A taste rooted in history!
Recommended confections of Sendai and Miyagi
You can’t talk about souvenirs without mentioning famous confections!
While ordering online is convenient, the true joy of a souvenir lies in personally selecting it to deliver to someone special. The famous shops that continue to be loved by locals are defined by their history and meticulous craftsmanship. We have carefully selected and introduce some of the best shops available right here at S-PAL Sendai! You might even discover a masterpiece you’ve never tried before.
You can’t talk about souvenirs without mentioning famous confections! While ordering online is convenient, the true joy of a souvenir lies in personally selecting it to deliver to someone special. The famous shops that continue to be loved by locals are defined by their history and meticulous craftsmanship. We have carefully selected and introduce some of the best shops available right here at S-PAL Sendai! You might even discover a masterpiece you’ve never tried before.
Gifts with a story to share!
Make your souvenir shopping memorable
A hub for both visitors and residents, S-PAL Sendai is where locals find high-quality confections for any occasion, from afternoon snacks to elegant gifts. Here, we reveal the fascinating stories behind our top picks and offer "mini-episodes"—including unique ways to enjoy them. We invite you to weave these tales into your conversation when presenting your souvenirs, adding a personal touch to every gift.
Sendai’s undisputed classic
A fluffy, sweet, and luxurious taste
A staple of Sendai souvenirs, featuring rich custard cream wrapped in a fluffy, high-quality sponge cake. It was born from the desire to "create a new kind of confectionery like no other." Did you know that it was "Kasho Sanzen" who first applied "Ageless" (oxygen absorbers)—originally used for transporting furs—to food? You can truly feel their passion for delivering fresh, made-to-order deliciousness. While delicious at room temperature, users have developed their own unique ways to enjoy it: warmed in the microwave, chilled, or even semi-frozen!
Main Building B1F / Kasho Sanzen
Hagi no Tsuki (Individual) 206 yen (tax included) Hagi no Tsuki (Individual Box) 236 yen (tax included)
- Storage: Room temperature
- Shelf Life: 14 days
- Note: Individually wrapped
Wishing "Great Fortune" to the recipient A heavenly delight: chewy, creamy, and blissful
"Ocha no Igeta" focuses on the value of edibility as well as drinkability when it comes to tea. "Kikufuku" is a mochi treat made from Miyagi-grown "Miyakogane" glutinous rice, featuring a thin layer of mochi wrapping sweet bean paste and fresh cream. When it debuted in 1998, large Daifuku with thick mochi were the norm. This product was revolutionary—a bite-sized treat with thin mochi that allows you to enjoy all the flavors at once! It was named to express the "joy" (Kiku) of its creation and the wish that "great fortune" (Daifuku) may last forever." One bite offers a chewy, melty texture that will leave you smiling in bliss.
Main Building B1F / Ocha no Igeta Kikusuian
Kikufuku (Matcha, Fresh Cream, Zunda, Hojicha)
1 unit 135 yen (tax included)
Kikufuku Koicha (Strong Matcha)
1 unit 180 yen (tax included)
- Storage: Frozen
- Shelf Life: Within 2 days (Keep refrigerated after thawing)
- Note: Individually wrapped
![Main Building B1F / Shiramatsu ga Monaka Honpo
Small Monaka (6 pieces)
[2 pieces each: Dainagon (Azuki), White Bean, and Sesame]](../../assets/images/features/meika/meika_03_photo.jpg)
Light, crisp, and aromatic
A beloved local staple: The classic Monaka
The delicately textured Monaka shells (wafers) are made from "glutinous rice" harvested from the company’s own rice fields. The filling is made from Hokkaido-grown beans, kneaded into a rich and flavorful paste. Boasting "safe and reliable ingredients," these Monaka offer a light, crisp sound with every bite, followed by an aromatic and deep sweetness. With a wide range of sizes, they are a favorite tea-time snack for locals. The small size is perfectly satisfying yet easy to finish in one go—highly recommended as a souvenir!
Main Building B1F / Shiramatsu ga Monaka Honpo
Small Monaka (6 pieces) [2 pieces each: Dainagon (Azuki), White Bean, and Sesame] 1,020 yen (tax included)
- Storage: Room temperature
- Shelf Life: Approx. 7 to 10 days from the date of manufacture
- Note: Individually wrapped
![Main Building B1F / Hasekura-yaki Honpo Fujiya Senshu
Hasekura-yaki [6 pieces]](../../assets/images/features/meika/meika_04_photo.jpg)
Soft and moist texture
A long-beloved fusion of Japanese and Western styles
"Hasekura-yaki" features a white bean paste with walnuts, wrapped in a moist cookie dough and baked to perfection. Its elegant sweetness and smooth, buttery mouthfeel are what make it so well-loved. The name "Hasekura-yaki" comes from Hasekura Tsunenaga, who set out on a trade mission to Spain under the orders of Date Masamune. The name was chosen to honor his achievements in East-West exchange through a confection that blends both styles. If you look closely, the characters for "Hasekura-yaki" are embossed on the cookie dough. Toasting it enhances the aroma, and for the more adventurous, a "topping of extra butter" is highly recommended. You won’t be able to stop at just one!
Main Building B1F / Hasekura-yaki Honpo Fujiya Senshu
Hasekura-yaki [6 pieces] 1,598 yen (tax included)
- Storage: Room temperature
- Shelf Life: 12 days from manufacture Note: Individually wrapped
- Check shop location (Main Building)
Feel the meticulous handiwork
A tender, moist "new classic" souvenir
Many travelers visiting Miyagi and Sendai make their way to Matsushima, one of Japan’s three most scenic views. Located there with a stunning view of Matsushima Bay and Godaido Temple is Shokado Kashiten, a renowned confectioner since 1911. Their castella cake, meticulously handmade using carefully selected ingredients, embodies the shop’s philosophy: "Cherishing the best of the present and the best of the past." Its fine, moist texture and the gentle, aromatic sweetness of eggs make it a masterpiece loved by all generations. Enjoy a slice as you reflect on your beautiful memories of Matsushima and Sendai!
Main Building B1F / Shokado Kashiten
Shokado Castella 1,980 yen (tax included)
- Storage: Room temperature
- Shelf Life: 5–6 days
![Main Building B1F / Ganso Sendai Dagashi Honpo Kumagaiya
Sendai Dagashi Boxed Set [550g]](../../assets/images/features/meika/meika_07_photo.jpg)
Passed down since the Edo period Simple, handmade traditional local treats
Handcrafted one by one by skilled artisans, Sendai Dagashi offers a simple, nostalgic taste that has remained unchanged for over 300 years. Leveraging Miyagi's status as a premier rice-growing region, these treats feature an abundance of rice-based ingredients. The assorted gift box is packed with fan favorites: the chewy, ring-shaped "Yubiwa" and the "Usagi-dama," which is shaped like a curled-up snow rabbit. You’ll find comfort in the gentle sweetness of the "Kinako Nejiri" (twisted soybean flour candy), while the slab-shaped "Kaku Kinako" offers a more subtle, rustic flavor. Why not enrich your tea time with a taste of the Edo period?
Main Building B1F / Ganso Sendai Dagashi Honpo Kumagaiya
Sendai Dagashi Boxed Set [550g] 2,376 yen (tax included)
- Storage: Room temperature
- Shelf Life: 20 days
- Note: Individually wrapped
The Sendai soul food
The birthplace of the mochi-filled Dorayaki!
Fluffy sweet batter, meticulously prepared bean paste with distinct grains, and chewy Gyuhi (soft mochi) that elevates the satisfaction... "Kodama" was the first in Japan to create the now-classic "Mochi-filled Dorayaki!" The batter, an original blend using eggs from the Zao region, releases an appetizing aroma the moment you open the bag. Cutting it in half reveals a cross-section that you’ll definitely want to photograph. This long-loved traditional deliciousness is a true "soul food" for Sendai residents.
Main Building B1F / Kodama
Mochi-filled Ogura Dorayaki (6 pieces) 1,643 yen (tax included)
- Storage: Room temperature
- Shelf Life: 1–2 weeks
- Note: Individually wrapped
![Main Building B1F / Kansendo
Yubeshi Assortment [8 pieces]](../../assets/images/features/meika/meika_09_photo.jpg)
Scolded for putting in too much!?
A masterpiece for walnut lovers
The "Kurumi (Walnut) Yubeshi" is so packed with nuts that legend has it the president’s wife was once furious over the "excessive" amount. To ensure you get a walnut in every single bite, they use whole nuts rather than crushed ones. This traditional sweet is simple and safe, made without any preservatives or artificial colors. As it nears its expiration date, it may become slightly firm. When that happens, borrow a tip from old-fashioned wisdom: lightly toast it in a pan or toaster oven. You’ll discover a whole new side of yubeshi—a crispy, fragrant exterior with a warm, gooey sweetness inside!
Main Building B1F / Kansendo
Yubeshi Assortment [8 pieces] 1,307 yen (tax included)
- Storage: Room temperature
- Shelf Life: 8 days from manufacture
- Note: Individually wrapped
Perfect for gifting immediately!
Freshly steamed, chewy Manju buns
These elegant, sweet manju (steamed buns) highlight the flavor of brown sugar sourced from Okinawa. The secret to their moist and chewy texture is that they are steamed fresh at the shop every day. They pair perfectly with smooth strained bean paste and go well with any drink, from Japanese tea to coffee or black tea. Loved by locals who buy them for their own homes, this is a masterpiece you’ll want to add to your souvenir repertoire. If possible, please enjoy them on the day of purchase. Since the texture changes daily, a quick warm-up in the microwave can recreate the freshly made texture!
Main Building B1F / Tamazawa Sosahonten
Brown Sugar Manju [10-piece box set] 1,440 yen (tax included) Simple Bag 1,300 yen (tax included)
- Storage: Room temperature
- Shelf Life: 3 days from manufacture
- Note: Individually wrapped
*Prices are current as of May 1, 2025. Prices are subject to change without notice. Please contact the individual stores for the latest information.
