Shōeidō (松栄堂) is Ichinoseki‘s representative traditional confectionary maker, established in 1903. It is very good at creating gorgeously shaped sweets made from local ingredients, reflecting the local cultures and current seasons. Traditionally, the mochi rice cake can be found in all seasonal events in Ichinoseki. This is why the local traditional sweets makers, such as Shōeidō, have created a variety of mochi sweets to reflect this mochi culture.
Shōeidō’s Signatory Traditional Confectionary
Amongst them, Gomaori Dango (ごま摺り団子) is one of the representative sweets. Unconventionally, black sesame syrup filled the rice cake instead of pouring it all over it. The nice aroma of black sesame will spread inside your mouth with just one bite!
Tip: Because the rice cake is filled with black sesame syrup, it is best to put the entire dango in your mouth and close it properly before chewing it. Otherwise, the syrup will spill over.
Another signatory sweet is called Tamura no Ume (田村の梅). It is a confectionary created as a specialty of Ichinoseki under the request of the descendant of the Tamura clan, whose ancestor used to be Ichonoseki Domain’s feudal lord. This is why it was named after his family name, Tamura.
The plum-infused red bean paste is wrapped with sweetened white bean paste. The entire confectionary is then wrapped in a lightly pickled perilla’s leaf, giving it a refreshing flavor that is usually not found in traditional Japanese confectionaries. Tamura no Ume, which has been sold for more than 100 years, not only has a plum taste but has a plum blossom shape to it!
Shōeidō’s Main Store
The main store close to Ichinoseki Station also has a cafe serving various dine-in-only desserts. You can overlook Shōeidō’s garden from the window. Even if you only purchase the confectionery on the shelf, the staff might serve you a cup of tea. We were surprised by the staff’s hospitality!
So, before venturing too far away from Ichinose Station, stop by Shōeidō!
Shōeidō’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Shōeidō is open from 9 am to 5 pm.
- The cafe is open from 10 am to 4 pm (L. O.).
- The shop is closed on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays
- The confectionery maker is a 15-minute walk from JR Ichinoseki Station (一ノ関駅).
Tips:
☛ Check with the staff to see if the storage is open. It is a small museum with items related to Shōeidō, including the confectionary mold on display. Other interesting items can also be found there!
☛ Shōeidō also holds traditional sweet workshops between 10 am and 3 pm from Thursday to Tuesday. The cost is 1,650 yen. If interested, please make a reservation by submitting an enquiry form HERE. Ensure that you can understand some basic Japanese to participate. Taking an interpreter with you will also make the session a lot smoother.
Discover Other Attractions in Ichinoseki
Ichinoseki is a city with a wealth of beautiful natural landscapes perfect for a weekend getaway from the big city’s hustle and bustle. So, let’s travel around the city for a couple of spectacular spots await your discovery. You will also be amazed by the city’s unique mochi culture!
So refer to our article on Ichinoseki discover what more the city can offer!
