Gluten-Free Bakery in Asahikawa｜Visiting sora no kujira’s New Kaguraoka Location

sora no kujira, a gluten-free bakery specializing in rice flour bread, has reopened in the Kaguraoka area of Asahikawa.

After spending 14 years serving customers in Furano, this beloved bakery has begun a new chapter in a fresh location. Conveniently accessible from Asahikawa Station, the new shop is easy to visit whether you’re stopping by as part of your daily routine or during a day trip around the city.

For this article, I visited the newly relocated bakery to see how it has settled into its new home and to take a closer look at what visitors can expect today.

sora no kujira’s New Home in Kaguraoka, Asahikawa｜Getting There

On March 31, 2026, sora no kujira, a gluten-free bakery specializing in rice flour bread, reopened in the Kaguraoka area of Asahikawa.

Located in a quiet residential neighborhood, the new shop occupies a detached house, creating the warm and welcoming atmosphere of a neighborhood bakery.

For those traveling by train, the bakery is about a 10-minute walk from Kaguraoka Station on the Furano Line. The station is just one stop (approximately three minutes) from Asahikawa Station, making the bakery easy to visit whether you’re exploring the city or simply looking for a worthwhile stop during your day.

Local buses from the Asahikawa Station area also provide convenient access, making it possible to reach the bakery comfortably even without a car.

Visitors arriving by car will find parking available both in front of and beside the building, with space for approximately ten vehicles.

Please be considerate of the surrounding residential neighborhood and avoid parking on the street.

The Same Commitment in a New Location｜100% Gluten-Free Rice Flour Baking

Originally, sora no kujira began as a bakery specializing in bread made with Hokkaido-grown wheat. About ten years after opening, however, both owners developed wheat allergies. This experience led them to completely transform the business into a bakery dedicated to rice flour bread made without any wheat.

Today, sora no kujira operates as a bakery producing 100% gluten-free breads and baked goods. While eliminating wheat is a fundamental part of its approach, the bakery’s focus goes beyond dietary restrictions. Delicious flavor and the kind of satisfaction that makes customers want to come back again remain at the heart of everything they create.

The goal is not simply to offer food that is gentle on the body, but to create products that everyone can enjoy together around the same table. That philosophy is reflected in each loaf and pastry made by hand every day.

Readers interested in learning more about the bakery’s history and the story behind its name can find additional details in our earlier article about the Furano location.

sora no kujira" - Authentic gluten-free rice-flour bread served at a popular tourist spot!Furano City

Located in Shintomi-cho, Furano, soranokujira is a bakery that re-launched as a gluten-free rice-flour bread and baked goods store in the fall of 2022.The owner, a former wheat baker, makes fluffy egg salad sandwiches and other popular items.

www.hokkaido-glutenfree.com

Compared with the former shop in Furano, the new bakery offers a larger and more spacious interior. Tables and chairs are available, allowing customers to enjoy their purchases on-site. A selection of drinks is also available, making it a pleasant place to stop for a light café-style visit.

During my visit, customers continued to arrive throughout the day. According to the bakery’s official announcements, popular items occasionally sell out before closing time, so visiting earlier in the day is recommended whenever possible.

From Savory Breads to Sweet Treats｜Gluten-Free Rice Flour Breads at sora no kujira

The shelves at sora no kujira are filled with a wide variety of rice flour breads and baked goods, ranging from savory options to sweet treats. The lineup remains largely unchanged from the bakery’s Furano days, though the move to a larger location has allowed production to increase, resulting in an even wider selection available each day.

Customers can choose from familiar favorites such as mini sandwich loaves, bagels, sausage-filled breads, and pizza-style breads, alongside an assortment of sweets including chiffon cakes, gateau chocolat, and muffins. Because all items are individually packaged, checkout remains smooth and efficient even during busy periods.

Another distinctive feature of sora no kujira is its selection of artisan-style breads, including country loaves (pain de campagne) and baguettes. Drawing on the owners’ experience as traditional wheat-bread bakers, these products offer the hearty texture and satisfying bite often associated with classic European breads—while remaining completely gluten-free.

The bakery also offers items from its “Gentle Muffin” series, some of which are made without dairy or eggs. These options provide additional choices for customers with dietary restrictions or food allergies.

Taste Test｜How Reheating Brings Out the Best in Rice Flour Bread

The breads from sora no kujira can be enjoyed at their best by lightly warming them in a microwave and then finishing them in a toaster oven. This simple reheating process restores much of the flavor and texture of freshly baked bread.

(A reheating guide is included with every purchase.)

For this visit, I tried one of the bakery’s pizza breads. After warming it in a 600W microwave for about 30 seconds, I reheated it in a 1000W toaster oven for approximately two minutes. The surface developed a beautifully golden finish, while the cheese became perfectly melted and gooey. Combined with the toppings, it made for a satisfying and flavorful snack.

The bagels also benefited greatly from reheating. The exterior became lightly crisp and aromatic, while the inside remained soft and pleasantly chewy. I enjoyed the plain bagel as a sandwich with smoked salmon, while the chocolate chip bagel was delicious on its own.

Overall, the breads were every bit as satisfying as traditional wheat-based breads. They provided the hearty fullness that rice is known for, while still feeling surprisingly light and easy to enjoy.

Kaori

Don’t let the word “reheating” scare you away—it’s absolutely worth the extra few minutes!

Once you experience the difference, you may find yourself hooked.

sora no kujira (Kaguraoka, Asahikawa)｜Store Information

While maintaining the same quality that earned it a loyal following in Furano, sora no kujira has expanded into a location that is accessible to even more people.

Since relocating to Asahikawa, the bakery has continued to welcome longtime customers while attracting new visitors from Asahikawa and surrounding communities.

Its convenient location makes it relatively easy to visit not only from within Asahikawa but also from Sapporo, and it seems likely that the bakery’s fan base will continue to grow. Whether you are avoiding wheat or simply curious about high-quality rice flour bread, this is a bakery well worth visiting.

As gluten-free options become more accessible in everyday life, sora no kujira is helping to show how delicious and satisfying that choice can be. It will be exciting to see how the bakery continues to grow in the years ahead.