Tokamachi Sukoyaka Factory, run by JR East Cross Station Foods Company (headquartered in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo), is adding a second product to its high-end rice flour confectionery brand "TOIRO PREMIUM KOMEKO": a new cookie called "Yukigome Sakuri," made entirely with rice flour milled from Tokamachi-grown Uonuma Koshihikari rice, shaped by the climate of snow country Tokamachi. It arrives from September 10, 2026, in two plant-based flavors: Plain and Hojicha.
The Sweetness of Rice, Drawn Out With Plant-Based Ingredients Alone
Two flavors let rice's natural, gentle sweetness come through clearly: Plain, and Hojicha, whose roasted-tea aroma spreads with each bite. Both are made without butter, eggs, or dairy, using plant-based ingredients only. Rice flour sweets can easily taste bland, so building them around plant-based ingredients instead lets the character of each ingredient stand out.
Bringing Out Koshihikari's Flavor Through Texture
The base Uonuma Koshihikari rice is milled using a special process that keeps starch damage low, producing a fine-grained rice flour that doesn't absorb too much water. Both the Plain and Hojicha cookies combine rice-derived plant-based butter with rice oil, and a small amount of soy flour keeps them pleasantly firm while giving them an airy bite — an eating experience reminiscent of a rice ball, gentle and familiar.
- "Kome-kami" paper: Wanting to make full use of every part of the rice they work with, the maker uses "kome-kami" for the packaging — a paper material recycled from rice that can no longer be eaten.
- The sound of the snowfield: The name evokes the satisfying "sakuri" sound of footsteps on Tokamachi's snowy fields, echoing the cookies' light, crisp texture.
- The shape of a rice grain: The cookies are shaped like an endearing rice grain, meant to convey the rich climate and harvest of Niigata's Tokamachi.
TOIRO® is registered trademark No. 6922343.
Delicate Aroma and Umami, a Light Bite: Plant-Based Plain and Hojicha
Built around plant-based ingredients rather than butter, eggs, or dairy, the cookies let rice's delicate umami and the Hojicha's fresh aroma come through directly.
Plain
Main ingredients: rice-derived plant-based butter, rice flour, cornstarch, unrefined cane sugar, soy flour, Sasagawa-nagare sea salt, and more
Hojicha
Main ingredients: rice flour, rice-derived plant-based butter, cornstarch, unrefined cane sugar, hojicha powder, Sasagawa-nagare sea salt, and more
Sales may be temporarily paused depending on stock availability.
Toward a Sustainable Future: Making Food More Accessible
Both the Plain and Hojicha versions of Yukigome Sakuri have received Vegan Certification from NPO Vege Project Japan, a third-party certification confirming that no animal-derived ingredients or materials are used, giving those seeking plant-based options peace of mind.
Alongside these plant-based products, Tokamachi Sukoyaka Factory continues to use its dedicated allergen-free line to develop confections free of wheat, eggs, and dairy, advancing food accessibility on multiple fronts.
Product Details
Product name: Yukigome Sakuri (Plain / box) (Hojicha / box)
Release date: Thursday, September 10, 2026
Suggested retail price: ¥880 (tax included)
Contents: 8 pieces per bag
Where to Buy
In stores
- Ekiben-ya Matsuri, GranSta Tokyo (inside JR Tokyo Station)
- Ekiben-ya Matsuri Select, Shinkansen South Transfer Gate (inside JR Tokyo Station)
- Ekiben-ya Matsuri Select, Shinjuku South Gate (inside JR Shinjuku Station)
- Ginza Niigata Information Center THE NIIGATA (Chuo-ku, Tokyo)
- Michi-no-Eki Kurosuten Tokamachi (Tokamachi, Niigata)
- Tokamachi City Tourist Information Center TOCCO (Tokamachi, Niigata)
- Atema Kogen Resort Belnatio Shop (Tokamachi, Niigata)
- Kiyotsukyo Gorge entrance facility (Tokamachi, Niigata)
Launch timing varies by store.
Online
JRE MALL ("JR-Cross Foods Mall")
Rakuten Ichiba ("JR-Cross Foods Mall")
Furusato nozei (hometown tax donation)
JRE MALL Furusato Nozei, Tokamachi City — listed under "Tokamachi Sukoyaka Factory" (registration in progress)
All product photos are for illustrative purposes.
About TOIRO PREMIUM KOMEKO
TOIRO PREMIUM KOMEKO is a premium rice flour sweets line made with 100% rice flour from Tokamachi-grown Uonuma Koshihikari.
Tokamachi, in Niigata Prefecture, is a food-rich region shaped by abundant nature and fertile land nourished by snowmelt. The brand-name rice grown here, Tokamachi Uonuma Koshihikari, is known for its strong sweetness and deep umami.
The series was created by the company's certified "Rice Flour Meisters," who use rice flour milled at a Niigata flour mill with technology developed by the prefecture, drawing out the rice's natural flavor as fully as possible.
"Rice Flour Meister®" and "Rice Flour Snack Meister®" are registered trademarks of the Rice Flour Meister Association.
Photos courtesy of the Tokamachi City Tourism Association
About Tokamachi Sukoyaka Factory
Tokamachi Sukoyaka Factory is a food plant that opened in Tokamachi, Niigata, in September 2014 as part of the JR East Group's regional revitalization efforts.
On its dedicated allergen-free line, which handles no wheat, eggs, or dairy, the factory produces cakes using Tokamachi Uonuma Koshihikari rice flour and soy milk, under technical guidance from Takaki Bakery Co., a company known for its advanced baking technology.
Its confectionery line also produces pound cakes made with ingredients from eastern Japan for the Shinkansen "Gran Class" service, along with rice flour cookies.
The factory's products are also offered as furusato nozei (hometown tax donation) gifts from Tokamachi City.
Yukigome Sakuri's furusato nozei registration is in progress.
"Hoshitoge Rice Terraces" — Photo courtesy of the Tokamachi City Tourism Association
