“soraka” is a patisserie in Iwamizawa that creates sweets and bread with a focus on ingredients from Hokkaido. I first came across its rice flour treats at Kita Kitchen in Sapporo, and I was instantly captivated by their distinctive flavors and appearance. Since they don’t seem to be available regularly in Sapporo, I found myself wanting to taste them again. So, this time, I visited the Iwamizawa shop where the baked treats are made.
I took some baked goods home to try, and in this article, I’ll share my impressions of them while introducing what “soraka” is all about.
“soraka,” a Patisserie & Café in Iwamizawa
About an hour’s drive from Sapporo, “soraka” is a patisserie and café in Iwamizawa that creates sweets and bread with a focus on ingredients from Hokkaido.
The shop sells cakes, baked goods, bread, and more. Its café space also serves meals and drinks. Lunch options include rice plates and galettes made with buckwheat flour from Iwamizawa.
Jouvre Inc., the company behind soraka, also operates a Type B continuous employment support facility, providing opportunities to work and support for those preparing for employment. One of the things that soraka values in its confectionery-making is its connection to Hokkaido and, in particular, Iwamizawa.
The shop incorporates ingredients available at different times of the year, including Hokkaido-grown wheat, dairy products, and agricultural produce. The idea is to process fresh, locally harvested produce in the same region and let local residents enjoy it first. Through event sales and other opportunities, soraka also works to bring the flavors of the region to other parts of Japan—a concept known as “local production for consumption beyond the local area.”
There is another feature of soraka worth noting: it has a dedicated gluten-free production facility, separate from the workshop where wheat is handled.
Soraka has welcomed chef Takeshi Nunotani, who is registered as a “Hokkaido Food Craft Master” and has won awards at confectionery competitions. Having honed his skills in the world of pastry-making over many years, Nunotani is also said to be researching ways to adapt a variety of sweets to gluten-free methods, drawing on the techniques he has developed throughout his career.
Gluten-Free Sweets Made at “Kome Lab.,” a Wheat-Free Facility
Since 2023, soraka has been developing a dedicated gluten-free production facility called “Kome Lab.”
Kome Lab. produces only rice flour products and does not make any products containing wheat. By keeping its production environment separate from the workshop where wheat is handled, soraka aims to prevent cross-contamination and create gluten-free sweets.
One of the product lines made in this environment is the “Tsukiyo no” series, which uses rice flour made from “Oborozuki” rice grown in Iwamizawa. The series features a variety of gluten-free sweets.
For its fresh pastries, soraka combines rice flour with its own unique techniques to create a light, crumbly texture, rather than the chewy texture often associated with rice flour sweets.
The lineup includes rice flour treats such as “Tsukiyo no Éclair” and “Tsukiyo no Macaron,” as well as “Hokkaido Fresh Brûlée.”
The baked goods also include items from the “Tsukiyo no” series, known for their delicate, melt-in-your-mouth texture. There is a wide variety to choose from, including fig bars, boules de neige, oatmeal cookies, and pretzels.
Meanwhile, soraka is also known for its “BRAN” series made with wheat flour and whole wheat flour, as well as its bread made with “Kitanokaori” wheat grown in Iwamizawa. One of the charms of soraka is being able to enjoy the distinctive qualities of its gluten-free sweets, wheat-based sweets, and bread.
Some of soraka’s sweets are sold at hotels and other locations in Iwamizawa, as well as at “Dosanko Plaza” and “Kita Kitchen” stores in Hokkaido and “Dosanko Plaza” locations in the Kanto region. The online shop also offers not only baked goods but also éclairs and brûlée for home delivery.
Tasting the Rice Flour Baked Goods I Bought
This time, due to time constraints, I took home a selection of baked goods and a chiffon cake.
With the exception of the chiffon cake, I had previously come across these treats by chance at “Kita Kitchen” in Sapporo and bought them there. I enjoyed them so much that I wanted to try them again, so this time I purchased them once more at the shop in Iwamizawa.
First up was the “Tsukiyo no Chiffon Cake” (¥378).
When I tried it, I was surprised by its relatively dense texture. At the same time, it had a soft, airy lightness along with the slightly chewy quality characteristic of rice flour. One slice is surprisingly satisfying, making it a good choice not only for a snack but also for breakfast.
Next was the “Tsukiyo no Pretzels” (¥594 for 8 pieces). I bought two varieties: Gorgonzola and Onion.
Both are savory, salty snacks with a crunchy texture. Their dough falls somewhere between a cracker and a cookie, offering a flavor quite different from sweet baked treats.
The Gorgonzola variety has a rich, pronounced cheese flavor from the very first bite. The Onion variety has a fragrant, sautéed-onion-like taste, with a bold kick of black pepper.
Both have a savory, almost snack-to-go-with-drinks quality and would likely pair well with alcoholic beverages. When we think of rice flour sweets, sweet treats often come to mind, so it is interesting to find savory options like these, too.
And one of my personal favorites is the “Tsukiyo no Fig Bar” (¥194 for 3 pieces).
This treat consists of dried figs, walnuts, and lemon peel wrapped in a soft rice flour cookie.
Inside the tender, crumbly rice flour cookie is a pleasantly chewy fig paste. The little seeds in the figs add a subtle crunch, while the walnuts bring a nutty aroma and the lemon peel adds a refreshing citrus note.
Each bite brings together several different textures and flavors, making it quite different from a simple rice flour cookie. Having enjoyed it so much the first time, I was glad to rediscover just how delicious it was.
Overall, the baked goods I bought this time were not overly sweet. Yet each had its own distinctive shape and flavor, with thoughtful touches that reflect the chef’s creativity and sense of style.
“soraka” Also Offers Lunch and Café Menus Worth Exploring
This time, my main purpose was to take home some baked goods, but soraka also has lunch and café options. The lunch menu includes rice plates, galettes, curry, and bread plates.
One item that particularly caught my attention was the galette made with buckwheat flour from Iwamizawa. The menu features options such as one topped with plenty of vegetables and chicken breast, and another with prosciutto and colorful vegetables—all incorporating ingredients from Hokkaido.
There is also soft-serve ice cream made with grass-fed milk. From its sweets to its lunch and café menus, soraka makes use of ingredients from Hokkaido, reflecting the care and attention that go into its food.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough time to enjoy the café on this visit, but I’d love to come back and take my time exploring the lunch and café menus next time.
patisserie soraka – Store Information
This time, I introduced “soraka,” a patisserie and café in Iwamizawa.
At soraka, you can enjoy sweets and lunch made with carefully selected ingredients from Hokkaido. The gluten-free treats produced in its dedicated “Kome Lab.” facility were not only delicious but also thoughtfully crafted, with a real sense of style in their appearance and shapes.
In addition to baked goods for takeaway, the shop also offers menu items that you can only enjoy on-site. If you visit Iwamizawa, why not stop by and see what soraka has to offer?
| Name | patisserie soraka |
| Address | 1-91, 5-jo Higashi 8-chome, Yamashichi 5・8 Square 1F, Iwamizawa, Hokkaido, Open Map |
| Access | 【Approximate Travel Times from Sapporo】 ・By car: Approx. 50 minutes via the expressway / Approx. 1 hour via National Route 12 ・By JR: Approx. 50 minutes or more by limited express to Iwamizawa Station, followed by a 20-minute walk ・By Chuo Bus: Approx. 50 minutes or more to Shimin Kaikan-mae bus stop, followed by a 20-minute walk |
| Phone | 0126-35-5203 |
| Opening Hours | Saturday & Sunday 10:00〜16:00 Tuesday–Friday 10:00〜18:00 |
| Closed | Mondays and public holidays (irregular closing days)Please check the official Instagram account for the latest opening hours and closing days. |
| Parking | Approx. 6 spaces on the premises |
| Cashless Payments | Various credit cards and QR code payment services accepted |
| Seating Capacity | 20 seats |
| Children | Welcome |
Official Social Media | Instagram https://www.instagram.com/patisserie_soraka/ https://www.facebook.com/sorakafromiwamizawa X https://x.com/patisseriesorak?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw |
| Official Website | https://soraka.shop/ |
External Website (Tabelog) | https://tabelog.com/hokkaido/A0107/A010708/1077056/ |
