Besides Murakamiya Mochiten, Hikoichi (甘味処 彦いち) is another cafe we love. The dining space at Hikoichi is much larger than that at Murakamiya Mochiten. However, the queue was even longer by the time we stepped out! It is the best place to visit if you have a sweet tooth. You will be treated to a series of delicious traditional desserts, some of which are a little bit westernised. Hikoichi also offers some light meal options, though most aren’t vegetarian.
About Hikoichi
Hikoichi is located in an alley off an arcade. The popular traditional-style cafe was previously a fancy Japanese-style restaurant before it was transformed into a cafe in 1976. There is even a small pond filled with koi fish on one side of the cafe (see the 4th photo in the IG post)! If you need to wait at the entrance, check out the Japanese dolls and paintings around you (see the 2nd and 3rd photos in the IG post). They are worth examining.
One of the best things about Hikoichi is that all traditional desserts are made from scratch. For example, the red beans are slowly cooked for two hours after overnight soaking. Besides the sweet taste, it also has a slight salty taste!
This is why the taste is completely different from that of those sold in supermarkets. Even those who usually don’t like red bean paste find it delicious!
Hikoichi’s Secret Menu: Kurumi Shiruko
Aside from Zunda Mochi, another recommended dessert at Hikoichi is Kurumi Shiruko (くるみしるこ). The creamy walnut soup complements the grilled mochi rice cake well. Compared to regular azuki bean soup, walnut soup has a pleasant, rich walnut fragrance and taste.
Note that it will take a while for your Kurumi Shiruko to be served, since the rice cake takes some time to grill to the perfect crispiness!
The sweet soup comes with the savory pickled vegetables. If you find the soup a little bit too sweet, have some salted pickles to reset your taste buds, and you are ready to enjoy shiruko again!
The traditional desserts served at Hikoichi, including Zunda Mochi, are made in the same way as in the past (i.e., with full sugar). While some may find it too sweet, it may suit those who prefer a mild soybean flavor.
For a vegetarian light meal, you can order the Kuri Okowa Set (栗おこわセット) shown in the bottom right of the second photo in the Instagram post. Kuri Okowa is glutenous rice cooked with chestnuts and isn’t sweetened, which is good. You can season it with the black sesame salt that comes with it.
Tip: If you don’t read Japanese, check out the menu item figures displayed at the entrance.
Our Visit to Hikoichi
We got to Hikoichi around 11:30 on a Sunday morning. Luckily, we didn’t have to wait to be seated. But just a few minutes after we sat down, a queue was formed around the cafe’s register. By the time we got our food, the benches in the waiting area opposite the cafe were filled (that area beyond the window in the photo).
While it was a shame that we didn’t get to sit next to the traditional garden, we still enjoyed our time at Hikoichi. The staff were all very kind and polite. It was almost like dining in a ryokan!
Hikoichi’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Hikoichi is open daily from 11 am to 5:30 pm except on Mondays.
- If Monday is a public holiday, it will close on the next business day.
- The restaurant closes from the end of December to the beginning of January.
- It is around a 5-minute walk from Sendai Subway’s Kotodai Kōen Station (勾当台公園駅).
Tips:
☛ Get there early for a seat next to the two small Japanese gardens. The cafe can be full 30 minutes after it opens, even on a weekday.
☛ It is best to go to Hikoichi on a weekday. If you plan to head there on weekends and public holidays, expect a queue. This includes outside of normal lunch hours.
☛ If you plan to drive to Hikoichi, check whether you can still get free parking at the car park next door. But that may only work if you spend a certain amount at the restaurant!
Discover Other Fantastic Attractions in Sendai
You might not be aware of it, but Sendai, the Tōhoku region‘s biggest city, receives more than 20 million tourists each year!
So if you want to find out how Sendai managed to attract so many visitors, refer to our article on Sendai, which is filled with historical, cultural, and natural attractions (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ.
