Kitami was once home to 70% of the world's mint oil production. The Mint Memorial takes you back to explain the detailed history of Kitami's Minty tradition.
When compared to the rest of Japan, Hokkaido’s youth is an apparent difference. While new to the canon of Japan, don’t discount the depth of hidden histories across the ‘Do.
Kitami, known for its relatively warm summers and sunny skies, occupies the floor of a valley that stretches from the mountains to the sea. Perfect for agriculture, the city began producing mint in 1896, quickly rising to prominence in the world spice market. In just 15 years, the Kitami area was responsible for 86% of the national total of mint in Japan.
Over the next decades, the stability of Kitami’s weather and economy made it a bastion for mint production all the way until the breakout of war. Hokuren, Kitami’s largest factory, was rumored to be one of the best in the world. Now the Kitami Mint Memorial Museum stands on the same grounds as Hokuren.
Located near Kitami Station, a faded pink building surrounded by planters of green minty vegetation sits just off the main road. As you walk into the frontier-era style building, the wooden floor creaks, and the air is filled with the sweet aroma of mint.
Each of the rooms highlights a portion of the process of distilling mint into oil for a wide variety of household goods. The first floor even contains the same machines used to produce the mint before the factory closed in 1983.
The second floor showcases products where the mint oil is applied, ranging from soaps to sweets and cleaning products.
Next to the Museum is the Distillery, where you can learn about the distillation process firsthand. Every day, new oil is distilled, and the staff will explain in English and Japanese how they prepare the mint to be slowly steamed over the day to draw out the rich oils.
A hands-on skin cream-making experience is available by reservation only, at least two weeks in advance, where you can select different oils with varied scents at your leisure to craft a perfect skin cream. Additionally, a gift shop offers a variety of goods for sale.
During the summer months, different types of mint are grown in the gardens surrounding both buildings. The staff will guide you on a scratch-and-sniff tour of various mint leaves, allowing you to experience the different notes and flavors.
