Abeno Harukas Kintetsu Main Store “Great Hokkaido Exhibition”
The “Great Hokkaido Exhibition” is set to take place at the Abeno Harukas Kintetsu Main Store, serving as the centerpiece of the “Harukas Nippon Expo: Regional Revitalization Journey of Discovery – Autumn Hokkaido Edition.” This comprehensive event is designed to deliver the distinct tastes and cultural essence of Hokkaido throughout the entire building, offering visitors a concentrated experience of the region’s seasonal offerings.
The exhibition features approximately 130 types of seasonal ingredients and gourmet items, all of which have been curated by a renowned buyer possessing over 25 years of professional experience. The selection emphasizes exclusivity—items that are available “only now, only here”—ensuring that guests can enjoy the peak blessings of autumn. Notable highlights include corn from “Miyakawa Nosan” in Ebetsu City, which is making its debut at this event and is offered at the height of its sweetness. For those with a preference for sweets, the exhibition presents luxurious limited-edition parfaits crafted from “Tokachi Peaches” that have ripened under the abundant sun of the Tokachi region, alongside an assortment of sweets and croquettes made from the brand-name sweet potato known as “Yukkuri-imo.”
A particular point of interest is the “Honki no Nori Bento” (Serious Seaweed Bento), a limited collaboration between the Kintetsu Main Store and the distinguished “Shihachi Fresh Fish Store.” This meticulously crafted bento is a culinary masterpiece, utilizing hand-picked natural rock seaweed from Matsumae and “San-San-Zero” rice—a variety grown and direct-sown in Hokkaido—all topped with a generous portion of seafood.
Beyond the retail offerings, the eat-in corner provides a space where visitors can consume heaping seafood bowls, limited-edition ramen, and fresh nigiri sushi. To further immerse guests in the region’s atmosphere, the event includes a special feature focusing on “Zangi,” a beloved local gourmet fried chicken, as well as live commerce segments that connect visitors in real-time with the local Hokkaido area. This combination of high-quality produce and interactive elements ensures a 15-day experience that allows one to engage with Hokkaido through all five senses.
Event Details
Event Period: Wednesday, 2026/9/9 – Wednesday (Holiday), 9/23
Event Hours: 10:00 – 20:00
(Please note: Closes at 16:00 on 9/15; closes at 17:00 on the final day, 9/23. Eat-in & Bar hours are 10:00 – 19:15, though these begin at 10:30 on 9/9 and 9/16)
Location: Abeno Harukas Kintetsu Main Store, Wing Kan 9th Floor Event Venue (1-1-43 Abenosuji, Abeno-ku, Osaka City)
Fee: Free admission
Inquiries: 06-6624-1111 (Main)
Website: Official Event Page
What is Hokkaido?
Hokkaido is Japan’s northernmost main island. It is sparsely populated, with much of the island given over to forests, farms, and fishing ports. Winters are long and snowy; summers are short. Those conditions favor dairy farming and crops such as sweet corn, potatoes, and melons, while coastal waters yield salmon, sea urchin, and crab.
Hokkaido’s cuisine relies on these ingredients rather than elaborate technique. Butter tops miso ramen, fresh milk becomes soft-serve ice cream, and seafood is eaten raw or grilled with rice. Large-scale settlement from Honshu began only in the late nineteenth century, so Hokkaido lacks the older culinary traditions of Kyoto or Osaka. Its reputation is instead based on the quality of local produce and the simple dishes that make use of it.
