The vast island of Hokkaido is a popular tourist destination surrounded by nature.

In addition to its flourishing agriculture and dairy farming industries, Japan's northernmost prefecture is known for its sweets made by confectionary companies like 六花亭 Rokkatei or 石屋製菓株式会社 Ishiya Seika Co., Ltd., famous for their 白い恋人 (shiroi koibito | "white lover") langue de chat cookies. As a result, many Japanese people associate "gifts from Hokkaido" with gourmet foods.

Responding to a family request

Such was the request voiced by the family of Twitter user 乗合 Noriai (@V80Hh6) before he departed on a trip to Hokkaido.

Since regional food fairs featuring products from specific regions of Japan are periodically held in major department stores, people in major cities have regular opportunities to buy Hokkaido specialties.

Since most famous souvenir products are available at such fairs, buying something that can only be found in Hokkaido was a difficult request.

Once he had arrived in Hokkaido and he had time to look for a gift, Noriai racked his brains to comply with his family's request, but finally came up with a solution...

Something you can't get at a food fair and can only be bought locally... It's a designated regional garbage bag!

In Japan, each city makes and distributes garbage bags that have text printed on them identifying them as such. A local Sapporo City garbage bag is a very unusual choice for a souvenir, but it certainly fits the criteria presented by the family!

Far from being delighted by these "gift bags," the family greeted him with silence and refused to talk to him for a while.

This post amused many people online, eliciting comments such as:

It is not uncommon to receive slightly troublesome requests when traveling away from home and to have to rack your brains when choosing souvenirs.

In such cases, you could buy a garbage bag... Just be prepared to suffer silence on your return.