Northman: A Taste of Hokkaido, Wrapped in Pastry

When people think of Hokkaido sweets, they often imagine rich dairy products, fresh cream, chocolate, and beautifully packaged souvenirs.

But there is another Hokkaido classic that deserves a place on every food lover’s list: Northman, a signature pastry from Sapporo Senshuan.

Golden and simple on the outside, Northman combines delicate pastry with smooth Japanese sweet bean paste. And today, the Northman family has grown to include fresh cream-filled versions, seasonal flavors, and even freshly baked pastries that you can enjoy warm in Sapporo.

More Than 100 Years of Sapporo Confectionery

Sapporo Senshuan was founded on September 5, 1921, in Sapporo, Hokkaido.

For more than a century, the confectioner has been creating sweets that bring together Japanese traditions and Hokkaido ingredients.

In 2026, Senshuan celebrated its 105th anniversary.

One of the sweets that came to define the company was Northman.

The Birth of Northman

Northman made its debut in 1974.

Its concept is beautifully simple: smooth koshian—silky red bean paste made with Hokkaido-grown azuki beans—is wrapped in a thin pastry crust and baked until golden.

The combination brings two confectionery traditions together.

Japanese anko meets Western-style pastry.

The outside is delicate and pleasantly moist, while the inside is filled with smooth, gently sweet red bean paste.

It is rich enough to feel like a treat, yet balanced enough to enjoy with a cup of coffee or tea.

For anyone who has never tried anko before, Northman can also be a delicious introduction to one of Japan’s most traditional flavors.

Start With the Original Northman

If this is your first Northman, start with the classic.

The original Northman uses smooth red bean paste made with Hokkaido azuki beans, enclosed in its signature pastry.

There is something wonderfully nostalgic about it. It doesn’t rely on extravagant decorations or complicated flavors. Instead, the appeal comes from the contrast between the pastry and the smooth bean filling.

Another advantage for travelers is its shelf life. The regular Northman has an official shelf life of 29 days from production, making it much easier to bring home as a Hokkaido souvenir than refrigerated varieties.

Nama Northman: The Creamy Version You Have to Try

Then there is Nama Northman (生ノースマン).

Introduced in 2022, Nama Northman takes the original concept in a richer, creamier direction.

Inside the pastry you’ll find sweet red bean paste topped with a generous layer of fresh cream.

The three layers create the magic:

Pastry + Anko + Fresh Cream

The cream makes the bean paste taste lighter and smoother, while the anko gives the pastry more depth than a typical cream-filled dessert.

Cut one open and the generous white layer of cream immediately explains why Nama Northman has become such an eye-catching Hokkaido sweet.

Unlike the regular Northman, however, Nama Northman is refrigerated and has a much shorter consumption period of three days from production.

In other words, this is one to enjoy while you’re in Japan.

Northman Comes in More Flavors Than You Might Expect

The original red bean version may be the classic, but part of the fun today is discovering the different Northman varieties.

Depending on the product lineup and season, you may encounter flavors such as Milk, made with Hokkaido condensed milk blended into white bean paste; Pumpkin, featuring Hokkaido pumpkin; and Tsubuan, which retains more of the texture of the Hokkaido azuki beans.

If you already love Japanese anko, Tsubuan is particularly worth trying. Compared with silky koshian, the visible pieces of azuki give the filling more texture and a stronger bean character.

Seasonal Northman: Look Before You Buy

Northman also has another reason to check the display carefully before automatically choosing the original:

seasonal flavors.

These limited editions change throughout the year, making Northman particularly fun for repeat visitors to Hokkaido.

For autumn 2026, for example, Northman Chestnut (栗) features chopped chestnuts blended into white bean paste, creating a distinctly autumnal version of the classic pastry.

Seasonal Nama Northman varieties have appeared as well, including flavors such as matcha.

Because limited flavors and availability can change, checking Senshuan’s current lineup before your trip is part of the experience.

Nama Northman Apple: A Special 105th Anniversary Flavor

Autumn 2026 brought an especially fitting flavor.

To celebrate Senshuan’s 105th anniversary, the company introduced Nama Northman Apple (生ノースマン りんご).

The filling combines apple jam with white bean paste and Hokkaido fresh cream, bringing together the gentle sweetness of the bean paste, the freshness of apple, and the richness of cream.

The small pieces of apple also add another texture to the pastry.

For travelers visiting Hokkaido during the autumn season, this is exactly the kind of limited-edition Japanese sweet worth looking for—you may not find the same flavor on your next visit.

Don’t Miss the Freshly Baked Northman in Sapporo

There is one more Northman experience that many visitors could easily miss.

At the Sapporo Senshuan Main Store, you can find Northman baked in the store’s own oven.

The freshly baked version is offered in both Koshian, with smooth red bean paste, and Tsubuan, with more texture from the azuki beans.

Eating Northman freshly baked gives you a different experience from opening a packaged souvenir version.

The pastry is warm, aromatic, and fresh from the oven.

If your itinerary includes central Sapporo, this is one Northman experience worth seeking out.

Where Can You Buy Northman?

Northman products are available at Senshuan stores and selected locations in Hokkaido, while availability varies depending on the specific product.

For travelers, New Chitose Airport is one of the most convenient places to look for Northman and Nama Northman before leaving Hokkaido.

You can also find Nama Northman at selected locations such as the Senshuan Main Store, Northman Daimaru Sapporo, and other participating shops.

And Northman is no longer something you can discover only in Hokkaido. Selected products and locations have expanded beyond the island, including a Northman shop at JR Tokyo Station.

Seasonal products, Nama Northman, and freshly baked versions may have different sales locations and availability, so it is always a good idea to check Senshuan’s official information before making a special trip.

If You Can Only Try Three…

There are three very different ways to experience Northman.

Start with the Original Northman to understand the pastry as it was intended—a simple combination of Hokkaido azuki bean paste and pastry.

Next, try Nama Northman for the contrast between anko and fresh cream.

Finally, if you’re in Sapporo, look for the freshly baked Northman at the Senshuan Main Store.

And if a seasonal flavor is available?

That might be the one to add to the box.

A Small Pastry With a Century of Hokkaido Behind It

Northman itself may have been born in 1974, but the story behind it goes back much further.

Sapporo Senshuan has been making sweets since 1921.

More than a century later, the company continues to take something deeply familiar in Japanese confectionery—anko—and present it in new ways.

The original Northman feels nostalgic.

Nama Northman is creamy and indulgent.

Seasonal Northman captures the flavors of the moment.

And the freshly baked version turns a familiar souvenir into something you can experience right there in Sapporo.

So if you find yourself traveling through Hokkaido, remember the name:

Northman.

It may look like a simple little pastry.

But inside is a delicious meeting of Hokkaido ingredients, Japanese tradition, and more than 100 years of Sapporo confectionery history.

Looking for Hokkaido treats you can enjoy at home?
Explore our Hokkaido Food & Snacks picks →　UmamiList Official: Linktree