As soon as I arrived in Sendai, I headed straight to the SUN MALL ICHIBANCHO shopping street. It has all kinds of stores. It isn't as crowded and noisy as Tokyo, but it still has all the brands you might want to browse. The overall pace is laid-back, and it's very comfortable to walk around, making it a great place to experience local life.
SUN MALL ICHIBANCHO shopping street | Review by Linda Liao
Other Reviews by Linda Liao
-
Abe Kamaboko Main Store
Abe Kamaboko is famous for inventing the name Sasa Kamaboko, inspired by the "Sasa ni Suzume" (bamboo leaves and sparrow) family crest of Sendai's historical Date family. Renowned as Sendai's oldest and most trusted maker of kamaboko (steamed fish cakes), Abe Kamaboko is celebrated for its craftsmanship and quality. Using high-grade, white-fish surimi (fish paste), their products are beloved as a nutritious, low-fat, high-protein delicacy.
Abe Kamaboko offers an experience where you can grill fish cakes yourself! Just pay at the counter to receive a fresh fish cake, then take it to the charcoal grill up front and cook it yourself.
Watch as the fish cake slowly heats up on the grate. Just grill both sides until they're an appetizing golden brown, and you're done. Not only is it fun, but it's also crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The store also thoughtfully offers shelf-stable packaged fish cakes as souvenirs, so you don't have to worry about refrigeration and can take them straight back to Taiwan. It's really convenient.
-
-
The Product Organic Hair Wax
This organic hair wax is made entirely of natural ingredients such as shea butter and beeswax. It moisturizes your hair while allowing for a natural wet hair style. It has a refreshing citrus scent.
A hair wax recommended by a friend. It’s suitable for fine, soft hair, sensitive scalps, or anyone looking for natural volume and airy definition. The texture is lightweight and moisturizing, so it also helps condition your hair. The size is just right too—not such a large container that it’s hard to finish.
-
-
Marushige "Kokyu Chocolate Kitashinchi"
Produced and sold by Osaka-based "Okashi no Marushige," Kokyu Chocolate Kitashinchi is a regionally exclusive chocolate that has gained national popularity through frequent media features. With Marushige’s direct stores located primarily in the Osaka area, this chocolate has become a staple Osaka souvenir known as a "treat you can only get in Osaka."
The name “Breathing Chocolate” sounds impressive. It has crunchy almonds inside, giving it a rich, layered texture. The chocolate itself has a silky texture similar to Royce nama chocolate, with a high fat content that melts in your mouth. The outside is coated with slightly bitter cocoa powder, perfectly balancing the overall sweetness. There are plenty of pieces in one bag, so it’s affordable and popular to bring to the office and share with coworkers.
-
