Echoes of Hokkaido in Southern California

Our birthplace, Hokkaido, is among the first regions in Japan to welcome winter each year. Around this time, temperatures often dip below freezing, and as of early November, the season’s first snow has already arrived.

In Tokachi, where our main factory stands, winter brings a landscape defined by the quiet beauty of the Hidaka Mountain Range. Over the years, this view has become an inseparable part of our daily life and identity.

Here in Southern California, the scenery around our store could not be more different in climate—yet there is a surprising resemblance. On clear winter mornings, Mt. San Antonio, dusted in white, reflects a silhouette that reminds us of the Hidaka mountains back home. Seeing this familiar outline in an unexpected place deepens our sense of connection to this community.

Did you know that the name ROKKATEI is also rooted in the winters of Hokkaido?
The word “Rokka” means snowflake in Japanese. It carries our wish to become a confectionery that represents Hokkaido—a region where snow is not just a season, but a symbol woven into daily life.

Hokkaido’s winters are known for their beauty as much as their harshness, offering moments of stillness, brilliance, and quiet strength. Throughout the season, we look forward to sharing glimpses of these landscapes on our blog, as winter continues to unfold in both Hokkaido and Southern California.

Wishing you warmth, sweetness, and moments of calm as winter begins.