The 3 Best Ohagi in Asahikawa

It is the equinoctial week. Thus we will introduce delicious Ohagi (based on our reporter, BB mask,’s preferences) that can be purchased in Asahikawa. By the way, our reporter prefers coarse red bean paste to smooth red bean paste.

Why do Japanese eat Ohagi on the equinoctial week?

It is said that the equinox is 7 days long. This is the sum of the 3 days before and after the spring equinox day and the autumn equinox day.
For example, as the middle of the spring equinox is often March 20th, March 17th will then mark the beginning of the equinox and the end of the equinox will be March 22nd.

Why do Japanese eat rice cakes on the equinoctial week?

To put it simply, it was offered to Buddhist altars and graves to show gratitude to the ancestors.
That means ... People started to eat Ohagi just because they had left overs of the rice cakes they made as offerings. This is why eating Ohagi in theses periods becomes an habit.

Also, Ohagi = Botamochi.
Botan= Tree peony (blooming in spring)
Hagi= Bush clover (blooming in autumn)
The names are derived from the flowers blooming in spring and autumn.

To be exact, the ohagi in this article should be called Botamochi...
But since the name of ohagi and almost all rice cakes that can be purchased in Asahikawa are sold under the name of “ohagi”, we will call all the rice cakes “ohagi”.

From Wikipedia:
Botamochi is a Japanese sweet made with glutinous rice, regular rice (ratio of 7:3, or only glutinous rice), and sweet azuki paste (red bean paste).
Ohagi, uses a slightly different texture of azuki paste but is otherwise almost identical.

3: Sazae no Ohagi

"Tokachi Ohagi no Sazae” is well-known for its ohagi.
It is a rice cake made with Hokkaido’s fresh ingredients.

You can choose between two types of bean paste, koshian and tsubuan.
Koshian: smooth red bean paste
Tsubuan: coarse red bean paste

Coarse red bean paste type / 162 yen per piece
Source: BB Mask

The rice is so elastic that they have probably half-killed the glutinous rice to make the ohagi.
The mochi rice and the glossy sweet bean paste unite in your mouth to become the ultimate Japanese dessert.

Compared to before, the coarse red bean paste is smoother, but its delicious taste has not changed ♪

=== Store information ===
AEON MALL Asahikawa station square store
Address: 7-2-5 Miyashitadori, Asahikawa City AEON MALL Asahikawa Ekimae Store 1F
Phone: 050-3424-2247

Aeon Asahikawa Shunko store
Address: 10 Shunko, Asahikawa City, Aeon Asahikawa Shunko Store 1F
Phone: 0166-52-8010

Aeon Asahikawa Nagayama store
Address: 3-12-11 Nagayama, Asahikawa-shi Aeon Asahikawa Nagayama 1F
Phone: 0166-47-5154

Aeon Asahikawa West Store
Address: 23-2161-3 Midorimachi, Asahikawa City Aeon Asahikawa West Store 1F
Phone: 050-3424-8184

Co-op Mine Toko store
Address: 1-chome, Toyooka, Asahikawa-shi, 1st floor of Co-op Sapporo Toko store
Phone: 0166-35-8490

2: Seikoudou no Ohagi

Seikodo is in that kind of place that makes you wonder if there is really a shop around here.
A handmade Japanese sweets shop that sells rice cakes, mochi, dumplings, buns, etc.

Seikoudou also sells their ohagi with the option to choose between the two types of bean paste, smooth red bean paste and coarse red bean paste.

Coarse red bean paste type / 100 yen per piece
Source: BB Mask

Isn't 100 yen per piece cheap ?
Sure, it's kind of small, but it’s the perfect size for a snack ♪

Compared to the usual, the red bean paste is not so sweet but it’s just the right amount to be in harmony with the mochi rice ...
It's delicious because it mixes well in your mouth.

=== Store information ===
Store name: Sweets shop Seikoudou
Address: 1-11-15 Shintomi 2 Jo, Asahikawa-shi
Phone: 0166-26-2651
Business hours: 10: 00-19: 00 (closed as soon as sold out)
Regular holiday: Sundays and some temporary closures

1: The Supermarket Daiichi's Ohagi

What ?
The best ohagi comes from the Daiichi supermarket !?

Some people thought that.

Coarse bean paste type / 1 piece 129 yen
Source: BB Mask

It's a supermarket, but Daiichi's Ohagi is pretty good! Like, really good ! Excellent !

The official product name is “the ohagi handmade every day”.
We don't know if it's possible to make an ohagi from scratch every day, but it's fresh.
The adzuki paste, the mochi, everything is fresh.

You can feel every bean yet they are soft and have just the right amount of moisture.

The mochi rice too makes you wonder if the glutinous rice has been properly pounded as you can feel grains of rice under your teeth.
Probably because of that, the aftertaste is light and you feel like you can eat some more.

Translator note:
The Daiichi supermarket has stores in Obihiro, Asahikawa and Sapporo.
If you’re interested in the ohagi introduced here you can buy it these cities.

=== Store information ===
West store
Address: 4-134, 2-jo-dori, Asahikawa-shi
Phone: 0166-22-6064

Toko store
Address: Asahikawa City Toko 12-6-203
Phone: 0166-35-4550

Suehiro store
Address: 1-7-265 Suehiro, Asahikawa-shi
Phone: 0166-57-1551

Higashi Asahikawa store
Address: 1-3-37, Higashiasahikawa Kita, Asahikawa-shi
Phone: 0166-36-7210

Asahimachi store
Address: 1-7-2631, Asahimachi, Asahikawa-shi
Phone: 0166-50-2323

Hanasaki store
Address: 1-8-1-77 Shunko, Asahikawa
Phone: 0166-59-5588

Nijo store
Address: 23-11-1, 2 Jodori, Asahikawa-shi
Phone: 0166-37-8800

Conclusion

The same ohagi may completely differs depending the store.
In the Tokyo metropolitan area, not only red beans but also matcha, roasted green tea, walnuts and other ingredients made from various ingredients are becoming popular lately.
Ohagi specialised stores have also appeared in Sapporo and Ebetsu.
Our reporter, BB mask, told us about his preferences regarding ohagi with the hope that a ohagi specialised store open in Asahikawa as soon as possible.

Translated from BB Mask's article.