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This trip was another full one — hunting down new ekiben and souvenir picks, getting taken to locally beloved restaurants, and generally eating my way through the city.
In this article, I’ll cover:
- Sendai sweets worth seeking out
- An incredible izakaya set inside a relocated 160-year-old kura (traditional storehouse)
- An ekiben packed with flavors tied to the feudal lord Date Masamune
- Sendai souvenirs you can store at room temperature
- A heads-up about the two-step verification now required for the Ekinet app
This is an English translation of the original Japanese article:
New York Cheesecake at kazunori ikeda
I needed to pick up a stylish souvenir this trip, so I headed back to “kazunori ikeda individuel” — the original location — which I had also visited the year before.
While walking from Sendai Station toward the Minami-machi store, I spotted a banner for “Maison Coelacanthe,” kazunori ikeda’s iconic item, and instinctively walked into what I assumed was a relocated shop. Turns out it wasn’t a relocation at all — they had opened a new concept store dedicated to the “Coelacanthe Monaka.” It has a café space inside and apparently serves bánh mì as well. The monaka itself sounds quite unique: apparently the first flavor that hits you isn’t sweetness but the savory bite of Guérande salt. (It was sold out, so I couldn’t try it.) If you’re after something a little unexpected as a Sendai souvenir, it’s definitely worth checking out.
Maison Coelacanthe – Aoba-dori Ichibancho / Café | Tabelog
After that detour, I made it to the original kazunori ikeda store, sorted out my souvenir shopping, and settled in at the eat-in space for a little break.
I ordered the “Philadelphia” — their New York cheesecake — along with a cup of tea. One of the little pleasures of eating in is that they plate it up so prettily.
The cheesecake was rich but not at all heavy, with a wonderful depth of flavor from the cream cheese base. Deeply satisfying.
On the souvenir side: I chose a box first and then filled it freely with what I liked. I also bought some for myself.
The box design and the shopping bag are both adorable.
kazunori ikeda also has an official app where you can shop online and collect points. Between my eat-in visit and my purchases this time, I earned enough to level up my membership. Regular members who fill their stamp card get a baked good — I got to choose from a few cookies and went with matcha. The next card requires more stamps, but you earn a treat every 5.
On a previous visit, I’d also had the “Tarte aux Fruits Rouges” — a stunning fruit tart loaded with fresh berries, a macaron, and a crispy shell, beautifully plated by the staff.
Look at those glistening fruits and that beautifully crisp tart! The layers underneath were just as good. I had it with tea, but honestly it would pair perfectly with champagne too.
With the macaron on top, everything a fruit-lover could want is packed into one plate. The flavor harmony was so wonderful that I was honestly too happy to describe it properly — “fresh” and “fruity” are all that come back to me. If you’re bringing something as a gift within Sendai, this is the place. The colorful selection in the display case is fun to browse, and whoever receives it will absolutely be delighted.
I also picked up a florentine for snacking. Big florentine fan.
Update: The Minami-machi store has since relocated and is now even closer to Sendai Station — great news if you’re stopping by on your way to the Shinkansen!
Kazunori Ikeda Individuel Minami-machi Store – Aoba-dori Ichibancho / Cake | Tabelog
kazunori ikeda is also available via furusato nozei (hometown tax donation)!
Dinner at “Yashago” Izakaya
For dinner, I was taken to “Nomi Kui Dokoro Yashago,” an izakaya near Hirose-dori Station. The building itself is something special: it’s a 160-year-old kura (traditional storehouse) that was relocated and reconstructed right here in Sendai.
I ate a lot and it was all delicious. Somehow the only things I photographed were the finishing dish of harakko-meshi — a bowl of rice topped with salmon and salmon roe — and the house-made lemon squash.
The sashimi was fresh, as you’d expect in Sendai. And the French fries were quietly, dangerously addictive. What also stood out was the non-alcoholic drink menu — they had fresh-squeezed options that rarely show up for non-drinkers, even though there’s no reason they shouldn’t. Really appreciated that.
The company that runs Yashago goes by the charming name “Oyaji Group,” which somehow makes the whole place feel even more approachable. The staff were all warm and welcoming — a genuinely comfortable place to spend an evening.
A (Belated) Morning at the Sendai Morning Market
The next morning, I headed to the Sendai Morning Market (Sendai Asaichi), a five-minute walk from Sendai Station, tucked behind PARCO 2. Somehow, despite having lived in Sendai at one point, I had no memory of ever visiting. Stepping inside felt completely new.
The goal was a seafood rice bowl. I went to a spot called “Asaichi Shokudo Sho-ya,” which serves seafood rice bowls for just 500 yen — with miso soup and a small side dish included. Absurdly generous.
I ordered the “Asaichi-don.” That’s 500 yen. There’s also a more loaded option called the “Tairyo-don” for 1,000 yen, but since I had more eating ahead, I held back. The combination of fresh seafood and good rice was exactly what I needed.
Unfortunately, Sho-ya closed as of June 20, 2024. But the Sendai Morning Market has plenty of other stalls serving seafood bowls in the morning, so it’s still well worth a visit. Just note that most spots are closed on Sundays.
The Ekiben “Dokuganryu Masamune Bento” Was a Hit
By the time I was about to board the Shinkansen, I was hungry again, so I grabbed a bento at the station: the “Dokuganryu Masamune Bento,” named after the famous one-eyed feudal lord Date Masamune. It was a great pick.
Inside were shiso-maki (perilla-wrapped miso bites), pickled long eggplant, and other flavors that brought back memories of living in Tohoku as a kid. Growing up, my impression of Tohoku food was “bold seasoning that weighs you down.” But this bento was different. Yes, the flavors are assertive, but it’s not just saltiness — there’s real depth of umami underneath. Maybe being tired and craving something substantial helped, but I’m convinced there’s a meaningful difference between a satisfying boldness and an exhausting one. You can tell, even when you’re running on fumes.
If you get a chance to grab an ekiben in Sendai, give the “Dokuganryu Masamune Bento” a try. It’s also available to order online.
Also pictured: a Zunda ice cream from From Zao, bought on the station platform. Also delicious. From Zao is a brand I trust for their dairy products, and the zunda flavor lived up to it. I can’t find it online easily, so grab it if you spot it in Sendai. From Zao does sell other products through Rakuten and furusato nozei — their cheesecakes look great too. (Zunda isn’t in the set below, just for the record.)
Room-Temperature Sasakamaboko — A Sendai Souvenir That Travels
Sendai’s sasakamaboko (fish cake shaped like a bamboo leaf) is a regional staple, but it’s typically refrigerated — which makes handing it off as a souvenir a bit awkward. You can ship it, but that requires planning ahead.
The solution I found this trip: room-temperature sasakamaboko from Oizen Kamaboko-ten. Using a proprietary technique, they’ve made a preservative-free product that can be stored at room temperature for an extended period. And apparently it’s been available since 2019. Had no idea. No more refrigeration headaches!
Beyond that, I also picked up Hagi no Tsuki (Sendai’s beloved custard cake) and room-temperature-stable Zunda Mochi. As shelf-stable technology improves, it really opens up souvenir options for people who can’t always wait for shipping.
Speaking of zunda: I also brought home Zunda Saryo’s “Zunda An Butter” spread, picked up at the basement Zunda Saryo counter in Sendai Station. It’s sweeter than I expected and leans more toward sweet bean paste than butter — so go in thinking “sweet zunda paste you spread on bread” rather than “buttery zunda” and you won’t be disappointed. About a month after buying it in Sendai, I spotted the exact same product at an upscale supermarket near my place in Tokyo. If you’re a zunda fan, it’s worth looking for closer to home too.
Heads Up: Ekinet App Now Has Two-Step Verification
For anyone traveling by Shinkansen on JR East — which covers routes heading north from Tokyo or toward Hokuriku — the Ekinet app introduced two-step verification as of November 1, 2023 (this applies to both the app and the browser-based website). It doesn’t trigger every single login, only when the system judges there to be a higher risk of unauthorized access.
When it does trigger, a six-digit one-time password is sent to your registered email address. If you haven’t used Ekinet in a while, it’s worth confirming that your registered email is still active. If it’s no longer valid, the password won’t reach you and you won’t be able to log in.
If your email has become invalid and you can’t receive the one-time password, you can update it via the “Email Address Change Request Form” by submitting your contact email, full name, date of birth, and the old (now-invalid) address.
For details: My previously registered email is no longer valid, so I can’t receive the one-time password. | Ekinet FAQ（Japanese）
Other than this change, the Ekinet app feels… much the same as it’s always been.
If you’re staying overnight in Sendai, the Koyo Grand Hotel has a lovely retro atmosphere worth considering.
