“We are made of what we eat. That’s why I choose ingredients that are kind to the body.”
With this belief, Hanaafu, a cozy sweets shop in Sapporo’s Hiragishi area, offers rice flour crêpes and gluten-free baked goods crafted from carefully selected ingredients.
The shop is located right across from Hiragishi Takadai Park, a spot well-known to fans of a beloved local TV show.
We sat down with owner Ms. Wada to hear the story behind Hanaafu’s creations—then tried their signature rice flour crêpes and refreshing goat milk soft-serve ice cream for ourselves.
- Hanaafu: A Cozy Sweets Shop Right Across from Hiragishi Takadai Park, a Beloved Local Landmark
- Carrying Kindness and Conviction: Hanaafu, Born from Crowdfunding
- Gentle, Worry-Free Treats: A Menu You Can Truly Trust
- If You’re Unsure, Try These! Signature Crepes & Goat Milk Soft Serve Taste Report
- Hanaafu – Store Information
Hanaafu: A Cozy Sweets Shop Right Across from Hiragishi Takadai Park, a Beloved Local Landmark
Just a 3-minute walk from Minami-Hiragishi Station on the Sapporo Municipal Subway’s Namboku Line, a gentle uphill road leads you to Hiragishi Takadai Park.
This park is known as a “pilgrimage site” for fans of a legendary local variety show, famous for its offbeat travel adventures and witty banter. And right across the street from this iconic spot, you’ll find a small sweets shop—Hanaafu.
The show, produced by Hokkaido Television (HTB), featured actor Yo Oizumi and gained nationwide popularity despite being a local program. Hiragishi Takadai Park, which appeared frequently in its early episodes, remains a special destination for fans.
▶︎ Official Website (Japanese): How Do You Like Wednesday?
The shop itself is a tiny unit house–style building, about 10 square meters in size. Its chocolate-brown walls, decorated with a pink sign reading “hanaafu” and a hand-drawn crêpe illustration, give it a charming and welcoming look.
Carrying Kindness and Conviction: Hanaafu, Born from Crowdfunding
On August 28, 2024, a small rice-flour sweets shop named Hanaafu opened in the Hiragishi neighborhood of Sapporo. Specializing in gluten-free rice-flour crêpes and baked goods, the shop operates as a takeout-only bakery.
The name Hanaafu is derived from the first syllables of the Japanese words for the four seasons: haru (spring), natsu (summer), aki (autumn), and fuyu (winter). It reflects the owner’s wish to “deliver delicious flavors for every season.”
Owner Ms. Wada herself had long struggled with allergies and sensitivities to wheat, metals, latex, and chemicals. By changing her diet, she was able to improve her health, which inspired her to create sweets that anyone can enjoy with peace of mind.
This vision resonated strongly with many. Before the shop opened, a crowdfunding campaign quickly met its funding goal in just about a month.
→ Click here for crowdfunding details
In fact, Ms. Wada grew up helping at her mother’s restaurant and has extensive experience making crêpes. She says that the “feel of the batter in her hands,” refined over countless crêpes, was one of the reasons she chose to make them the shop’s signature item.
She has also studied animal nutrition and holds certifications related to pet food, reflecting her dedication to creating safe and wholesome treats for dogs and cats.
Rather than chasing speed or low prices, I want Hanaafu to be a one-of-a-kind place that truly reaches the people who need it.
Even now, she runs the shop almost entirely on her own. Her careful, hands-on approach to every single sweet is one of Hanaafu’s greatest charms.
Gentle, Worry-Free Treats: A Menu You Can Truly Trust
Step inside the shop and you’ll be greeted by a wall filled with colorful menu photos and handwritten POP signs.
It’s the kind of display that makes you think, “I want to try them all!” — rows of tempting sweets that are hard to resist.
Let’s take a closer look at what Hanaafu has to offer.
Take Your Time Choosing — You’ll Find a Favorite in Hanaafu’s Lineup
here are so many choices, I can’t decide!
The counter menu includes crêpes—the shop’s signature item—along with rare goat-milk soft serve, soft-serve parfaits, and a selection of organic drinks.
You may also find baked goods ready to take home, such as rice-flour bread, chiffon cake, cookies, or Basque cheesecake (availability varies by day).
Note: Items other than crêpes, such as rice-flour bread, are prepared only when the owner has time, so advance reservations are not possible. Please check Instagram for the daily lineup.
The items below are part of the counter-order menu (as of July 2025, when I visited).
If you’re struggling to choose, don’t hesitate to ask the owner—she might help you discover the perfect customization.
(Details about ingredients and preparation are covered in the next section.)
Each crêpe is made one by one to order. Since I run the shop alone, I’d really appreciate it if you could come with a little extra time to spare.
＊Crêpe Menu＊
■ Crêpe Batter ■
Rice-flour crêpes made with carefully sourced eggs from Naganuma, dairy-free with a light and crisp texture.
■ Crêpe Types ■
Four main categories, with endless customization through toppings!
Simple (about 8 types) — For purists who want to savor the batter itself. Examples: batter + Hokkaido butter, or batter + honey + grass-fed butter. From ¥650.
Sweet (10+ types) — Classic dessert crêpes with house-made soy custard, seasonal fruits, or shiratama rice dumplings. Some options are cream-free. Around ¥1,000.
- Switch to fresh cream: +¥150
- Double cream: +¥100
Savory (4 types) — Meal-style crêpes with natural cheese, sausage, or spicy beef. Takes a little longer than sweet crêpes. ¥970–¥1,340.
Roasted Nut (5+ types) — Pecans, walnuts, almonds, and cashews roasted in-house. From simple combos like nuts + butter or nuts + soy custard, to indulgent pairings like nuts + banana + chocolate. From ¥800.
- Goat-milk soft-serve topping: +¥200
- Shiratama dumpling topping (3 pieces): +¥150
■Goat-Milk Soft Serve & Parfaits■
Made with premium goat’s milk delivered directly from a dedicated farm in Amami Oshima, this soft serve is refreshing, mild, and easy to digest—less likely to upset the stomach. Hanaafu is the only place in Hokkaido where you can try it!
Available in cups, mini sizes, parfaits, or even as a crêpe topping.
- Cup: ¥500
- Mini: ¥380
- Shiratama Soft Parfait: from ¥700 (with strawberries, mango, or other fruits; sometimes coffee jelly)
■Drinks■
(¥50 off when paired with a crêpe)
- Hot coffee (fair-trade, organic) M/¥500
- Iced soy latte (domestic soy milk + fair-trade coffee) M/¥500
- Cold-brew coffee (pesticide-free beans from Machu Picchu) S/¥350, M/¥500
- Daily organic tea S/¥350, M/¥500
- Organic Darjeeling tea S/¥350, M/¥500
- Organic Darjeeling soy milk tea S/¥350, M/¥500
- 100% organic apple juice S/¥350, M/¥500
Kindness in Every Ingredient: Thoughtful Choices for Body and Mind
At Hanaafu, every sweet is crafted with carefully selected ingredients, sourced directly from trusted producers across Japan. The focus is always on what’s gentle for the body—using organic and pesticide-free products whenever possible. You won’t find wheat, white sugar, preservatives, or artificial colorings here. The owner personally visits farms and producers to discover ingredients that align with her values.
Another hallmark of the shop’s commitment is the use of freshly whipped pure cream, never pre-made frozen whip. Even the treats for dogs and cats are held to the same standards of safety and quality—because family members, whether human or furry, deserve the very best.
Quality always comes before profit. Remaining a place that customers want to support because “they’re doing things the right way” is Hanaafu’s unwavering philosophy.
■Hanaafu’s Key Points of Commitment■
- 100% gluten-free menu (no outside food containing gluten allowed in-store)
- Rice flour: Primarily pesticide-, chemical fertilizer-, and herbicide-free rice flour from Hokkaido
- Sugar: Cane sugar and brown sugar from Amami Ōshima, grown without pesticides, fertilizers, or herbicides
- Eggs: Free-range fertile eggs from Ranran Farm Murata in Naganuma, Hokkaido, where hens are raised on custom-mixed feed
※The eggs are unique for their pale cream-colored yolks, a result of being raised on feed without imported corn or coloring agents. They were also served at the 2008 Toyako Summit (the 34th G8 Summit), where they received high praise.
- Crepe batter – Made with Murata’s eggs, Hokkaido rice flour, natural cane sugar, domestic soy milk (non-GMO), and hydrogen water. Since the eggs are not fed coloring agents, the crepes bake to a light cream hue. Lower sugar and oil content make them lighter in calories, too.
- Homemade soy custard cream – Freshly made every morning with Murata’s eggs, rice flour, cane sugar, and domestic soy milk.
- Fresh cream – No ready-made whipped cream; each serving is freshly whipped to order with additive-free pure cream.
- Fruits – Seasonal selections include organic strawberries and blueberries from Hokkaido, as well as tropical fruits like mango and passion fruit sauce from Amami Ōshima.
- Cooking method – A steam oven (without microwaves) is used instead of a microwave to preserve flavor and texture.
I’m amazed by the level of detail in your ingredient choices! Was there anything particularly challenging during development?
Yes… perfecting the rice flour crepe batter was especially difficult and took a lot of time. Even now, changes in the weather can make it tricky to handle, and I still face challenges some days.
So it’s really a recipe born of dedication. What kind of feedback have you received from people with allergies or sensitivities?
Some mothers have said they were happy to finally let their children try a crepe for the first time, and others told me, “I can enjoy this without feeling unwell—it gives me energy.” Hearing that makes me truly happy.
The owner’s passion and standards can’t be fully captured in words. If you’re curious to know more, be sure to ask her directly at the shop. Having faced allergies and sensitivities herself, she understands—and connects with—her customers in a special way.
If You’re Unsure, Try These! Signature Crepes & Goat Milk Soft Serve Taste Report
Among the many photo-filled crepe options, we first chose the classic “fruit” type.
I ordered the homemade soy custard “Frozen Strawberry Special” (¥1,100), which immediately caught my eye during the visit.
The crepe is thin and crisp, filled with soy custard cream and plenty of chopped frozen strawberries. The strawberries are the “Kentaro” variety, grown by an organic farm in Ebetsu. While they are sometimes served fresh, the frozen version, prepared immediately after harvest, is also recommended.
If you wait a little before eating, the semi-thawed strawberries have a crisp, icy texture. Combined with the mildly sweet custard cream, it transforms into an exquisite, chilled dessert.
Cold strawberries × gentle custard = simply irresistible!
Since it was a particularly hot day, I also tried the “Goat Milk Soft Serve.” It can be added as a topping to crepes (+¥200), but this time I ordered the regular single serving (¥500).
The goat milk soft serve, shipped directly from Amami Oshima, was personally tasted and selected by the owner, who fell in love with its flavor and quality.
“I want everyone to taste it, even if it costs extra for shipping,” the owner said, offering it regardless of profit.
This was my first experience with it, and I was surprised at how light it was. It melted softly in my mouth, leaving a refreshing aftertaste with no lingering flavor, and I finished it in no time.
Wait, I had two items… but my stomach feels light♪
Goat milk has fat globules only one-sixth the size of cow’s milk, making it easier to digest and absorb.
It’s also low in allergens, so it’s great for those who feel uncomfortable after drinking cow’s milk!
This makes it safe even for small children. During my visit, some customers ordered goat milk soft serve parfaits or crepes with toppings, and I was allowed to take photos.
Amami Oshima goat milk soft serve is only available in Hokkaido at Hanaafu—definitely give it a try.
Finally, here’s a takeout crepe. (Takeout bag: +¥10)
When taking crepes home, we recommend bringing an ice pack and cooler bag. Frozen fruit varieties release moisture easily, so it’s best to keep travel time short.
This time, I chose the “Amami Oshima Frozen Mango Crepe” (with custard).
Thanks to careful cooling for takeout, the crepe stayed in perfect condition without any moisture leakage. The generous chunks of mango were satisfying, and they paired perfectly with the tangy passion fruit sauce.
Thanks to the light, airy crepe, I was able to enjoy every last bite.
Tropical flavor in every bite!
Crepes can be customized with various toppings, so if you’re curious, ask the shop for suggestions.
Hanaafu – Store Information
The owner, Ms.Wada, once suffered from severe allergies and sensitivities that sometimes left them bedridden for several days.
“Your body changes depending on what you eat”—this realization became the foundation for creating sweets that anyone can enjoy with peace of mind.
Hanaafu offers gentle treats made with seasonal ingredients throughout spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
“It’s the kind of place you want to visit when you’d like to take a little care of yourself or someone important to you.”
Ms.Wada, what are your plans for the future?
We will celebrate our first anniversary on August 28. During the week surrounding this date, we will operate on a fully reservation-based system to sell our “Baked Sweets Happy Set.” We are preparing to offer nationwide shipping for our “Baked Sweets Set” and “Dog & Cat Treats”! Delivery services will also start soon, so please check our Instagram for updates.
Even if you can’t visit the store in person, it seems you can still enjoy a little “Hanaafu time” from anywhere in the country.
The sales window for the assorted baked sweets will open as soon as preparations are complete. In the meantime, we are accepting inquiries via DM.
Any final message?
I hope everyone, whether or not they have dietary restrictions, can enjoy treats that are gentle on the body. Since I run the store alone, there may be a wait, so please come with enough time to spare.
Business hours and the latest menu items are always posted on the official Instagram.
Thank you for reading until the end.
Note: All information is based on our visit in July 2025.
| Store Name | Hanaafu |
| Address | 4-13-7-21 Hiragishi, Toyohira-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido View Map (Across from Hiragishi Takadai Park) |
| Access | Approx. 3-min walk from Namboku Line Minami-Hiragishi Station |
| Business Hours | 12:01–16:00 Opening at 12:01 is intentional, symbolizing a “new beginning” |
| Regular Holiday | Usually Sunday & Monday Check official Instagram for updates |
| Parking | 3 spots in front of the store (No. 5, 6, 7) |
| Seating | Takeout only Benches and tables available outside on sunny days |
| Cashless Payment | All major credit cards, electronic money, QR code payments |
| Official SNS | Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hanaafu2024/ |
| Crowdfunding Site (CAMPFIRE) | Learn about Hanaafu’s philosophy here https://camp-fire.jp/projects/728964/view |
