when you reach the end of the cup you’ll feel the satisfaction of finishing a gourmet level dessert.
As kawaii as it gets!
These cute designs are what Japanese desserts are all about! This particular canned cream was 880 yen, so a little cheaper to the one described above.
In addition to the classic Hokkaido cream flavor, you can also opt for hybrid flavors that include oreo, matcha green tea, and strawberry.
I tried the oreo flavor and was quite delighted to find little bits of crushed oreo biscuits at the bottom, reminiscent of a McDonald’s oreo McFlurry.
All-in-all, these Hokkaido cream vending machines were a joy to try and perfectly captivated the peculiar and creative imagination that is so potent in Japan!
To learn more about life in Japan, check out my book: The Japanese Pursuit of Perfection. This book features my most profound observations of Japanese culture and society as a foreign resident. Available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover. Grab your copy today!