Hokuo bread is a Hokkaido-wide chain of bakeries. The Hokuo Bread Museum seeks to honor the history and traditions of bread making, with a special focus on Scandinavian bread culture. The building itself is built in the Scandinavian-style.
There are many bread-making utensils on display, from long-handled oven scoops to bread machines made entirely out of wood, authentic brick ovens, etc. The long history of bread making can be seen and experienced in person. Hokuo Bread’s mascot is the gnome, who according to tradition watched over and protected the process of bread making. The factory has dozens of wooden gnomes throughout, and finding them all is a challenge. In addition there are displays of dolls in the shape of bread makers who were buried with their kings in ancient Egypt, bread-making utensils from Scandinavia, models of Viking ships and more modern exhibits such as bread delivery bicycles.
It’s an eclectic collection of everything to do with bread, and people of all ages are bound to find something of interest. On the 3rd floor is the actual bread factory, where you can see how bread is made and watch the Hokuo Bread factory workers at work. You can taste the finished product hot from the oven at the restaurant on the 2nd floor, and purchase it in the bakery shop on the 1st floor.
To get there take the Sapporo Subway Tozai Line (orange line) from Odori Station and get off at the Kotoni Subway Station. The ride takes about 12 minutes and costs 240 yen. Kotoni Station is 7 stops from Odori Station. From Kotoni Station walk to the northwest about 15 minutes and you’ll see the distinctive red factory and museum building.
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